West Coast Blog

More Trouble At Four Seasons In 2012

2012-01-08T18:26:00.000-05:00

"The Four Seasons Resort project seems to have hit another snag.
The Times reported yesterday that two billionaire investors, music titan Lucian Grainge and oil mogul Aidan Heavey, have filed court action locally against the developers, Paradise Beach Limited, demanding their money back.
The Times has also stated that three other celebrities, including Simon Cowell, the producer of the international music competition The X-Factor, could also be in danger of losing their deposit investments of over BDS$90 million each.
“Both Mr Grainge – dubbed the “killer shark” after engineering last year’s surprise £1.2 billion (BDS$3.7 billion) takeover of EMI’s recorded music business – and Mr Heavey have separately filed claims in a Barbados court demanding that their deposits are returned,” the newspaper said."

Source: http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/resort-suits/

There Is No Place Like Being On The West Coast Of Barbados For The New Year - Ask Rihanna

2011-12-30T07:58:00.000-05:00

"We've always known Rihanna is smoking hot, but these pictures of her only cement it further.

The pop princess, 23, will be the envy of every girl across the globe as she parades her incredible curvaceous figure during a dip in the sea in her home country of Barbados.

Leaving little to the imagination in a barely-there orange bikini, Rihanna displayed her womanly physique with curves in all the right places and a flirtatious attitude to match."

Today Show On West Coast

2011-11-11T08:40:00.001-05:00

Matt Lauer at Sandy Lane

"Barbados is in for some major exposure through a live broadcast onNBC’s popular Today Show this morning.Nine-time monarch Gabby, soca queen Alison Hinds, Pinelands Creative Workshop and a group of stiltwalkers will be performing during the show being shot from the terrace and beach at the upscale Sandy Lane Hotel, St James.Officials were tight-lipped on the broadcast and other details about the visit, but the WEEKEND NATION has confirmed that the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) is involved.The BTA’s Averil Byer explained that the authority had agreed to keep full details under wraps until today.“We are under confidentiality agreement. I cannot go into details but it is a very positive thing for us,” Byer said.The show gets under way at 8 a.m. and viewers may get to see regular hosts Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Ann Curry and Natalie Morales.Yesterday Lauer, who is the host of Where In The World Is Matt Lauer?segment of the Today Show, broadly hinted at his next stop as he prepared to leave the Alps.“With the Alps to our backs, we make tracks for a party of epic proportions,” said Lauer.Crew members and producers have been on the island for the past few weeks, working with local support staff, to ensure the success of the live multi-camera television production."

Source: NationNews Online

Click here for show.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

West Coast Road Safety Awareness

2011-11-09T22:23:00.000-05:00

Support Road Safety in Barbados - Get the Badge - http://j.mp/BRSA20

Sign the Road View & Mullins Bay Road Safety Petition - top right.

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Four Seasons Barbados Update: Boondoggle and millstone around the necks of Bajan taxpayers?

2011-09-10T19:55:00.002-04:00

Despite government's pledges and promises otherwise, the stalled Four Seasons project in Walmer Lodge/Black Rock is turning out to be a bigger and bigger millstone around the necks of the taxpayers of Barbados. Word is now coming to light of yet another loan poor Third World people will have to payback in order for a few of the uber-rich/super-cool from the First World to have a place in the sun. This is going to play so well at election time especially now that it is becoming clearer and clearer that there will still be nothing to show for all the time and money sunk in Clearwater Bay so far.

"It will take more than the next winter, spring, summer, and fall to finally get one of the biggest brands in international tourism and hospitality on the Barbados landscape – and the price tag will be big.
According to Barbados TODAY investigations, the developers of the mega Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences have applied for a BDS $104 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank to complete the hotel component of the slow-moving project, as efforts to restart overall construction intensify ..."

Polo Paradise

2011-08-31T18:48:00.000-04:00

"On my first day at the Apes Hill Polo Villas I was awakened from an afternoon nap convinced that I was in the middle of an earthquake. The floor and walls seemed to be vibrating. Through the open doors of my veranda, beyond a wall of fuchsia bougainvillea, I could hear the sound of shouting in the distance. As I got my bearings, I realized that the voices were calling out polo plays in a mixture of Spanish and English and that the ground was shaking because there were eight horses running at a full gallop, only yards from where I had been sleeping in the balmy breeze ..."

Read more: Polo Paradise - Ralph Lauren Magazine

'via Blog this'

Jay-Z and Beyoncé On West Coast Barbados Again

2011-08-24T02:51:00.000-04:00

"WHOSE UMBRELLA was it that Jay-Z and Beyoncé were sheltering under as they tried to shake off the paparazzi waiting in anticipation outside one of the upscale west coast villas in Barbados recently?

Jay-Z (real name Shawn Corey Carter) and Beyoncé Knowles almost slipped the lenses of photographers, with Beyoncé being caught getting out of the Range Rover."

Source: http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/jay-z-and-beyonce-visit-again/

Barbados without the bling

2011-08-22T12:26:00.000-04:00

"We planned a two-week break, half spent with our extended family in a self-catering property and the other in a hotel. My first key observation on arrival was accompanied by a sigh of relief: no sign of Winner or Cowell! And I soon made a second and equally pleasing observation, which was that Barbados has many unexpected delights, including great restaurants providing excellent food. The week with our extended family was spent at a fabulous rented house called Crystal Springs to the north of Sandy Lane on the island's lively west coast. It is close to Sir Cliff Richard's villa, famously lent in the past to Tony Blair and his family as a holiday home.

We had a motor boat as part of the deal and the driver was very keen to point out celebrity homes in the area: 'Over there is Sir Cliff's house, this is where Cilla Black lives ...'"

Read more: Daily Mail

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The West Coast Will Do That To You... Rihanna

2011-08-15T04:18:00.001-04:00

"A visit to her native Barbados certainly seems to have given Rihanna a much needed rest from her hectic schedule.RiRi looked lovelier than ever for dinner with friends at Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica on Friday night, shortly after returning from her homeland.The 23-year-old showed off her natural beauty, wearing minimal make up on her sun-kissed skin and her curly hair pulled away from her face..."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2025680/Fresh-faced-Rihanna-glows-LA-return-Barbados.html#ixzz1V5CCGbwg

Rihanna reportedly stayed on the West Coast in the penthouse of that monstrous horribilis [horrible monstrosity] south of Sandy Lane aka The Sands.

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West Coast Getting The Sands II

2011-07-16T21:08:00.000-04:00

Artist impression Palazatte Residences

A little thing like poor condo sales at The Sands just south of Sandy Lane is not stopping their imitators five or so miles up the west coast from going full throttle bringing even larger ultra-luxury apartments to the marketplace. And, it doesn't seem the matter that they are going up next to equally empty and already hugely discounted condos at St. Peter's Bay in Road View, St. Peter.

See also: Mullins Bay Blog and Barbados TravelAdvisor

Plans afoot to turn Holetown into a cruise visitor focal point

2011-06-12T10:21:00.000-04:00

"Government wants to turn Holetown into a major cruise tourism hub. Well-informed sources told Barbados TODAY that ever since August 2009, the Ministry of Tourism had been advancing a series of recommendations to drive cruise passengers into the historic St. James area. It's all part of the plan to ease long-standing beach congestion, and suspected unlawful activity, in the Payne's Bay area.
The intention, sources noted, was to have cruisers driven into the area by taxis and other forms of transportation, and that there would be major cooperation between the National Conservation Commission, police, businesses and other stakeholders. "It is considered that the beach area and urban infrastructure at Holetown has the capacity to accommodate a larger number of cruise ship visitors, the associated vehicular traffic movement and areas for parking," a Ministry of Tourism brief on the matter stated.
"All relevant Government ministries and departments should work collectively to put in place the appropriate environment at Holetown to accommodate an influx of cruise ship passengers in terms of beach chair vending, jet ski vending, safe swimming areas, provision for parking, signage for the regulation of vehicular and pedestrian movement and adequate policing," it added. The ministry also said taxi drivers had an important role to play and should therefore "be approached with a view to having them redirect their cruise ship passengers to Holetown". "Businesses in Holetown should be approached to encourage them to upgrade their facilities to accommodate greater cruise passenger visitation," it noted.
Additionally, the suggestion was for the NCC to undertake a study "to determine the number of chairs, which a vendor should be licensed to rent per standard measured area of beach". "This will assist in regulating beach chair vending at all beaches," the Ministry of Tourism document stated. Officials were concerned about the image behaviour in the area of Paynes Bay and now closed Blue Monkey Restaurant. They said at the time that part of the problem was "an overwhelming number of cruise ship passengers" were being ferried there by taxi drivers, who were offered "monetary and in-kind incentives". Sources pointed out that just last year several agencies were called to be a meeting hosted by Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy "to urgently examine some complaints brought to his attention about a particular location, namely, Paynes Bay.""

Source: Barbados Today article "Holetown a hub"

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Four Seasons Barbados' Saga Continues

2011-04-21T09:06:00.000-04:00

If there is one thing that is consistent about this project for the last two years it's the never-ending promises of a restart date. There was much hoopla late last year about the Government's finally signing the US$60M guarantee some were saying would allow the project to restart in January or February of this year. Well, most people with half a brain knew that money was nowhere near enough to get anything restarted on Paradise Beach even if they didn't have to first settle outstanding debts. Part of that money was also supposedly to go to acquiring more land for the project - land occupied for half a century or more by storage tanks for an oil company. This blogger passed by yesterday and the familiar landmark oil tanks were still there and there was no sign of life on the job-site.

If we are being told the truth, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is really still onboard with this project, then we must credit them with having the patience of a Job. They must really want this Barbados project for some reason other than its location. And, that reason might just be the star-pulling power of the Barbados brand. Four Seasons would have pulled their flag a long time ago if it were not for the celebs who trek to our shores year after year. The Government of Barbados also is banking of these celebs to get the ball rolling again on Paradise Beach, but only last week we learned that it could only muster three of them to sign on the dotted line. Keep in mind that when the project folded back in 2009 less than half of the 36 or so villas were spoken for, so that means the vast majority of the celebs Government is looking to for getting at least the villa component of the project restarted is still sitting on the fence.

Four Seasons may be a Job and I don't want to be a Jeremiah on this one but it looks to this blogger that if anything gets built on Paradise Beach this year it probably will not be a Four Seasons resort and few if any celebs will risk associating their names with it. I hope I am wrong but if the antics of the last two years are any guide my guess is that this time next year we are going to be still looking forward to a project (of some kind) restart date on this site.

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West Coast Unprepared And Among Most Tsunami Vulnerable In Barbados

2011-03-14T23:29:00.000-04:00

"While one coastal expert rated the island's tsunami readiness at "six out of ten", the head of disaster management disclosed there were "significant gaps" in the mechanism.

Deputy Director of the Coastal Zone Management Unit, Dr. Lorna Inniss gave preparedness for a tsunami a grade of six out of ten today in an interview with Barbados TODAY, but said preparations for the devastating natural disaster were continuing in earnest.

She noted that in another week there would be a simulation exercise involving disaster preparedness agencies and other stakeholders tracking such an exercise from the time the warning is received until after impact.

Director of the Department of Emergency Management Judy Thomas disclosed there was a significant "gap" in readiness -- a mass notification system to warn Barbadians of impending danger, remained unresolved.

She noted that the country still had "a long way to go in terms of putting down the mass notification warning mechanisms because we want to use the cellular networks and the putting down of sirens or the reactivation of the police siren system to give public warnings", she said

"Those are the last things that we have to do to ensure that we have our mass notification system, but the work has started and the work is ongoing. We have not abandoned the thought of getting our country aware of the tsunamis and what they can do, and receiving the warnings out of the Pacific and then having those warnings given to the Barbadian community."

Thomas said a major challenge was that Barbados no longer had a working national siren system, and beyond that there was no money "for a mass siren system at this stage".

And as hoteliers go about putting their disaster mitigation plans in place, there is a call from one the key spokespersons for Barbados' vital tourism sector to have a greater communication system and a proper education programme.

Executive Vice-President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Sue Springer, said there should be a tsunami plan in place. "If there is a plan that's put in place, and with everything that's happening all around us, this level of expenditure to communicate that plan must take priority. We've had a couple of earthquakes tossed around us; we're watching it all over. Who says that we're sitting here so privileged?

"Education and communication must happen so that when the [warning] siren goes, we know and we tell everybody get out of wherever you are and head for the hills and not motorised either cause it will make no difference," she said.

Springer noted that 90 per cent of the hospitality sector was on the coastlines and a storm surge would be devastating to the sector.

That apart, the Ministry of Education was forging ahead with its evacuation plans, said Acting Chief Education officer Laurie King, in a separate interview today. He said that the Ministry was not waiting for an impending disaster to implement an evacuation plan and had carried out, and will continue to do, drills at schools situated along the coastlines and those in low lying areas.

There were also evacuation routes planned to take people to higher ground.

The rebuilding process could be easier for some than others, said President of the General Insurance Association of Barbados, Michael Holder. He explained that once policy holders had the necessary insurance in place, it should not present a problem.

He noted that normally where there was hurricane and earthquake coverage, there was also coverage for tsunamis.

But several Barbadians would be caught off-guard should a tsunami roll in. Some of the most vulnerable areas across the nation still have no real evacuation plans and no idea of what should be done in the event of such a natural disaster. Barbados TODAY paid a visit to a number of these coastal communities including Six Men's, St. Peter, Holetown, St. James, Half Moon Fort, St. Lucy and the message was the same neighbourhood after neighbourhood - no one was ready, no one was prepared.

Some blamed a failure on the part of the relevant authorities to adequately educate the public despite the launch of a public education and awareness week for the Tsunami And Coastal Hazards Warning System Project in March, last year. Others felt there was little or nothing they could do to secure themselves or their families even if armed with the necessary information."

Source: "Significant gaps remain in the island's readiness for a tsunami"

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Oliver Messel Revisited

2011-03-06T17:02:00.002-05:00

"What a talented and fascinating gentleman Oliver Messel was. I love one of the googled stories I found that talked about his later career in the Caribbean and Barbados as an architect. The brief description ends with “One lasting legacy is that his preferred light sage green shade of paint, now known as “Messel Green’ by paint companies in the Caribbean, has been immortalized as many property owners choose this colour for its quintessential Caribbean-ness.”"

Read more: Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Oliver Messel Revisited

Gwyneth Paltrow Visits Barbados

2011-02-27T14:59:00.002-05:00

Gwyneth Paltrow Visits Barbados

Another Morning Breaks On The West Coast

2011-02-19T05:37:00.000-05:00

From the webcam on Mullins Beach
(click link on the left to access)

6 Days In Holetown & Barbados: Bloggings of a New Yorker with a camera and a sense of humour

2011-01-27T18:12:00.001-05:00

Follow link below:

Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Interesting photos in this blog..

Is Almond Beach Village Closing?

2011-01-13T12:04:00.002-05:00

The newest block at Almond Beach Village Resort

In yet another sign that all is not well in the tourism business despite the recent upbeat forecasts on Barbados tourism coming from the Central Bank, the Ministry of Tourism and the media which could all be just another smokescreen to cover up the dire reality, rumours circulating in Speightstown are that one of the major players on the west coast is about to close up shop. There is no question that Almonds Resorts is struggling terribly, particularly its flagship property in Haywood, St. Peter - Almond Beach Village. At what supposedly is the height of the tourist (winter) season ABV just had a major staff layoff and occupancy is hovering around 300 at a property accustomed to hosting well over a thousand guests at this time of year - even having to walk some customers next door to Port St. Charles and other nearby hotels when business was really booming.

Lately they have had problems paying staff (on time) and settling debts with suppliers. There is a rumour that they have stopped taking bookings and that the hotel will shortly be closed for renovations. Why you would want to do something like that at the height of the season boggles the mind. However, we do know that the owners (the Trinidadian firm Neal & Massey) are in town and the fireworks have begun. One rumour is that CEO Ralph Taylor (who is also chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority) has already been "reassigned," whatever that means. Apparently, he is being blamed for under-performing properties in St. Lucia (particularly Almond Smugglers Cove) and stretching the company too thin with the acquisition of the Casuarina Hotel on the south coast which some have described as a "money pit."

People who have been watching Almond Beach Village over the years are saying they have never seen things there looking so dreadful and have concluded that some kind of shutdown is imminent. The Trinidadians are still in their slash and burn mood having recently axed Warrens Motors from the portfolio of companies (including Almond Beach Resorts) which they acquired a few years ago with their purchase of Barbados Shipping & Trading. A sale of ABV or indeed all Almond resorts could be in the works. The rumour mill is turning and the truth must come out soon or this can begin to damage the Barbados brand which is something the Trinidadians might not care about - at least not as much as Bajans.

Limegrove Still Not Quite Ready For Primetime

2010-12-16T08:18:00.001-05:00

If you were hoping to shop Limegrove this Christmas for that special luxury item for that special someone, you may be a little disappointed with the official opening of the much ballyhooed Limegrove Lifestyle Center in Holetown. Not only were Louis Vutton, Hermes, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Armani and other high-end stores completely missing, but of the only two stores ready for the big opening day, one – Hallmark – is so ubiquitous that most discerning shoppers would consider it a no-name brand. One couldn’t help wondering whether they were forced to open their doors in the still largely incomplete mall just to get rid of their stock of seasonal Christmas cards.

Limegrove is a work in progress, and that’s putting it mildly. It’s more like an active construction site than somewhere you would want to shop. Intrepid early adopter shoppers should be warned to leave their high heels at home and not to forget their hard hats. Oh, and they should also bone-up and their dump truck-dodging skills. I don’t know what’s the rush to open this unfinished product now when clearly it will miss both the Christmas shopping season and the entire key 2010-2011 winter tourist season. Opening it now, if one can call it an "opening," only serves to remind everyone that Limegrove, like much of the tourism-related development on the west coast, is still in the throes of the deepest international financial recession since the Great Depression.

This recession has devastated tourism development up and down the west coast – projects upon which Limegrove was banking. After celebrating (in the media) finally paying off its creditors last month, government is today admitting that they really have no firm date for the restart of the Four Seasons hotel and villa project. Banyan Tree/Black Bess is looking for a buyer, St. Peter’s Bay reportedly has only sold two of its fifty-seven condos (to principals of the company), and Portico and others stand empty. And, despite the Government of Barbados’ upbeat predictions and pronouncements the future remains bleak. I mean, just who do they think they are fooling when the shots are really being called in Washington and even there - Feds Chairman Ben Bernanke, like the weather-forecasting ground hog, is predicting five more ~~months~~ years of ~~winter~~ recession.

We certainly wish Limegrove and it’s visionary developer, Paul Altman, all the best in these tough economic times. If he is still holding on to it when the storm is over, he/we should have an excellent product on par with any of the high-end shopping centers we have seen in North America. We loved the water feature and the gas lamps. It’s position in the heart of Holetown across from First and Second Streets cements the area as the leader in tourism entertainment and shopping in Barbados and much of the Caribbean. There still remains some concerns about flooding in Holetown (in spite of Mr. Altman’s boasting otherwise) and the wider ecological damage to the mangrove upon which it is built and what that portends for the future, but like most the rest of the world, I suppose we are leaving those headaches for future generations. Right now the spotlight is on Limegrove’s coming out “party.”

We ran into Paul last night showing his wife around his latest dream coming to fruition, and he reminded us that he started out bagging groceries at Elmer’s Supermarket in Speightstown. Well, Elmer Jordan is in the crypt underneath St. Peter’s Parish Church and a generation has grown up since his supermarket closed its doors. The lesson for us all and Limegrove is that there is always a fine line between the crypt and success.

Click here for a few shots we took of Limegrove last night.

Click here to read some of our earlier posts on Limegrove.

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Condomania Seizes Batts Rock Beach

2010-12-10T03:07:00.000-05:00

"The footprint for another major tourism project on the West Coast is being cleared, and persons associated with the project say it's a clear sign of investor confidence returning to the island.

The project, which planning consultant Richard Gill, noted involves "mega bucks", is being undertaken by British investors at Batts Rock on the St. James/St. Michael border of Highway One.

Today heavy duty equipment from C.O. Williams Construction was being used to prepare the site, while workmen from another operation were clearing brush and pruning trees in the heavily wooded area, a stone's throw away from the popular picnic spot and the multi-million dollar Four Seasons Hotel project on which construction is expected to resume next month. Gill explained the "outline permission" had already been given by the Town and Country Planning Department, but that certain works had to be completed before final plans were submitted to the department.

These preliminary works will involve major changes to the access to the popular picnic spot, with a new vehicular access, equipped with appropriate sidewalks, being constructed from Highway One in the area of Walmer Lodge Apartments. Additionally, a new footpath will be built from an area close to the existing entrance to Batts Rock at Prospect, and travel along the cliff edge and down to the beach. Gill explained that this would take on the style of a boardwalk, would be well lit and landscaped, and guarantee resident a continuous access, not just to the beach, but the comfort of enjoying the ocean view from the hilltop. Only when these two accesses are completed, the engineer said, would the developer close the existing entrance start to push ahead with the main project, which would involve the construction of no fewer than 20 luxury condos and related facilities.

He explained that while they had broad permission from Town Planning for the project, specific plans now had to be completed. He noted too that the outline plan spoke to a number of four-storey buildings, but even that was still to be finalised. "What I can say to you is that we are dealing with investors who have been coming to Barbados annually for many years and who understand and appreciate how Barbadians feel about the beach and access to it," Gill said. "That's why they took the position from the very start that the project would be set back from the cliff and that Barbadians would continue to have unhindered access to the cliff and the beach. This project will be a win-win situation for Barbados. These people are totally committed to Barbados."

The developers, he added, would also be making a small portion of land beside the National Conservation Commission's children's play park available so it can enhance the facility. Gill noted too that while getting all the necessary permissions had not gone as fast as anticipated, the developers understood fully the desire of authorities to ensure everything was done correctly, but their desire to push ahead was a sign of confidence in the country. He said too he believed that now that the Four Seasons project was resuming, Barbados would see a pick up in development activity. And while Gill could not say what the price tag on the project was, noting only that it involved "mega bucks", one neighbour said her family had been approached by the developer about two years ago to sell their plot for over a million dollars.

"We don't have any problem with the project, but we like it here so we declined," said Sheila Layne, who has lived at Walmer Lodge for more than 60 years, adding that a "Mr. Simon" had spoken to them about his plan to proceed with the project as recently as two weeks ago."

Source: Barbados Today 12/08/10

Wayne Rooney/Royal Westmoreland Hit By Storm

2010-11-22T06:25:00.000-05:00

"I think you may be missing the point a little. I am sure those visitors totally accepted that the hurricane was an act of God. But I was also staying on the Royal Wesmoreland at that time and the service we received from the Royal Westmoreland management was certainly not first class! They displayed a total lack of care to their guests - the arrogance was appalling! For three days following the storm they did not even offer candles or water! The hotels on the West Coast seemed to be doing a fine job so I am not sure what was happening at the Royal Westmoreland. They obviously are not interested in fee-paying guests. We are not rich - just hard working people who had saved hard to afford a holiday..."

Click here to continue reading...

Another Turtle Butchered

2010-10-12T11:44:00.000-04:00

"By then someone from the Turtle Watch was there. I think it was a Hawksbill Turtle, it had a bash on it's head and it's meat had been cut out. Unlaid eggs were still attached to it. I think the Turtle Watch people took the eggs away.

How can people be so sick as to do this" ...

Read more - Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Another Turtle butchered

Black Bess Saga Revisited

2010-09-24T15:58:00.000-04:00

"One of the largest developments planned for Barbados is
in limbo and searching for a buyer.

An alliance of real estate companies in Barbados, the
United Kingdom and British Virgin Islands (BVI) has for the
past several months been hunting someone with deep enough
pockets to purchase the property earmarked for a more than
half billion dollar golf and residential resort at Black Bess, St.
Peter, but has been stalled for over a year now, with nothing
beyond massive excavation work having taken place.

Local company, Realtors Limited, its BVI counterpart
Smith Gore and the latter’s London affiliate SG Commercial
LLP, are trying to sell the 247 acre site, which has planning
permission for a hotel and spa complex with up to 100
rooms, an 18-hole golf course and up to 200 residential units.

“The site originally known as Black Bess Plantation, has a
superb hilltop location with magnificent views of the famous
platinum coast and Caribbean Sea. Detailed negotiations
have taken place with a world-renowned luxury hotel
operator to operate the hotel and villas on completion of the
development,” Realtors says in its sales pitch.

“The Black Bess project has been assembled with the
intention of developing a high-end resort community to equal
the very best Barbados and the wider Caribbean has to offer.
The site lends itself extremely well to such a development
and the location and setting are superb. A sale of the site
with the benefit of the planning permission ... is now being
sought”.

The project in question, which was to have been
undertaken by local company Bacassa Developments
(Barbados) Limited in partnership with Asian hotel chain
Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, officially started in 2007, but
did not get past its first phase after finances became an issue,
sources told Barbados TODAY.

“All that basically took place was that the site was
excavated, things like roads laid out, a road bridge
constructed, and the layout for a lake to be used to provide
water to the golf course completed. Funds then became an
issue with the onset of the international financial meltdown
and economic recession,” the official noted.

Investigations revealed that a company called Caribbean
Resort Assets Fund (CRAF) registered in London, England,
working with others, including joint venture partner COPRIM
Inc of Montreal, Canada, which was expected to be in charge
of project development and management, had worked out a
deal where Banyan would have been guaranteed the majority
of earnings from rentals, money which would then be used
for certain tasks.

“The projected return is a minimum of six per cent on
investment in the form of rental income from the villas.
The Banyan Tree will underwrite this rental guarantee for a
minimum of five years from practical completion,” an outline
of the plan stated.

“The Banyan Tree Hotel and Resorts will retain 66.6 per
cent of the gross receipts from lettings to pay for all the
outgoings, including maintenance, and provide it with a fee
for so doing, paying the joint venture partner the remaining
one third, which is anticipated to equate six per cent of the
value of the villas. There is a guaranteed minimum income
equivalent to four per cent of the value.”

It was also intended that CRAF would have provided
investors with “a total return equivalent to 15.2
per annum over the anticipated seven year life of
the fund ... net of all costs and fees”.

“Those investors admitted to the partnership
or buying units at the first close will be given
an additional five per cent share of the final
profit after the repayment of all loans and capital
commitments,” the plan added.

Investigations found that CRAF was
incorporated in 2007, the same year the Black
Bess project was officially launched by then
Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch, but was unable
to raise the funds needed to build the Barbados
resort, which was projected to cost $600 million.
This venture is one of several high-profile ones
in Barbados that have either failed to start or have
been forced to stop mainly because of finance
issues. Also in this category was the Four Seasons
Project, also on the West Coast.

While efforts have been ongoing to get Four
Seasons restarted under the guidance of Barbadian
financing expert Professor Avinash Persaud, a
real estate industry source said the reality was
investors and financiers alike were not willing to
commit until they actually saw activity at the Four
Seasons, Black Rock, St. Michael site.

“Everyone must face that fact. Four Seasons
is the game changer for many of these projects and until
all of the talk ceases and work actually starts on the site in
Black Rock, quite frankly many others are not going to start
because confidence in the market is down and financiers are
still hesitant to pump millions and millions of dollars into
these ventures that have no guarantee of success,” the official
noted."

Click here for original Barbados Today article.

Travel destinations: Holetown, Barbados - by Frances Stanford - Helium

2010-09-21T17:46:00.000-04:00

"What is now the town of Holetown on Barbados was the site of the first landing of English settlers on this island in 1625. It was originally called Jamestown in honor of the King of England at the time – James 1. The settlers had not originally planned to come to this island, but their ship was blown off course as they were on their way back to England from South America. As the population increased, the small channel, known as the Hole, was one where ships could easily be unloaded and cleaned. The many ships using this service led to the change in the name from Jamestown to Holetown..."

Read more: Travel destinations: Holetown, Barbados - by Frances Stanford - Helium

Venture capital fund to open doors in Barbados - Caribbean360

2010-09-19T05:38:00.000-04:00

"The Barbados Entrepreneurs' Venture Capital Fund will have a presence on the west coast of the island.

Set up a year ago to stimulate economic growth, one successful enterprise after another, the entrepreneurship development organization, better known as Bimventures, has been allocated space at the high end Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Holetown in the St. James parish. Limegrove is a mixed use lifestyle centre which opens at year-end..."

Celebrated South Beach Executive Chef Jonathan Wright Coming To Sandy Lane

2010-08-13T14:40:00.000-04:00

Chef Jonathan Wright

Celebrated Setai - South Beach/Miami Executive Chef Jonathan Wright is packing up his knives. The British-born chef, who's manned kitchens in New Orleas, Singapore and London, is decamping for Barbados Sept. 3, having accepted a position at the Sandy Lane Resort.

Jonathan was born in Shropshire, England, an area rich in agricultural tradition, where both of his grandparents were farmers and Jonathan was raised with a deep appreciation for farm-to-table goodness.

Jonathan’s 20+ years of award-winning culinary experience include serving as Executive Chef at Raymond Blanc’s two-star Michelin restaurant Le Manoir Aux Quat in Oxfordshire. While there, Jonathan developed his technical skills in classic French Cuisine and worked closely with Raymond Blanc developing the cuisine, training, writing, designing, and compiling cookery books for what has been described as ‘one of the most sumptuous country house hotels in the world’ and for many years listed as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world by the british published Restaurant Magazine.

Jonathan’s culinary experience also includes Executive Chef of the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans, Executive Sous Chef of Raffles Hotel in Singapore, Executive Chef of Sir Terrance Conran’s Great Eastern Hotel in London, Chef / Proprietor of Gousse D`ail in Oxfordshire, as well as Chef of Bradley Ogden’s historic Lark Creek Inn in the San Francisco area.

At The Setai, Jonathan skillfully blends his western culinary training with his love and understanding of Asian cuisine and cooks with a dynamic team of Chefs from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, France, Italy and the Americas, providing guests with innovative yet authentic menus.

His awards and media endorsements include Best Hotel Chefs by the James Beard House, Esquire’s Best New Chefs in America and Fab Five Chef’s in America by influential gastronomic columnist John Mariani, and Rising Star Chef New Orleans (2003).

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They Built Their Fancy Golf & Country Club Under A Rubbish Dump - Now Sandy Lane Is Complaining About The Smell. Well, Duh!

2010-08-09T23:02:00.001-04:00

“Just below the communities of Arch Hall
and Bennetts in St. Thomas, the Sandy Lane
Country Club today added its voice to the
concerns about the recent worsening of the stench from
the Mangrove Pond Landfill.

Golf and country club manager, Elvis Medford told
Barbados TODAY this afternoon that they too have
been concerned by what they believe is an intensification of
the stench of garbage from the dump.

“Basically what we find is that there are some days when
the smell from the dump is a lot stronger, like for example
when there is a heavy turn over of garbage at the landfill.
We are directly down wind and being directly down wind
the smell is very strong. We have a restaurant and it can be
very annoying at time when it is full of people.”

The manager explained that they have had to employ
their people skills in explaining to their customers, some
of whom are very wealthy visitors, about the smells they
encounter while lunching there.

“It is never easy having to explain the smell from day
to day. What we try to do is, see what we can do to
explain the smell to them. So we try to use more pleasant
fragrances in cleaning and mopping some areas. We put
some sweet smelling stuff in the actual water so it takes
away some of the foul odor that comes from the dump,”
said Medford, adding that they have also seen an increase in
flies at the restaurant as well.

He noted though that he could not lay the blame for the
flies totally at the foot of the dump, but that they at the
club have had to look at their own practices and to boost
what they were doing in terms of keeping their surfaces
clean.

“We can’t blame it all on the landfill because some of it
is also pretty much your own hygiene ... if you have dirty
surfaces they will tend to attract more flies. So we have to
be on top of that, and naturally in the rainy time you see
much more flies around. As a result we have to clean much
more often.”

Similar to the residents, the manager said Sandy Lane’s
management has made its position and challenges with
regard to the smell known to the managers of the dump,
the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA). He acknowledged
that the residents in neighbouring communities would feel
the effects of the dump, which he believes is getting bigger.

“It is not just a problem for us but the Arch Hall
community and in some cases the smell itself is experienced
much further down wind and when you look at it, the
landfill has actually grown taller.

“It is the first time in my experience that I have seen
such. It is just getting taller and taller, so obviously it is
getting bigger. Then sometimes you get the odd fires and
that is not a good experience either. So there is heavy
smoke and sometimes it can burn for days. So I am sure
that there are residents, some of whom are asthmatics or
whatever the case may be, who would have concerns that
they would have expressed and made known.”

Among the other challenges, he said, was that the dump
trucks which use the Bennetts Road as a route to the
landfill, sometimes left rubbish behind in the roads, as some
of them travel at terrific speeds. He said they have had to
have the grounds staff clearing the road of refuse that fell
from some of the trucks. According to Medford, it was in
their interest not to leave it on the road, which runs
between the golf course and is the direct route to the
country club where customers come to eat.

Additionally, he said, another growing concern was that
of seepage and “what happens when it goes into the water
course [as] that too could have some bearing on our product.””

Source: Barbados Today 080910 p.30

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Michael Winner Disses Four Seasons ... Again

2010-07-23T00:22:00.000-04:00

"The dream of celebrities owning a villa facing a sandy beach in Barbados, adjacent to, and serviced by, a Four Seasons hotel, turned from idyll to nightmare as a bizarre saga unfolded.

It started in March 2005, when the Sandals hotel company announced it was selling Clearwater Bay, near the island’s capital Bridgetown, to a group of international investors headed by local hotelier Michael Pemberton and Robin Paterson, a London estate agent. Pemberton, an audacious if not always successful entrepreneur, was photographed looking at plans of the area and trumpeting the advantages of snapping up sites priced from $10 million to $20 million. As I sunned myself at the nearby Sandy Lane hotel, expectations reached fever pitch. Simon Cowell and Andrew Lloyd-Webber bought two plots. Eddie Jordan, Lucien Grainge, head of Universal Music, and other luminaries joined Pemberton’s Valhalla..."

Read more: Telegraph.co.uk
See also: Barbados TravelAdvisor and Four Seasons

Something The Government Of Barbados Should Think About For What's Left Of The West Coast

2010-07-06T12:32:00.000-04:00

"After years of welcoming well-heeled tourists from around the world with open arms, one of Tuscany's smartest, most discreet beach resorts is in revolt against outsiders, wealthy or not.

Forte dei Marmi – the traditional summer retreat for Italian captains of industry, writers and film stars – is changing the law to try to stop locals fleeing because of house prices driven out of control by incoming Russian millionaires. The town's combative mayor, Umberto Buratti, is reserving space next to luxury villas with sea views for new homes that will only be sold to locally-born buyers or long-term residents. Other Italian resorts with similar problems will monitor the experiment with interest.

"We want to safeguard the character of the town instead of seeing it turn into a place with no ties, as anonymous as a motorway service station," Buratti said.

"Not everyone here is rich or Russian," added local councillor Michele Molino. "You look at the designer shops round here and we could be in London."

Despite the economic crisis that has kept some smart Muscovites at home, local estate agents expect up to 500 Russian families to descend this summer, following in the footsteps of super-rich visitors such as Roman Abramovich and splashing out up to €100,000 at a time to rent villas for the season – albeit a snip compared with the €20m reportedly paid out to buy the biggest villas nestling behind bougainvilleas between the broad beaches and Apuan Alps.

"Five million is the norm now, but if you go just a few miles inland prices drop by two thirds, which is where the locals have disappeared to," said a local estate agent, Umberto Giannecchini..."

The Sandy Lane Divorce

2010-06-30T15:33:00.000-04:00

Elin Nordegren Gets $750M, Custody of Kids in Exchange for Silence in Tiger Woods Divorce
Tiger Woods is banned from letting girlfriends near his kids in a divorce deal netting his ex a record $750 million settlement, The Sun reported Wednesday.

Tiger Woods is banned from letting girlfriends near his kids in a divorce deal netting his ex a record $750 million settlement, The Sun reported Wednesday.

The golfer agreed to keep single women away from daughter Sam, three, and son Charlie, one.
He can bring a new flame into their lives only if he marries her. In return, former wife Elin Nordegren ,30, gets the biggest payout ever seen in a celebrity divorce.

But she can never publicly speak out over his alleged flings with socialite Rachel Uchitel, reality star Jaimee Grubbs, porn queen Joslyn James and up to 17 others. A pal said: "Elin is desperate to protect the children from the womanizing side of their father.

SLIDESHOW: The Women Linked to Tiger Woods
"Tiger's main fear is her telling her story after he's rebuilt his reputation, sending him back to the gutter."

Swedish ex model Nordegren ended up with double the sum she originally sought, after her lawyers proved Woods, 34, was worth much more than the $1billion she thought.
Her friend explained: "Elin's legal team have done a great job digging up all sorts of assets.
"The price of the huge sum is her silence: no interviews, tell-all books, or TV appearances about this for the rest of her life -- even if Tiger dies first -- or she'll lose the lot."

SLIDESHOW: Tiger's Once Picture Perfect Life With Elin
The friend said: "Everything's signed. Elin is ready to file for divorce at Orlando County Court. She expects to in the next seven days."

Nordegren gets sole physical custody of their kids but they will split legal custody.
That means Woods will share decisions about their future -- so Nordegren will not be able to permanently relocate them to her native Sweden.

Woods -- believed to be building a golf resort in Dubai and investing in the Bahamas -- will be able to see the kids for up to half of each week. He can renegotiate the custody agreement in five years. The pal said: "Elin admits that despite everything, Tiger loves his kids and has been a decent dad. "She is confident he will not pursue seeing the children that much, due to his work and lifestyle." Under the no-girlfriends deal, only married women not romantically linked to Woods will be allowed around the children -- plus female members of staff known to Nordegren.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/06/30/elin-nordegren-gets-m-custody-kids-exchange-silence-tiger-woods-divorce/?test=faces

Coral Reef Club: Spa Spy investigates the curative claims

2010-06-14T06:14:00.002-04:00

"Against my expectations, the patches of psoriasis became less angry and less visible within days. They were, of course, helped by the Barbados sun, but the exfoliation and rehydration seemed to help. Or maybe it was the "medicinal" rum punches and the seafood and vegetable diet. Spa Spy's revitalised face was commented on by friends, and the rest of her skin took on the required healthy glow within days. Sadly, however, there was no prevention for that other affliction – Stupid Snorkeller's Burnt Back..."

Read more: Coral Reef Club, Barbados - Telegraph

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Limegrove Comes Under Heavy Environmental And Ecological Criticism

2010-05-19T22:09:00.005-04:00

Limegrove under construction on the mangrove swamp in Holetown

(Click here for larger image)

Limegrove, the upmarket shopping, entertainment and residential development in the heart of Holetown has come under heavy environmental and ecological criticism from a professor of Marine Ecology and Fisheries at the local branch of the University of The West Indies. Professor Hazel Oxenford described Limegrove and another big tourism development in the works for another mangrove swamp site on the south coast of the island as having "the potential to devastate Barbados' already struggling coral reef population." She explained that mangroves protect coral reefs by holding back,slowing down and absorbing rainfall runoff which unchecked destroys coral reefs and animal life which live on them.

She did not mince words when she zeroed in on Limegrove: "You see in Holetown right now that ridiculous building complex which is going up right in the swamp. What is it going to do? They are turning [the swamp] into concrete to make the water run off fast, really fast water takes with it soil, garbage, anything. Say 'no' to that kind of building."

In the above photosynth you can see on the landside of the bridge where they have built a new concrete canal to channel the water through the swamp area. Recently in the local media the developer was boasting that with the new canals together with the new catchment pond miles inland at Farmers in St. Thomas built to facilitate irrigation of the new golf course at Apes Hill, they have finally solved the flooding problem in Holetown. Professor Oxenford and others believe such thinking is shortsighted, for with the reefs gone the coastline is more exposed to storms and erosion. And, with the beaches gone, so will the tourists, supposedly for whom these monstrosities are being conceived.

Click here to read original Barbados Today article.

Click here for more context to the mangrove swamp in Holetown.

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Nishi - Sushi Restaurant

2010-05-08T15:32:00.001-04:00

"Nishi Restaurant & Bar is now officially my favourite place.
The sushi bar upstairs has quite a few tables but you can also just sit at the sushi bar to eat and watch all the marvellous preparation with ever smiling sushi chefs.
Downstairs there is a Bistro whish serves up a variety of food. I had Chicken with a coconut sauce and Jasmine rice then a superb dessert of a Rum, Banana and Coconut bread pudding. Yum!
The whole restaurant is fully air conditioned. There is a lovely courtyard with more..."

Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Nishi - Sushi Restaurant

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West Coast Becoming Inner-City Ghetto

2010-04-22T12:24:00.000-04:00

"There has been an uptick in drug activity here on the west coast recently including a few high-profile arrests. So I have been more cautious going outside after dark. I was sitting out on my deck late the other night cruising the Internet when I heard what sounded like gun shots coming from what I thought was either Mullins or Gibbses beaches. Needless to say I grabbed my computer, yanked the plug out by the flex and made a bee line for my bedroom. Yesterday I discovered in The Nation newspaper that the incident actually occurred a little further south at Thunder Bay..."

Click here to join the discussion on our forum.

Limegrove's Soft Opening

2010-03-31T03:37:00.004-04:00

The Bank Building at Limegrove, Holetown

The Limegrove Lifestyle Centre currently taking shape in Holetown not so quietly opened The Bank Building last week, one of the twelve commercial buildings making up the complex slated for completion by the end of this year. This happened with the move of the Holetown branch of the Barbados National Bank from it's temporary location in the wooden chattel house fronting the main road to the newly completed "The Bank Building" located on Seaview which connects Hwy 1 to Hwy 2A via Lascelles. The chattel house is currently being dismantled and removed for construction to start on "The Louis Vuitton Building" which will house among others, as the name suggests, a store bearing the name of the international luxury French fashion house specializing in trunks, leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewelery, accessories, sunglasses, and books.

This branch of the BNB (Barbados National Bank) has developed quite a reputation on the west coast and indeed Barbados also for it's upscale banking with it's emphasis on personal service and detail geared to the clientele to which it appeals on the upmarket Platinum Coast. With a lot more space in what Limegrove bills as "one of the most impressive bank buildings in Barbados" they can now take these services to new levels. Certainly, some might also add - fortunately or unfortunately, with the opening of the new branch at Limegrove the BNB, now majority owned by the Republic Bank of Trinidad & Tobago, has come a long, long way from its days in the back of the Post Office as the Government Savings Bank catering to the banking needs of sugar cane cutters, house maids and fishermen.

Chattel House former home of BNB Holetown being dismantled 03/31/10

Lights Out At The Fairmont Royal Pavilion

2010-03-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

"Luxury group Fairmont Hotels will plunge guests into darkness at the end of the month, when they turn out the lights at all 60 of their properties to raise awareness about climate change.

On 27 March at 8.30pm, Fairmont Hotels across the globe will switch off in support of 'Earth Hour', the world's largest climate change initiative.

Brian Richardson, Vice President of Brand Marketing & Communications at Fairmont Hotels, said: "It furthers our ongoing support of environmental awareness and demonstrates energy conservation can go beyond just turning out the lights for an hour - it's about promoting a low carbon future."

To mark the occasion, a number of special green-themed events will also take place at the hotels. Those booking a stay at the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeitin in Hamburg can experience the ambience of a romantic candle-lit dinner at one of its award-winning restaurants, while guests at the Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monaco may choose to feast on a specially-prepared organic sushi menu, made entirely from sustainable produce harvested from the hotel's surrounding gardens.

For something a little more energetic, guests at the Fairmont Turnsberry Isle in southern Florida can take part in a three-mile run to raise money for a local environmental charity, before enjoying a complimentary glow-in-the-dark cocktail at the hotel's exclusive Lobby Lounge."

For more information, visit www.fairmont.com.
Source: http://www.cntraveller.com/news/2010/march/lights-out-for-fairmont-hotels-%281%29

Barbados is queen of the Caribbean

2010-03-15T08:33:00.000-04:00

"It is not hard to see why Barbados is considered the premier destination for Britons thinking of buying property in the Caribbean.
Turquoise-coloured sea and beaches that live long in the memory are just a starter; add to this a warm sunny climate all year round, friendly people, infrastructure that is more first than third world and stable government and it's easy to see why Barbados still holds many in thrall.
"Barbados has always been a favourite among UK buyers – it's known as 'Little Britain' – and the current market has proved that," said Georgina Richards from estate agents Knight Frank International. "We've traditionally sold in British Virgin Islands, Mustique and Grand Cayman as well, and a couple of years ago buyers were investigating the more peripheral islands of the Caribbean, but the market's contracted right back to Barbados. It's our core market: more than 90 per cent of buyers are looking there."
Although the Barbadian market did suffer a downturn in late 2008 and 2009, and several high-profile developments such as Four Seasons and Apes Hill were subject to delays, it seems that building work is commencing again on the island. At the luxurious Royal Westmoreland development, for instance, a new building phase, Sugar Cane Ridge, is about to begin which will have 14 four-bed villas available from $1.2m (£800,000). "Some developers understandably have struggled with financing their projects," said Ian Cox from Royal Westmoreland. "Here we have had no such difficulty as we are a large, well-established development which has grown organically over years, regardless of credit crunches or world economic problems..." - more -

Click here for entire article from The Independent

Take a first look at Wayne Rooney’s £5m Barbados home

2010-02-21T23:24:00.000-05:00

Click here to take a first look at Wayne Rooney’s £5m Barbados home

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Limegrove Lifestyle Centre Update

2010-02-19T04:06:00.000-05:00

Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Limegrove Lifestyle Centre Holetown

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Call it a bailout, Caribbean style: The Wall Street Journal Examines Four Seasons Barbados

2010-01-22T09:19:00.002-05:00

"Call it a bailout, Caribbean style.
Barbados, a popular vacation spot for the affluent, is bailing out the troubled Four Seasons luxury-resort development on the tiny island. Construction of the project stalled a year ago as financing dried up and sales of its private villas slowed, after initially attracting a cast of celebrity buyers.
In a bid to salvage jobs, the government of Barbados agreed last month to guarantee a $60 million loan from a Caribbean bank to help restart construction. In return for the guarantee, the government ultimately will end up with a 20% equity stake in the project..."

Read more:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704423204575017191067750712.html?mod=WSJ_business_whatsNews

See also: West Coast Blog: "Four Seasons Barbados Gets Government Bailout" - http://shar.es/mgK1o

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Elegant Hotels Group Appoints Andy Howard GM Tamarind Cove Hotel

2010-01-20T20:06:00.000-05:00

"The Elegant Hotels Group has today announced the appointment of Andy Howard as general manager of Tamarind Cove Hotel, a luxury 110 room property situated on a 750 foot white sand beach on the west coast of Barbados. The Elegant Hotels Group owns and operates a collection of five distinctive hotels on the south and west coasts of Barbados.

A native of Barbados, Andy has many years of luxury resort experience and was most recently general manager of Grace Bay Club, a 5-star hotel located in Providenciales on Turks & Caicos. Previously, he worked as food & beverage director for Carlisle Bay Resort in Antigua, Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands and Sandy Lane in Barbados..."

Four Seasons Barbados Gets Government Bailout

2010-01-03T19:19:00.003-05:00

"Information reaching the Barbados Advocate has revealed that construction on the project, which ran into financing difficulty in 2009, will re-commence this year, after a deal was struck. The deal involves a refinancing plan, which was reached with lenders, creditors, private residence owners, shareholders and developers. The agreement, which was confirmed by Prime Minister David Thompson, who is also the Minister of Finance, involves Government supporting the refinancing efforts to complete the project. The arrangement in part will allow Government to gain an equity share in the project, while guaranteeing the repayment of the loan, with strict conditions being in place..." Click here or on the newspaper images below for more.

Simon Cowell's £15m nightmare in paradise ..."

2009-12-30T00:28:00.001-05:00

"At the moment, it certainly doesn't look like paradise. Known locally as Black Rock, it remains a spread of rubble and weed, with unfinished roofs and unglazed windows. Hummingbirds, doves, bats and lizards enjoy it for now.
Still, Cowell wishes he was there. This was to be the year when he laid claim to his own home on Barbados - complete with an infinity pool, his own butler, housekeeper, gardener, chef and maids.
He had put down £15million - all in cash, as Cowell makes a point of never taking out a mortgage or any other loan.
The question now is, will he ever see that money again - or receive the keys to what he had hoped would be the finest holiday home money could buy?"

Bleak Christmas On West Coast

2009-12-25T11:36:00.001-05:00

Simon Cowell is here, and so is Roman Abramovich and many other celebrities but their star power is dimmed but the darkness of the Global Economic Recession still hanging over the West Coast and indeed the rest of Barbados. Government tried to lift spirits yesterday by issuing a vague statement about the restart of the Four Seasons project, but it has been whistling that same tune in the dark for the last eleven months. The brief bulletin this time said:

"Work on the stalled Four Seasons development at Black Rock, could be resumed early in the New Year. CBC understands that several parties to a plan to re-start the multi-million-dollar tourism project are likely to sign off on the deal before the end of this year. If this happens, our sources say work is likely to restart in the first quarter of 2010. Over 700 workers were sent home in February 2009 after the project ran into finical difficulty. Since then, a group led by Barbadian Professor Avinash Persaud has been trying to raise financing so that the project could resume." CBC TV News

It is doubtful whether Four Seasons will continue to associate its flag with this project for very much longer. As an asset it may now be even more toxic and hazardous than the gas tanks under which it sits in Black Rock.

Another near West Coast project in similar 5-star luxury brand jeopardy is Banyan Tree golf and villa project at Black Bess (Black Rock, Black Bess, hmmm...). The company behind this project has long since sold its crown jewel when it got rid of the beachfront property on Mullins Beach it had earmarked for the beach club for the "uber-cool." Now rumor has it that Batalleys Mews - the 30-condo project ("townhouses") this company constructed just off Mullins is now in receivership. An accounting firm is now running the show there. This can only be bad news for Black Bess. Meanwhile, into this bleak financial climate, St. Peter's Bay (only a stone's throw away from Battaleys Mews) is preparing to launch 60 more condos - not that they weren't advertising them for sale for at least the last five years.

Apes Hill Adds Nine More Holes

2009-12-03T09:05:00.001-05:00

Prime Minister David Thompson officially opened the new 18-hole golf course at Apes Hill yesterday. Nine holes were opened this time last year so this opening represents the opening of the remaining nine holes completed this year. The clubhouse is yet to be built but we are told a temporary one will soon be in place. From some of the comments made yesterday it is now clear that the residential component of the development never reached anywhere near to rosy picture painted by the developers even before the current recession. That fact has not stopped the developers from launching a new round hubris and hyperbole trying to sell the property. They are already calling the course "one of the best in the world." Don't laugh, at least it has come a long way from a COW pasture.

Links:
Barbados Advocate 12/03/09 Page 1, Page 4, Page 5

The Truth About The Beach At Beachlands

2009-11-23T15:38:00.000-05:00

“Beachlands is scheduled to commence building construction in Easter 2010. The work that has been completed on the beach preservation and enhancement has paid significant dividends and that strip of beach is certainly amongst the best on the island. This project has already attracted some of the wealthiest of Barbados’ international clients. When you know Barbados, Beachlands will likely be at the top of your list of places to call home.”

This is what the beach at Beachlands looks like today:

Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Predictions for Barbados property development in 2010

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Construction On Banyan Tree/Black Bess Golf & Villa Project Causing Local Headache

2009-11-12T07:34:00.004-05:00

"CONSTRUCTION ON THE SITE of the $600 million Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts Ltd at Black Bess, St Peter, has taken a toll on 82-year-old Gellispie Springer.
Springer, who lives below the site at Upper Rock Dundo, St James, said her life has been disrupted by falling boulders and mould, loud noises from bulldozers and now a mass of water.
Whenever it rains, water gushes down the cliff above her and floods around her house and the road.
"If you see how the water rush down from there and flood my whole yard; I had to say Lord have mercy!" the elderly woman cried as she pointed to the cliff which is about 50 to 60 feet high..."

Click here for entire NationNews.com article.

Who knew that this project was restarted? Last we heard this project was shuttered and/or abandoned because of the recession. Be that as it may, the headache it is causing this old lady is another episode in a long string of problems construction on luxury tourism developments on or near the west coast have caused for locals and the environment. Some people in the area still blame a massive flood and rushing water which swept through the village of Weston, St. James several years ago washing one chattel house out to sea and drowning its occupant in the process, on construction related issues at the Royal Westmoreland golf and villa project. There has been no end of headaches for locals with the Apes Hill/Waterhall project involving everything from dry water taps to pushing people off lands. And, of course, the nightmare created in Road View/Mullins by the St. Peter's Bay condo project has been well documented on the Mullins Bay Blog. In all of these and other cases Government has stood aside with its arms folded and mouth shut - it too a victim and sometimes facilitator of the greed that currently grips Barbados by the throat.

New West Coast Boardwalk Already Buried In Sand And Rocks

2009-11-08T02:59:00.003-05:00

Click image to enlarge

Without much fanfare the new West Coast Boardwalk in Holetown was opened to the public recently, but that did not stop Mother Nature from "welcoming it into the fold" by way of some northerly swells which battered the west coast for several days last week burying large swaths of the concrete, steel and granite boulder structure in sand and large rocks. As the photos above taken yesterday illustrate it is already forcing patrons to gingerly climb on top of curbs and otherwise find ways to bypass the obstructions. We have seen this sort of thing with the South Coast Boardwalk already, so here we go again...

Click image to enlarge

First, however, let me highlight what I think are some of the positive things about the new boardwalk. It is a fantastic place to watch our famous west coast sunsets. Ample sitting has been provided particularly on the section between the old Holetown Chefette and Beachlands for locals and visitors alike to relax and take in those magical moments as the sun goes down in the evening. In doing so this boardwalk has reopened for all to enjoy a huge section of our coastline which was lost to beach erosion and other impediments like seawalls and rock revetments, etc. Even though there are no wooden slats like those on the south coast boardwalk already many people are utilizing the new concrete path for walking, jogging and otherwise getting in or staying in shape. Theoretically, one should now be able to walk on boardwalk or sandy beach from the area around Discovery Bay Hotel in Holetown in the north clear through to Sandy Lane and Paynes Bay in the south. Whether that is yet practical is another matter.

Click image to enlarge

For that reason some have already labeled it "the boardwalk from nowhere to nowhere." It starts in the north near Zaccios Restaurant (formerly Cocomos), in my view destroying the little sandy beach that was already there, and continues south to the old Chefette where the paved walkway stops and the sandy beach that was there widened and lengthend. It starts back behind the old Regent Hotel and ends in a pool of water at Beachlands. Most of it is really a granite rock revetment which gives the whole project the look and feel of a cliff walk - something you would expect in St. Lucy on the north coast or parts of St. Philip and Christ Church in the southeast of the island.

Beachlands End

Click image to enlarge

Sandy Beach in front old Chefette and former Regent Hotel

Click image to enlarge

I think the jury is going to be out a long time deciding whether this boardwalk is a good thing or bad thing. It does present an ugly straight line and rocky front when viewed from the ocean with very little sandy beach gained for all the effort. For those of us who remember the sandy beach that existed for almost the entire length of this project the question therefore is: Where is the beach?

Michael Winner Disses The Cliff Again

2009-10-25T15:34:00.000-04:00

"Some people would place The Cliff at, or near the top of their list of favourite restaurants in Barbados. It sits overlooking the sea. It is owned by Brian Ward, whose family once had Treasure Beach Hotel. I think it's over-rated. Run by pompous, arrogant staff. Last time I went my so-called New York cut steak was three pieces of overcooked monstrosity..."

Click here for rest of story and feedback.

Claire Clark scraps London plans in favour of Barbados

2009-10-15T13:06:00.000-04:00

"Acclaimed pastry chef Claire Clark has turned her back on plans to open a business in London, accepting an offer to become executive pastry chef at iconic Barbados luxury resort Sandy Lane.
Clark, a two-time winner of The Craft Guild of Chefs’ Pastry Chef of the Year, was at the three-Michelin starred French Laundry under chef-proprietor Thomas Keller for nearly four years but left in June..."

Click link below for entire article:
Claire Clark scraps London plans in favour of Barbados - 15 October 2009 - CatererSearch

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Limegrove Wins Marketing Awards

2009-09-25T04:04:00.000-04:00

"Limegrove, Barbados’ first mixed use lifestyle centre, (under construction) has captured two online marketing ADDY Awards. The 2009 Caribbean Advertising Federation judging was recently held in St. Thomas, U.S.Virgin Islands to recognize creative excellence from the Caribbean region. Limegrove.com and the Limegrove electronic sales kit both brought home silver awards from the increasingly competitive interactive categories in which they competed.

Launched in December 2008, limegrove.com designed and developed by Virgo Communications, Inc., provides users information on the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre which will offer patrons a merge of retail mixed with luxury living. The dual functionality of the site allows users the opportunity to explore what will be available at the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre as well as The Grove Residences...."

Click here for entire article.

New Cave Attraction?

2009-08-31T10:43:00.001-04:00

Apes Hill Cave

"Move over, Harrison's Cave. Here is Barbados' best kept modern-day secret. Welcome to Apes Hill cave, on the border of St James and St Andrew..."

Click here for entire NationNews.com story.

Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Trouble On First Street

2009-08-21T12:31:00.001-04:00

Construction proceeding on the Holetown Boarwalk as seen from The Beach House

(click image to enlarge)

The stresses and strains of the rapidly changing heart of the West Coast - Holetown - are beginning to show. Traffic has become a nightmare in the area, and although construction has slowed to a crawl there seems to be little hope for residents and visitors in the area being able to breathe free any time soon. Some have described entering the town from the south and passing the construction fences stretching all the way from Beachlands to the old Chefette Restaurant with no construction going on behind them as visiting a prison camp. Now this: Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Trouble On First Street

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Apes Hill Grinds To A Halt

2009-08-12T12:10:00.001-04:00

Like the old 17th century sugarcane windmill which still adorns the property, work on the billion dollar luxury residential golf and polo resort at Apes Hill has ground to a halt. In its heyday its principal developer used to boast that business was so good that he had "nothing to sell." However, he is now lamenting about the fruitlessness of his sales trips to London and that sales have "slowed right down to a stop." The same economic storm that shuttered other tourism-related condo and villa projects up and down the west coast, including the Four Seasons at Black Rock and Banyan Tree at Black Bess, has now also reached even Apes Hill which (because of its partnership with deep-pocketed interests in the USA and Britain and its appeal to the wealthy high end) was once thought of as being immune to the vicissitudes of the real estate market.

Sandy Lane pulled out early in the rush to build more and more luxury villas on, near or overlooking the booming "Platinum Coast," but up until very recently, Sir Charles Williams (the principal developer at Apes Hill) together with Michael Pemberton of Four Seasons and John Morphet of Royal Westmoreland were all still celebrating the seemingly insatiable demand for a piece of Barbados coming from primarily the British nouveux riche and trust fund types, now all of a sudden that market has disappeared. One now has to wonder whether the plans recently announced to begin construction of a new marina near Six Mens next month isn't simply just more singing in the dark also.

Pictorial Tour Of The Controversial West Coast Development - St. Peter's Bay Villas

2009-07-21T17:37:00.002-04:00

After starting synth click icon in lower right corner to expand fullscreen

Click here for more information about this controversial west coast development.

Secret Caribbean's Barbados Coverage Disappointing

2009-07-06T15:12:00.000-04:00

"I found Trevor McDonald's portrayal of Barbados so dissapointing and was left wondering what impression it gave to anyone who has not been lucky enough to visit...probably that it is an overdeveloped playground for the uber rich only.Most of the programme was spent discussing Sandy Lane and Port St Charles and the high end developments, no mention of the ordinary people who for me make the island so special, neither did it show any of the beautiful scenery that we are all so familiar with, there was a 10 second snapshot of the coastal highway and that was it! What a shame it did not examine the fascinating contrasts between North, South, East & West and some of the islands history and rich culture instead..." robiv

Click here for more comments and feedback.

Vera Wang’s Sandy Lane Chic

2009-07-06T10:56:00.000-04:00

"If versatility is that key word that makes a fashion season collection rank above the rest, then Vera Wang got it right on as she showed her Resort 2010 collection in New York on Thursday, June 18.

"I wanted this collection to feel light, airy, and athletic … pieces that reflect a resort mood yet sophisticated enough to go urban," Wang said in a statement. Naming the line "Sandy Lane," after a luxurious premier resort spot in the Caribbean-island of Barbados, Wang mixed vivid tropical colors like peacock, chartreuse, and orange alongside a variety of skin-tone shades like nude, blush, a light sandy brown and rosy-red accents.

Wang kept silhouettes narrow, long and tastefully close to the body, and toyed with hemlines of asymmetry in both upper and lower spheres. She invigorated a new sense of dimension and volume by layering colors, themes and accessories. A series of nude-colored dresses and tops crafted under a delicate lace were both seductively suggestive and aesthetically appreciated. Pairing "tresses," a personal moniker Wang coined for tunic-dresses, with lace shorts and skirts, charcoal knit cardigans, and her go-to "basketball" T, casual was vamped up with iridescent sequined daisy chain accessories and sparkling hippie scarves.

Draped, wrapped and overlapped, Vera Wang's dexterity with diaphanousness is skillful, and from the West Indies to New York she executed effortless chic sophistication to perfection."

Click here for original FWD article and photos.

Hushed Attack On Sandy Lane Guest Breaks Into Open

2009-06-29T16:50:00.000-04:00

Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Breaking News

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Apes Hill In Media Spotlight

2009-06-15T12:24:00.000-04:00

"SIR CHARLES WILLIAMS and his Apes Hill polo team have done Barbados proud on the fieldsof England.

Yesterday, they won the prestigious Queen's Cup polo final at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park in Surrey.

Speaking to the DAILY NATION by telephone from the grounds just after accepting the cup from Queen Elizabeth II, an elated Sir Charles said: "Words cannot describe my feelings or that of the team. It was a nail-biting finish and great jubilation for all of us.

"This is the third year I have sponsored the team and never in my wildest dreams did I expect to win the cup this soon. It's truly an incredible feeling."

Playing against Sumaya, both teams were locked at 11-11 at the end of the sixth and final chukka. It took England's three-goal handicapped player Charlie Hanbury moments into the extra chukka o seal the deal for Apes Hills with a well executed shot."

http://www.nationnews.com/news/local/sir-charles-polo-glory-CPT-FRONT-PAGE-OTHER

What Recession – Not Royal Westmoreland

2009-06-07T12:42:00.003-04:00

“WHEN BRITISH BILLIONAIRE John Morphet bought the exclusive Royal Westmoreland Resort five years ago for £60 million he had huge plans for it as well as for the island.
To date, by dint of hard work and determination, he has taken the resort from an occupancy level of 30 per cent for its rental villas to over 90 per cent.
It has also commanded a very high repeat customer rate with more than 50 per cent of clients also buying holiday homes there.
During an interview with the SUNDAY SUN last week at his home, also located at the exclusive St James resort, and overlooking his vast investment, it was clear why he had fallen in love with the island while on vacation - and hence the purchase of Royal Westmoreland…”

Click here and here for entire Nationnews.com article.

Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Things You Can Do To Help The Save Mullins Bay Effort

2009-05-16T23:20:00.000-04:00

Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Things You Can Do To Help The Save Mullins Bay Effort

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The Face Of Holetown Is Changing

2009-05-12T00:26:00.005-04:00

Construction photo 05/11/09
Click image to enlarge
Artist rendering of Limegrove Lifestyle Center
Click image to enlarge
Contruction workers adding decorative details to one of the buildings at Limegrove Lifestyle Center 05/11/09
Click image to enlarge

With the recession biting on the West Coast shuttering almost all the major tourism related construction projects, it surely must be reassuring to the public to see hard hats and cranes in action on the massive upscale mall under construction along the main road in Holetown. When completed the multi-building shopping, entertainment and office complex will boast some of the leading top-of-line luxury boutiques in the world including: Armani, Hugo Boss, Breitling, Bulgari, Dior, Diane von Furstenberg, Gucci, and many others in its tenant line-up. If this project survives the current recession it will change the face of shopping on the west coast of Barbados. Also, associated with the project is the building of scores of condos aimed at the high-end market.

However, not all of the construction activity in and around Holetown is centered along Route 1, another “route” is taking shape along the beach variously dubbed “The West Coast” or “Holetown” Boardwalk. Similar in concept to the popular boardwalk in the Rockley/Hastings area on the south coast, when completed it should provide continuous waterfront access along the beaches in Holetown from Discovery Bay to Beachlands. It also involves widening some beaches and fortifying revetments.

West Coast Boardwalk Construction photo 05/11/09
Click image to enlarge

More on Limegrove see www.limegrove.com
More on Holetown Boardwalk see www.coastal.gov.bb/pageselect.cfm?page=75

What A Difference A Year Makes

2009-05-01T05:22:00.003-04:00

The rumor mill is swirling again around the cash-strapped, stalled and/or abandoned Banyan Plantation golf and villa project in Black Bess, St. Peter and it’s developer, Bacassa Developments (Barbados) Ltd. Only a year ago Bacassa was still boasting that it has secured premium beachfrontage on the prestigious Platinum/West Coast on which it was to construct a top-of-the-line beach club for the “uber-rich and uber-cool.” Well, something happened on the way to Coolville – a recession. Now the West Coast Blog has learned that Bacassa has sold the Turtle Nest property on Mullins Beach, not to Royal Westmoreland next door as originally rumored for expansion of RWM’s own beach club, but to a new duo of developers looking to build more condos. Apparently, RWM could not or would not come up with the rumored US $9M asking price.

So, it looks like Bacassa got some cash to service its debts on Battaleys Mews, Haymans and Porters but apparently not enough to do anything with their dream property - Black Bess. For that to happen the West Coast Blog has learned that Bacassa is hoping to secure massive concessions from government including bringing into the island cheap foreign (re: slave) labor to construct the luxury villas for the rich; and that they are musing (re: threatening) moving the project to St. Lucia if those concessions are not forthcoming. This week the Tourism Minister was heard making noises about Barbados needing more golf courses, and given the fact that nothing is happening at other large tourism related developments on the island, including Four Seasons, Bacassa could still get its way.

Mariah Carey Celebrates 39th Birthday On West Coast

2009-03-30T19:22:00.001-04:00

You heard it here first, folks. Our microblog was the first to bring you the news that Mariah Carey was spotted on the West Coast last Friday night. Now we have the pictures to prove it. Click here for more photos of Mariah celebrating her 39th in a secluded west coast cove.

A Late March West Coast Sunset

2009-03-23T21:38:00.002-04:00

Is Four Seasons Barbados Dead?

2009-03-18T11:13:00.002-04:00

The answer to the above question is still on the minds many people both in and out of Barbados. If you listen to the chatter coming out of the Government of Barbados, no one there really knows. The Prime Minister promised that the project was going to restart in a week but a whole month has gone by and there is still no signs of like on the old Paradise Beach Club site. If you read what the Minister of Tourism said yesterday as reported by The Barbados Advocate today , it looks like the project is in "limbo." From the little this blogger knows of Catholic theology you must first be dead to get into limbo. So, it looks like the project may be dead but people are fearful of saying so. All government is saying is that they are prepared to "facilitate," which, to this blogger at least, sounds like something an undertaker does.

Holetown Beach Closed

2009-03-17T08:48:00.011-04:00

CBC TV Channel 8 reported with much fanfare (again) last night that work has finally started on the construction of the Holetown/West Coast Boardwalk. Well, we were told work was supposedly to start on this project last summer, but, hey, this is Barbados - it's summer all the time. At least this time (from the television pictures) they have started erecting the barricades to close off a portion of the Holetown beach to swimmers and other beach activity so that the heavy equipment can be brought in to move the earth and sea. When completed in another (Ahem, Ahem) six to eight months visitors and locals will again be able to walk unimpeded the entire stretch of beach from the Beachlands/Vauxhall area just north of Sandy Lane to the Villas On The Beach area just south the government complex in Holetown. This should give the West Coast an amenity very similar to the much praised South Coast Boardwalk between Rockley and Hastings in Christ Church.

Ironically, work is starting in front of the now closed Chefette Restaurant area at a time when the beach (sand) has recovered a lot on its own, no doubt fueling the concerns of those who have reservations about the effectiveness of man-made interventions aimed at controlling beach erosion. Another concern is that the project seems to have been increased in scope from originally announced plans particularly in the Beachlands area where they have apparently added a new artificial headland. The Beachlands Condo project had plans to widen the beach in front of them on their own, so it now seems that government has taken over that aspect of their project entirely. That may be bad for the taxpayers but good news overall for the environment given the record of private condo projects being allowed to do their own beach engineering on the west coast.

Speaking of which issue, the recent photos below tell the story of the continuing heightened beach destruction in Road View that has followed a private condo development which was allowed to build groins on the beach in front of its property seemingly without reference to or caring about its impact or implications for the rest of the area:

Cracks widened and more of the foundation of this fence in Road View was exposed as a result of rough seas last week. When this fence was built in the 1980s it was several feet from the high watermark and fronted by lush vegetation as well as three picturesque and much photographed leaning coconut trees.

This coconut tree in front of the defunct Kings Beach Hotel came down last week during the rough seas. Another one weakened by the same storm came down quite suddenly yesterday (good thing no tourists were trying to negotiate passage at the time - we might have had another Long Beach or worse on our hands). Countless trees have been lost in the area between Kings Beach Hotel and Mullins Beach since the groins were placed on the beach just north of the area. In place of the disappearing beautiful beachfront foliage people have had to resort to Gabion baskets and piling rocks to try to keep what's left of their properties from falling into the sea.

This is all that is left of the once magnificent beach that fronted the Kings Beach Hotel (at low tide - now completely impassable at high tide). The offending groins of the condo development can be seen in the background.

Lobby Group Calls For End To Mega-Resorts

2009-03-12T01:02:00.002-04:00

Citing the Grenada project of the company behind Four Seasons Barbados as an example, a lobby group "attacks governments and developers that espouse [as a marketing tool] "responsible tourism" policies, covering issues such as sustainability, community participation and damage to the environment."

Click here for post on our affiliate blog, Barbados TravelAdvisor: Lobby Group Calls For End To Mega-Resorts

Michael Winner Reviews The Lone Star

2009-03-02T03:12:00.000-05:00

"Barbados restaurants are patchy. Worst is the Cliff - snooty, arrogant staff, most tables with a lousy view. My New York steak, medium rare, was four slices of burnt meat.Daphne’sis no credit to Richard Caring, who owns the real one. The Fishpot is good, Fisher Pond Great House triple historic.

The restaurant I visit most is the Lone Star, owned by Christian Roberts. In 1967 he starred in To Sir, with Love, opposite Sidney Poitier and Lulu. He was best known as the lead in his own production of the stage musical Return to the Forbidden Planet."

Click here for entire review.

In other news along the west coast, while we await the restart of construction work at the Four Seasons this week it was observed last week that work seems to have restarted also at St. Peter's Bay Villas in Road View, St. Peter and it also appears that major foundation work is in progress on the Beachlands luxury condo project just north of Sandy Lane.

You Know Four Seasons Barbados Is In Deep Trouble When...

2009-02-25T23:43:00.001-05:00

... it's being trashed in the British press.

Two recent articles in the British press have picked up on the troubles at the Four Seasons project:

In an article titled - "Paradise Postponed" - The Evening Standard reported:

"Indeed, after a recent unexpected difficulty in this corner of paradise it seems they may have to wait for some time. Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber are among a number of investors who have become impatient. Some have formed an action group to try to get things moving. They have all placed deposits on luxurious villas, costing up to $30 million, and so far there is no sign of a firm completion date.

Matters came to a head last week when workers on the site were told to pack up and leave. Today, work is at a standstill. Lord Lloyd-Webber is said to be taking legal advice."

Click here for entire article.

The Sunday Times chimed in:

"Winner [film director Michael Winnner] is watching events at Clearwater Bay closely. “It’sa posh development with a very nice beach,” he said. “But it’s got disadvantages as it’s where tourist boats come to swim with turtles. You can’t get near the sodding turtles because of the sodding tourists.

“Sandy Lane will be worried it would be a rival. But the developers say 2011, and this being Barbados that means 2014 at the earliest.”"

Click here for entire article.

Rough Seas On The West Coast

2009-02-20T10:17:00.001-05:00

Today is the sort of day on the West Coast any surfer would love. Swells are running at around 12 to 18 feet and surfers are out in force at popular beaches like Mullins where loungers on the sand are having a hard time keeping their feet dry. The patch of rough seas seems to be an apt metaphor for what is currently going on around the west coast economically. We learned yesterday, as this blog indicated back on January 7, that all is not well on Clearwater Bay with the Four Seasons Resort building project. With nearly half of the villas unsold and even less already built work came to sudden and unexplained stop yesterday. Hopefully, thing will be come clearer as the day wears on but the major damge has already been done - word is now out that this project is in deep financial trouble if not also a total disaster. Look for the few who have already bought in to be lining up to recover their deposits.

Click here for related Nationnews.com article.

New Kid On The Block

2009-01-29T08:55:00.031-05:00

According to a recent press release, Beach View, the condo project next to the Methodist Church in Paynes Bay, St. James and across the road from the beach and the Cubana Airlines Disaster Memorial, "is now fully open for business."

Click here for press release.

Paul Daniels Wants To Go Naked On Paynes Bay

2009-01-25T07:37:00.001-05:00

Check him out here - http://bit.ly/MQpl

Royal Westmoreland's Rigid Gate Policy Enriching The Competition

2009-01-19T16:21:00.003-05:00

They are already infamous for denying entry even to the Royal Barbados Police Force investigating a case of domestic violence on the 750-acre luxury resort, but who-knew the rigid gate policy was also benefiting other west coast resorts:

"...Lloyd-Webber's first choice was in fact Royal Westmoreland, the stunning resort where Gary Lineker, Andrew Flintoff and, most recently, Wayne Rooney, have bought.

However, when he dropped in on the sales office unannounced last summer, security guards at the gatehouse turned him away. 'If you don't have an appointment we can't let you in,' they told him.

The irate impresario could barely believe his ears and headed straight for Clearwater Bay, where the guards were a bit less fussy..."

- more -

How stupid can these people be? Couldn't someone make a phone call to someone with half a brain saying - "we have Mr. Andrew Lloyd Webber of "Cats" and "Evita" fame at the gate and he is threatening to buy a villa much, much closer to the beach at the Four Seasons on Clearwater Bay - what shall we do?" Oh, well, what does this blogger know about these things? Perhaps John Morphet is the one singing all the way to the bank:

And as for fortune and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world
They were all I desired
They are illusions
They're not the solutions
They promise to be...

Don't cry for me Argentina

Nearly Half The Villas At Four Seasons Still Unsold

2009-01-07T03:40:00.003-05:00

If you get beyond the hype (as it appeared in The Nation today and recently in other media) everything is not quite coming up roses at the Four Seasons project in Black Rock. For one thing, do not look for completion of the project anytime before 2011 - so much for "with a bit of luck 2009 - 2010" Michael Pemberton promise. Now we are learning that nearly half the villas are still unsold - good thing the number of them to be built on the site was pared down to 35/36 from the original 80 when the project was announced several years ago. Now that the bottom has fallen out of the real estate worldwide do not look for the remaining 15/16 unsold villas to find owners anytime soon no matter how many "very, very serious inquiries" they are supposedly getting. And, even if the inquirers are serious, they are undoubtedly looking for bargains (re: heavy, deep, substantial discounts). The bottom line is - Four Seasons will probably never bring into the island the mother lode of foreign exchange originally imagined.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the west coast hotels and guesthouses are already laying off staff and putting others on short time barely three weeks into the "high season." Almond Beach Village is down to just 400 guests from the 1200 or so that is normal for this time of year. The situation is no better on the south coast where even popular hotels like Amaryllis has had layoffs. The old people in Barbados used to say that if it rained on New Years Day it will rain all year. Well, we had a lot of rain here on the west coast on New Years Day and if the old people are right, a lot of people are going to get soaked in 2009.

Daddy, lend me your super lux West Coast resort so I can propose on Xmas Day

2008-12-30T06:20:00.001-05:00

"It was a very happy Christmas for singer Andrea Corr after she got engaged to her stockbroker boyfriend Brett Desmond, eldest son of billionaire Dermot Desmond. Brett popped the question to the pint-sized Dundalk beauty with a €70,000 diamond ring in his father's lavish Sandy Lane hotel in Barbados on Christmas Day..."

Click here for entire article.

Season's Greetings From West Coat Blog!

2008-12-18T12:07:00.003-05:00

Apes Hill Lands On Golf.com

2008-12-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

"Demand has been so relentless that in the new year Landmark will begin developing the next phase at Apes Hill, which will include a new nine holes and 200 or so half-acre lots that are expected to bring an average of at least $750,000 apiece. Barbados has long been the warm-weather destination of choice for the upper crust of England and Ireland — the Concorde used to make twice-weekly trips from London in season — and Barton says of his clientele, "Either these people don't read the newspaper, or they're so rich they never have recessions." He knows it's the latter..."

Click here for entire Golf.com article.

What Recssion? The Rooneys Are Buying

2008-12-02T14:34:00.000-05:00

"Wayne Rooney is buying a holiday home in the Caribbean. Rooney and his wife Coleen are having the £5m mansion built on an exclusive estate in Barbados. The couple opted for the island following recommendations from Rio Ferdinand and Gary Linekar, who also have holiday homes in Barbados, according to The Sun. The Rooneys chose their new villa in Barbados from architects' drawings. When completed, the six bedroom house on the 750 acre Royal Westmoreland Estate on the west coast of the island will overlook a golf course and Mullin's Beach; said to be a favourite with celebrities. The couple's new home on the west coast of the island will boast a cinema room, swimming pool, Jacuzzi and a gym designed by Wayne. A £35,000 security system wil also be installed before they move in. The England and Manchester United star will be in good company as the estate is a popular location for celebrities with holiday villas in Barbados. Famous residents include footballer Ashley Cole and wife Cheryl, and boxer Joe Calzaghe."

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/resources/property-news/miscellaneous-and-celebrity-news/rooney-buys-holiday-home-in-barbados/a-2-58-1482/

Crisis in paradise: Meltdown leaves ghost resorts

2008-12-01T03:08:00.001-05:00

"The ocean glows a milky turquoise. Tiny waves lap at the powder-beige sand, in no rush to reach the line of postcard-perfect palm trees.

Hundreds of luxury villas are positioned to take in the view, but there are no guests. There are no roofs either; neatly tied bundles of red tiles are stacked outside. The wind slams doors and rustles the yellowed newspaper taped to the windows..."

Click here for entire AP article.

Oops! It Happened Again...

2008-11-06T03:50:00.001-05:00

With the news still dominated by Obama, except you live or were vacationing on the west coast you would have probably missed the news that dinner was again a little different on Tuesday night this week thanks again to the National Petroleum Corporation. Once more in less than two weeks homes and businesses (re: restaurants, etc.) found themselves without the essential cooking utility - natural gas. No word yet on what caused this latest outage (probably again the re-construction work going on around the Lazareto area) which lasted several hours from early afternoon to well into the night. Restaurants up and down west coast were forced to close for dinner including The Cliff in Derricks, St. James and East Moon in Road View, St. Peter. Hotels were also forced to breakout salads to try to feed their hungry and bewildered guests - not to mention the chaos it caused in many homes.

We can understand this sort of thing happening once in a blue moon but twice in two weeks clearly tells us that we have a major problem on our hands. And, that major problem probably is that the runaway wild development on the west coast has outstripped the country's ability to provide basic services. Water shortages and outages have become so intolerable that as was the case recently at Apes Hill one developer found himself the target of an attack in the local media. There is now a month-long wait for telephone service and a two-month wait for DSL service from the main communications provider; and the list of headaches continues. Meanwhile we await the new government's "Tourism Master Plan."

Mega Wealthy Feel Safe In Barbados

2008-11-03T09:14:00.002-05:00

"They are businessmen that have sold their businesses, sitting on a lot of cash and the most important thing is that they are coming down to buy acres for two reasons. They love Barbados where they've been coming for years and their children encourage them to buy in Barbados because the children like coming to Barbados and the other thing is that they feel safe in Barbados..."

Click here for entire NationNews.com article.

Times Online Calls Four Seasons A Private Beach

2008-11-02T11:15:00.000-05:00

Do they know something we don't know? Is it just bad journalism? Is it desparate salesmen overreaching again? You would think that by now the whole world knows that there are no private beaches in Barbados but yet again authorities in Barbados will be doing local damage control now that another major journal has reopened the can of worms beach access has become in Barbados. The fact of the matter is if you are paying 10 million dollars for a beachfront villa you really don't want to be seeing any Tom, Dick or Harry on the beach in front of your palace from your pool deck. So Barbados finds itself trapped in a corner by the mad dog it has been feeding for the last few decades - selling its soul to become a "high end," "world class" destination for the "uber-rich."

Click here for Times Online article.

Finally Something To Crow About Again

2008-10-29T03:22:00.000-04:00

After a 3-month hiatus Royal Westmoreland Journal finally has something to crow about again. Click here to findout what it is.

Is Banyan Tree Barbados a "future opening?"

2008-10-29T03:02:00.000-04:00

Barbados TravelAdvisor: Global Financial Crisis: Lessons for the luxury west coast and other high end projects in Barbados

Four Seasons Barbados Take Note

2008-10-29T02:52:00.000-04:00

Barbados TravelAdvisor: Global Financial Crisis: Lessons for the luxury west coast and other high end projects in Barbados

Coral Reef Club Spa Update

2008-10-28T16:45:00.000-04:00

"The eagerly awaited Coral Reef Club Spa will open in Barbados during December 2008. The Spa, designed by British designer Helen Green, whose signature style combines a modern aesthetic with classic Barbadian charm, will use products from the multi award-winning luxury brand, Natura Bissé. Additionally, an exotic range of treatments using locally sourced plant life & fruits has been created by the Coral Reef Club Spa. Set amidst twelve acres of beautiful and mature gardens, its facilities will include: individual treatment rooms with private gardens; a couple’s outdoor treatment pavilion set in a lush private garden; a hydro pool with shaded cabanas for post treatment relaxation; a thermal suite with ‘experience’ shower; plus a beautifully designed spa lounge and relaxation room..."

Click here for story and discussion.

Barbados TravelAdvisor: Sandy Lane Weathering Economic Strom ... so far

2008-10-22T13:59:00.000-04:00

Barbados TravelAdvisor: Sandy Lane Weathering Economic Strom ... so far

No Gas My ...

2008-10-22T09:59:00.000-04:00

West Coast gas blues
Published on: 10/22/08.

by Barry Alleyne

Barbados' upscale West Coast had a hard time dealing with hungry visitors yesterday.
A number of eateries lost hundreds of potential customers, as a lack of natural gas along what is called the "gold strip" prevented a number of hotels and restaurants from serving hot meals.
Most businesses which offered food were adversely affected, with some of them forced to make the tough decision of not opening for lunch, at all, yesterday. Some were forced to open from after 1 p.m. in an effort to recoup losses.
Yesterday's lack of natural gas, provided by the National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) through its underground pipeline, affected businesses from Prospect, St James, to Mullins, St Peter.
General Manager of the NPC, James Browne, explained that the problems were caused when flooding forced huge rocks into the road at the Lazaretto,
Black Rock, last week, and damaged their lines in the process.

Badly damaged

"Our pipeline was badly damaged at the Lazaretto, but we put a technical team on the job as quickly as we could," Browne told the MIDWEEK NATION. "When the road collapsed, it almost destroyed our pipeline, too. We had to repair a portion which led directly down the West Coast, and we were able to have service resumed just after 12 noon."
The manager said the job was still incomplete, however, since their repaired line was now propped in the open, and cannot be placed underground again, until the road is completely repaired by the Ministry of Public Works.
Businesses affected yesterday included The Beach House, Tides Restaurant, Tamarind Cove Hotel, and the Jus Grillin Restaurant.
Operations Manager at Tides, Judy Packer, said the service of the NPC was usually first-class, but that yesterday's lack of gas cost them dearly.
"We had to make a decision because we didn't have any gas, and we decided to close for lunch. This business is always unpredictable, especially at this stage of the season, but I know it affected us somehow because we weren't able to serve any lunches today," Packer said.
The Beach House, smack in the middle of the tourist district of Holetown, St James, also had their profits cut yesterday. "It affected us substantially," operations manager John Mark-Davis said. "We don't fry anything. We grill all our food, which means we depend only on natural gas, so we had a hard time. We weren't able to start business until after 1 p.m. today. We actually lost quite a bit of business" Mark-Davis added.
General Manager of the The Beach House, Howard Palmer said most of his lunch guests turned away, but a few still decided to have salads for a meal, instead of cooked food. "There's really nothing we could do about it. These things happen in business, and you have no control over it when it does happen."
At Tamarind Cove, Deputy General Manager, Sandra Parris said they were affected, but not as much as other businesses, since one of their two restaurants actually use Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) bottles.
In First Street, Holetown, Executive Chef of the The Mews Restaurant, Nicholas King was thankful the service had been restored just before 2 p.m. allowing his staff to prepare dinner.

barryalleyne@nationnews.com

http://www.nationnews.com/308892785642826.php

Welcome to the Sun, Sea and ... Rocks?

2008-10-13T10:19:00.000-04:00

"The photo [above] (also taken yesterday) tells the tale. We were all impacted by Hurricane Ike but this damage was going on before and getting worse ever since those ugly groins went up. It is now impossible to walk from Mullins Beach proper to what’s left in front of Jentillia and The Great House at high tide. I have seen visitors coming from the direction of Sandridge and trying to get to Mullins turn around and go back in front of Jentillia. Last month I heard the owners of Leamingtion who usually walk the beach everyday twice a day when they are in town asking “where did the beach go?” Soon we will all be asking that same question..."

Click here for more.

Sandy Lane Back From Redo

2008-10-08T17:32:00.000-04:00

"The hotel has been closed since August 31 for an extensive renovation project and will welcome its first guests on Friday, October 3. Sealy was participating in a site visit during which he was shown the transformation of the hotels Bajan Blue Restaurant, which will feature a climate controlled area, a coffee bar, and other new amenities. The renovations also featured the complete retrofitting of Sandy Lanes rooms, extensive improvements to the spa, and training for over 400 staff members in line with the hotels goal to be the premiere luxury resort in the world..."

Click here for entire Barbados Advocate article.

Apes Hill Club In Hot Water Again

2008-10-08T13:32:00.000-04:00

We all saw this coming. How did the Apes Hill Club miss it? It all stems from the continuing secrecy and deliberate attempts to keep the public uninformed over the true nature and scope of the Apes Hill project in the heart of the Apes Hill, Water Hall and Orange Hill communities. Of course, I am referring to the battle of words which erupted in the local media last weekend over the water situation at Apes Hill and surrounding areas. I am sorry but rehashing all the wonderful things you are doing for Barbados does not cut it when you can’t flush your toilet for lack of water, but when you look through your window you see hundreds of acres of grass being artificially watered.

Ms. Roach was correct in pointing to the lack of community involvement on the part of the developers as the true cause of the bad feelings on the part of residents. This blogger was attacked for stating just that last year by a nitpicking Apes Hill Club enthusiast. What is so hard about Apes Hill Club sitting down with the people in the local area even at this late stage of the game to discuss what will impact the lives of residents in the area for generations to come? Blurbs in the media from time to time mainly intended to drum up sales for the mcmansions under construction are not enough. This blogger is not a prophet nor the son of one but there is more trouble coming down the pike when the Apes Hill Beach Club clashes with the people of Speightstown over the little beach at Goddings Bay.

See also:
http://www.nationnews.com/editorial/302310112667893.php
http://www.nationnews.com/story/292784105381933.php
http://www.nationnews.com/editorial/301271664536898.php

Almond’s Flagship Heads for Dry Dock

2008-09-26T08:17:00.001-04:00

Word on the street is that Almond Beach Village at Heywoods in St. Peter, the flagship resort of the Almonds Resorts group of all-inclusive hotels will be closing for six months next year for a much needed overhaul and refurbishment. This comes as news has begun to surface that the captain of the ship, Ralph Taylor, will also be leaving the group to concentrate more fully on the duties assigned to him earlier this year by the new government as the Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority. Presumably, the closing will occur after the coming tourist season ends mid-April next year. It will be the 400-room hotel’s first total closing since Mr. Taylor came onboard at sprawling St. Peter resort. Indeed, many are wondering if this latest development isn’t reflective of the new management style of the Trinidadian conglomerate, Neal & Massey, which merged last year with Almond’s primary owner , Barbados Shipping & Trading.

Mr. Taylor had carried out several refurbishments in the past but never totally closed the complex by taking advantage to the campus-like layout of the resort’s inter-connected “blocks.” Guests who have been complaining recently that the hotel looked “tired” will no doubt love this move to totally overhaul the resort in one fell swoop but staff members with mortgages and car payments to meet will be of a different persuasion if as expected Almond’s two smaller properties in Barbados cannot absorb all of them during the overhaul. Also, given the inordinate delays in the opening of the Almond Casuarina Resort recently it is not totally out of the question that staff members could be out of work for a year or more during what is looking like recessionary times ahead globally.

Uncharted Waters Ahead

2008-09-21T16:57:00.000-04:00

"We are really in some turbulent times. All of our major markets are in trouble. We all know what is going on in the [United States]. In [Britain] there are significant layoffs and so on. Even Canada..."

Click here for NationNews.com article.

Is Banyan Tree Resort At Black Bess Dead?

2008-09-21T11:59:00.000-04:00

"It would also mean that the Banyan Tree resort at Black Bess is probably in jeopardy if not already dead. Rumors to that effect first surfaced back in the late winter/early spring of this year when there was talk about a work stoppage on the project..."

Click here for more - Mullins Bay Blog: Reading The Tea Leaves & Rumors At Mullins Beach

Is Royal Westmoreland Expanding On Mullins Beach?

2008-09-21T11:49:00.000-04:00

"...that has not quite satisfied all the speculation and rumors swirling around since Royal Westmoreland landed on Mullins Beach last year. Indeed, one new rumor gaining strength is that Royal Westmoreland is expanding on Mullins Beach rather than pulling out..."

Click here for more - Mullins Bay Blog: Reading The Tea Leaves & Rumors At Mullins Beach

Look Who Bought A "Private Residence" At Four Seasons Clearwater Bay

2008-09-20T11:11:00.000-04:00

We know he was fast, some might say - too fast. Now the Times Online has reported that the former motor racing mogul, Eddie Jordan, is among the deep-pocketed 36 to come up with the necessary cash to own one of the super luxury residences under construction at the former Paradise Beach Club site in Black Rock, St. Michael, Barbados.

Sandy Lane To Re-Open In October

2008-09-19T11:30:00.000-04:00

Seven years after it was completely rebuilt Sandy Lane is currently closed for yet another upgrade.

Click here for NationNews.com story.

Banyan Plantation Beach Club

2008-09-07T05:32:00.000-04:00

Not contented to merely gazed down upon the west coast from its perch above it two miles away, Banyan Plantation has bought a piece of the action. Click on the link below to find out more:

West Coast Blog: Beach Club For The "Uber-Rich & Uber-Cool" Coming To Mullins Beach

Beach Club For The "Uber-Rich & Uber-Cool" Coming To Mullins Beach

2008-09-07T04:17:00.002-04:00

After many months of only hinting at it, the inland golf and villas resort now taking shape on Black Bess Plantation is now confirming its intention to tear down the Turtle Nest beachfront villa bordering the Mullins Beach Bar on the south and to construct in its place a beach club for the “uber-rich and uber-cool” residents and guests it hopes to attract. The confirmation comes by way of the recently redesigned website of the developer behind the project - Bacassa Developments (Barbados) Ltd. According to that website (excerpt pictured above) “Banyan Plantation,” as the Black Bess resort is now being called, will build a “dedicated [re: PRIVATE] beach club” consisting of a bar, a restaurant and a seaside pool with changing facilities at the premium beachfront location on the Platinum Coast.

This development comes to light just as the Mullins Bay Blog revealed last week that two other beachfront properties bordering Turtle Nest are also to be demolished to make way for yet a third beach club associated with an upmarket inland resort. Most interested people know by now about all of the concerns that have been raised both in the mainstream media and the blogsphere since Royal Westmoreland took over the beach bar at Mullins last year. Now with two more private beach clubs going up back-to-back in the area those concerns are now compounded. The Apes Hill Club has already secured beachfront property for its beach club less than a mile to the north, so the trend is clear - if you are not in the condo or beach clubbing business on the upper west coast, move before you are pushed.

Now it looks like not only locals to Mullins, Gibbes, Bayfield and Road View cannot live on the beach anymore, but even those who pushed their ancestors off the beach at Gibbes two generations ago to make way for the Clearwaters, Four Winds', High Trees', etc., beachfront villas of this world, they too are now in the gunsights of the latest breed of greed sweeping the area.