Hotel mongul Butch Stewart has his eyes on Almond Beach Club
One of the unforgiving characteristics of this Democratic Labour Party (DLP) government has been its reluctance to communicate to a public which yearns for information. Surely if there is one group in society who has a right to know how its government is treating with issues, it is the taxpayers. Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart’s taciturn nature has indelibly labelled the legacy of his Cabinet. On the eve of a general election it is unlikely public perception will change.
Of the myriad of issues which this government continues to wrestle -thrown up by the global economy – ordinary citizens have the capacity to understand that this is a difficult time to govern. Surely one way the Stuart government can allay the anxiety of citizens is to feed them relevant information. A reasonable assumption must be that disseminating information to the population is a prerequisite of a democracy.
One of the many issues which is of concern is the status of the sale of Almond Beach Village. Since April this year it was reported that several buyers were short listed by the owners Neal & Massy and a decision was promised in weeks to inform the winning purchaser. It is several months later and we are still waiting. Given the significant contribution to GDP which the Almond Beach property generated, the Opposition and others had suggested to government at the time that it was a company which should have been labelled too big to fail. The public was advised by Minister Richard Sealy the government would play its part to pave the way for a smooth sale of Almond Beach Village. It appears that Sealy has been emulating Stuart because he has been very silent of late.
BU is on record throwing support to Butch Stewart sealing the deal for Almond. The power of the Sandals/Beaches brand cannot be ignored. The mega-millions which Butch throws into the marketing budget is the punch which has been missing from the national effort of the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) to date.
BU understands from Check-This-Out, a BU family member who keeps us apprised of what is happening in the Canadian media, Sandals had a new half page advertisement in the Globe & Mail on Thursday: Banner says “Travel Agents Know Best – the body is a message from Gordon “Butch Stewart” about “Certified Sandals Specialists”. Also in Globe and Mail yesterday – a full page St Vincent & Grenadine advertisement (have not seen before); and Barbados had a small boxing Westjet ad. Not to forget St. Lucia which seems to be our direct competitor of late.
According to Check-this-Out he following article which appeared in a Canadian publication six months ago remains relevant:
Excuse me, dahrlings, but…That Butch Is So… Butch
There are 2 things I have learned in life, Pumpkins. One, virgins should never attend prison rodeos. Two, when Butch Stewart sets his sights on something – get out of the way. The man knows how to mount a marketing coup. And believe me, dahrlings, I’ve sashayed in front of his telescope on many occasions hoping for a mounting.
(Unfortunately, he always shoos me away and tells Adam to get the transvestite off the property.)
And so, with the Almond Beach Village turning up toasted, the golden boy of Jamaica has his eye on Barbados again. And why not? The Stewart passion lies in expansion – and Barbados is ripe for the taking. And giving, I would imagine.
The man cannot be contained. He is spreading his brand all over the Caribbean. I love a business success story, Pumpkins. Fortitude. Sweat. Followed by customer satisfaction.
Butch, don’t leave me like this… send me a car wrapper! Or maybe a butler.
What is happening with the Almond property, Sealy, Stuart? Barbadians anticipate a status report from the Governor of the Central Bank in the third quarter review, please!
Related links:
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The Fall of Almond Beach Village, Next Chapter
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Saving Almond Beach Village At What Cost
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Notes From a Native Son – Is There a Wider Lesson In Corporate Barbados From The Almond Crisis?
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Almond Resorts At The Cross Roads
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Is Almond Too Big To Fail?
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Almond Resort Inc Should Be Asked WHY By Barbadians
- Neal & Massy Pulls The Plug On Almond Beach Village
It hasn’t really been discussed publicly a lot but one of my main concerns is airlift. We have lost Philadelphia, Atlanta and most recently Dallas. This is perhaps where having a Sandals (or Beaches) would make the biggest difference and help raise the profile or Barbados.
It is a democracy, we deserve to KNOW!
These are the kind of issues that our local ‘Stuart’ the once sleeping political giant of a “Femme” should be addressing now he is awake. His lack of communication on important national matters (a defect in character whether contrived or congenital) will be his undoing as a leader of this country and indeed of a once great political organization.
Instead of talking of fighting the beast of Ephesus in the form of the OSA ghost he should be informing the people about what lies ahead and how his administration intends to deal with such matters as the Almond Resort, Four Seasons and CLICO. The future of the country’s economy is at a crossroad and we need to get some guidance and direction from the leader.
Promoting a football tournament and the damaged memory of a dead crook and liar will not do at this stage. Leave that to the responsible Minister and Mara Thompson including the funding of that tournament.
A little more about the people behind Sandals:
There is consensus among key stakeholders that the hole left by Almond in our tourism strategy musters national attention. The citizens have a vest interest in the solution. Our lives and our children are wrapped up in the outcome. For us to be guessing what is happening is not good enough. It is a private sale byt government’s role is obviously critical to nailing a deal.
@ David | October 21, 2012 at 8:57 AM |
One of the ‘holdups’ to the Almond resort takeover by Butch is the same that plagued the Paradise Beach Resort.
Sandals wants exclusivity including the beach and a casino with major tax concessions.
Another reason why our molasses decision-making boss needs to call elections next month to obtain a fresh mandate to concede these demands before year end.
The DLP supporters will change their minds about selling off and out Barbados all in the need for FDI to save the country from economic ruin cause by OSA’s 14 years of mismanagement, corruption and economic prostitution by selling off Bim to foreign interests.
These fields and hills and now beaches once beyond recall is still NOT our very own in order to get forex to buy Japanese SUV’s and imported processed food.
PILFERAGE
Posted by Anthony on another blog. We need decisive positions. Hopefully with an election on the horizon we will see a quickening on this front.
Government is not the major shareholder in Almond Beach, why do you place the expectation of disclosure on Stuart in this one? If we were talking about Paradise, well yes we are due for an update given that through NIS we are a shareholder (apparently).
This would seem to be a transaction between Neal and Massey and the buyer. The meetings probably would not even be conducted in Barbados.
@Just Stating the obvious
Please don’t take us for fools. There will be no deal unless government is at the table because concessions will be a part of the deal. Didn’t Minister of Finance Sinckler declare in parliament that he would be meeting with Butch Stewart shortly? That was weeks ago.
@ Just stating the obvious…. | October 21, 2012 at 10:02 AM |
It is Cabinet ministers in the form of Sealy and Sinckler who made commitments to get these important projects sorted out. The PM has also gave his two cents worth of promise to resolve these matters in a timely manner.
In any event the Almond resort outcome will still require State approval of any new operation.
BTW, do you know if Almond has any outstanding statutory financial obligations still to be met like NIS PAYE, land tax?
@millertheanunnaki
He could get the casino but he would never get the beach. DLP own supporter would rake them over coals even AC and CCC
While Sandals brand would do the best their where two other bidder as well. I would give my support for Doyle secondaryily if Butch don’t come thru as he already know what the business is needs and how to get it there.
@Miller
Let us not quibble if we agree both numbers fall on the range which all the statisticians agree is allowable. Especially when the sample is suspect.
On the other point, what better way to convince the people from the rating agency than to sit across the table?
@ David | October 21, 2012 at 10:31 AM |
We can only agree on any margin of error when the politics are removed from the statistical equation. Why did the governor superimpose his figures on those of the agency responsible and technically equipped to manage the process? We have every right to quibble. The governor was wrong. He was put in his place by the IMF and made to eat humble pie. He did indeed apologize too the BSS but did not do it public because of his oversized ego.
Let us see the unemployment figures collected during the 2010 census and we can move from there. You couldn’t want a better “sample” than that, can you now Mr. Stats.
The governor had the opportunity to convince the rating agencies when they visited Barbados before issuing their reports and downgrading our status. They were not impressed with his version of things.
What he and others are on this visit this time is not to convince the rating agencies but to lay out the begging bowl and ask for less bitter medicine for the pending restructuring of the local economy. Devaluation or Dismissal of 10,000 is the IMF offer: Deal or no deal, Barbados the decision is yours, Guv!
BTW, the MoF is seen as a joker and buffoon figurehead among this pack of IMF and other technocrats.
When one looks at the Sandals’ operation portrayed in the video all can be said is WOW!
@ Anthony | October 21, 2012 at 10:24 AM |
If the DLP give Butch a “private’ beach the DLP supporters, especially Ac and CCC would sell their souls of their dead mothers to the devil before publicly opposing such a move. Ac would even attempt to blame OSA for causing Barbados to be in such serious economic predicament that it is forcing the DLP to sell the country’s remaining assets just to survive and to keep imported food on the table.
Barbados, now unemployed and unable to earn foreign income, no longer has any say over its remaining asset; that is the sea and sand.
Like a true ‘paro’ Barbados will sell even her last revealing bikini or worn underwear to any perverted ‘john’ just to get a few foreign dollars to feed its ‘imported’ consumption habit.
Just look at how the beggars have gone to seek forgiveness from the IMF and rating agencies for their crass verbal indiscretions and hoping to get a piece of change ( US$ 33 million) from the loan sharks to feed the country’s forex drug habit.
My preference is to give Sandals the Almond and Doyle take over the Four Seasons & Paradise Villas in partnership with COW & Simpson.
@Miller
I agree that the Almonds,Beach and Village should go to Doyle who has a good local track record.No private beaches in Buhbaydus.The casino thing has got to have public approval and will not get it.A private casino for guests only should do it.One cannot promise that the evil spinoffs of casino will not affect the locals.It’s a moot point,and some US jurisdictions have regretted going the casino route.
Caribbean Airlines,in 2007 when known as Bwee, pulled out of NY,Toronto,Miami and London routes For near 54 years Bwee brought the majority of tourists and the bajan diaspora and friends to our country.It should be a priority of the next government to bring back this carrier to the plant.
Redjet should similarly be reinstated to fly to the Caribbean and South and Central America.
@ Gabriel Tackle | October 21, 2012 at 2:43 PM |
I respect your pseudo-Christian perspective and traditional Bajan moral expectations fashioned in a social crucible of 50′s 60′s Barbados. Maybe I say maybe, you don’t know the behaviour of a true drug addict aka in local parlance “paro”. Paro Barbados will sell anything and prostitute its body of high morality just for a forex fix.
Can you imagine unemployable Bim needing to feed a burning overpowering consumption habit? We can’t borrow from overseas anymore. Not even T&T is prepared to give us an overdraft.
Tell us how this modern generation of materialistic vipers would survive the self-sacrificing and making-ends-meet conditions that prevailed in the era(s) you were raised in.
Does anyone know if Butch Stewart’s Jamaican hotels get subsidies from the Jamaican Government?
@Hants
In Jamaica they have the Hotel Incentives Act.
http://www.jtbonline.org/tourism_jamaica/Major%20Tourism%20Laws/Hotel%20(Incentive)%20Act.pdf
Our choice – the devil or the deep blue sea…….
@Hants
Here is the link:
http://www.jtbonline.org/tourism_jamaica/Major%20Tourism%20Laws/Hotel%20(Incentive)%20Act.pdf
I bet Butch Stewart would build a Sandals in Barbados if he could build it with a Private Beach and if he could have the same level of support and concessions he gets from the Government of Jamaica.
However the bigger question is when will Bajans accept that Tourism is a great business but too risky to continue using it as the main forex earner.
Time for the brainiacs who make policy and direct the economy of Barbados to accelerate their programs. That is if there are any brainiacs left or they all hiding out in the UK,USA and Canada.
David do our incentives compare to Jamaica’s?
@Hants
There is a divide which separates Jamaicans and Bajans and it is the entrepreneurship drive they seem to be born with. On the flip side the orderliness which Barbadians are known for has dissipated
how many bajans spend time to fact check any thing .almost a year ago allegations were level at butch about subsidises and other controversial issues about employment of jamaicans he fired back through the courts but lost. a news article recently stated that Sandals of Bahamas (Exuma) is looking for govt help. bajans see things through rose coloured glasses never like to know the truth that is why the media remains in the state that it is it knows full well that the truth to bajans is well like……
@Hants
It is difficult to say. An industry expert would have to list the pros and cons.
@ac
My questions were to look at how Barbados could get a Sandals without giving them a private beach.
Paul Altman’s idea to build an off shore Island is great but would require a couple billion $.
Note that Four Seasons just opened a new Hotel in Toronto (259 hotel rooms and 210 high-end condos). A penthouse was sold for $28million cad.
Makes me wonder why Four Seasons Barbados can’t get off the ground.
David maybe the BU industry expert Adrian Loveridge can answer.
hants
Does anyone know if Butch Stewart’s Jamaican hotels get subsidies from the Jamaican Government?
ac maybe i was wrong but i am assuming that was your comment or question to which i reply. btw don.t expect to see butch purchase almond he strikes a hard bargain almost for free he purchased sandals ” whitehouse”of jamaica for 40million a project which had cost the govt 120millin and also the land for about 6million.
ac the new norm is for business to lobby Government for every concession and subsidy they can get.
Butch is a successful businessman who is using the same lobbying tactics that are used in the capitalist world.
@Hants
Fours seasons company is technically a franchise brand. They get investors to build the hotel and then they get their name on it. Fours seasons then overseas the management so that is kept on par as the other properties. What has happen here is the people bankrolling the project lost funding. When to government to pay off debt. Still can’t find new investors. Went and got NIS and IDB to bankroll them and still have not started back. If i was to hazard to guess why it hasn’t started, the co finance bank for the remaining funding of four season hasn’t signed on or IDB due diligence in selecting the contractor is still to be completed.
ac the new norm is for business to lobby Government for every concession and subsidy they can get.
but not at the expense of the taxpayers govt has a responsibilty to the people first and not giving it all to business, where does taxpayer benefit in allof this besides job. if it means giving away the cap and the bottle for one job how does that help the country, butch looks out for butch and the govt must look out for the people as well.
ac wrote “govt must look out for the people as well.”
And Investors have to look out for themselves and their shareholders.
ac | October 21, 2012 at 4:56 PM |
how many bajans spend time to fact check any thing .
Very few when one checks on the bariffle of crap millertheanunnaki shites out on bu everyday more than two thirds of his/her/it posts are unvarnished lies. When short me crutch Owen takes over I’m looking for my share of gold on the streets immediately. After all annuaki regales us with tales of the white rum man super genius, a semi midget who can solve instantly every socio economic problem besetting us caused by molasses man.
@ Cruel | October 21, 2012 at 6:59 PM |
THE ANUNNAKI WILL NEVER LIE, CHEAT OR STEAL.
Sounds cruelly familiar? After all Leroy Parris is my pal and I am just taking those BIPA jackasses for another ride.
ac wrote “govt must look out for the people as well.”
hants
And Investors have to look out for themselves and their shareholders.
ac @ hants
thank god you not in any position to influence govt policy cause from your comment one knows who would get the biggest share of the pie. however we the people are also investors and directs govt by our approval or disapproval on issues, but we will not be happy campers sitting idlly by and lets govt take us for granted with your attitude that can easily happen
David I think you meant the Almond Beach Village and not the Club. Well the update is as follows:
The grass has been cut and some maintenance to the grounds is being done. I do hope that they clean it up properly because if you are selling a product or property a better price can be had if it is presentable looking.
@islandgal
Thanks for the catch!
Check out page page 12 in the Advocate today
I am all for more local ownership of our tourism to change the leakage rate situation here in Barbados. We have had those opportunies but the employing of poor management and management systems have lead to the demise of some of these local properties. We have too many experts in tourism that do not speak to the real issues.
This DLP Government led by the one and only Fruendel have gotten too big (no pun intended) and foolish thinking they can say what they like when they like and bajans will believe them. Fruendel gets on like on of thoses rulers from the old British Empire who will come out of their castle once in awhile and say little of nothing and expect the peasants to bow down to him. Not so Fruendel. We deserve better. If you don’t like people and like to talk to people stay in St Philip.. Don’t bother to come town
Is it really a fact that he wanted a private beach? I’ve heard varying stories. I know none of Sandals’ properties (Sandals, Beaches, or Grand Pineapple resorts) are on private beaches in none of the islands. Only Fowl Cay comes close, as it’s on a private island.
I would love Almond Beach Village to be under Bajan ownership, but as a travel agent, I know what Butch Stewart can do to a property once he gets his hands on it. We call it Sandalizing a property. It would be something unlike what Barbados has ever seen.
Here are updates on Sandals LaSource (from Sandals): http://www.sandals.com/grenada/index.cfm?referral=105928
Sandals owned resorts are gorgeous properties. You really have to see them to believe it. They look fabulous on TV, but that doesn’t compare to seeing the properties in person. Any time any of you are ready to see a Sandals property, give me a call.
I wish they’d hurry up and make the decision already.
Mag
Bridgetown Travel
David you own Bridgetown Travel ?
@Hants
No
Hants, I am the owner of Bridgetown Travel.
Mag
I know what Butch Stewart can do to a property once he gets his hands on it.
***********
So the problem at Paradise is that he did NOT get his hands on it….?
PR for butch!
Actually, I don’t know much about Paradise. Maybe you can tell me what happened there.
I just found this updated story. Seems like they are (or may be) closer to a buyer: http://the-trident.com/forum/index.php?/topic/16894-bite-at-almond/
In the news today:
Name of Almond owner ‘soon’ – http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/name-of-almond-owner-soon/
I used to love staying at the Village. I’ve been there 5 times. But from the Uk Barbados has become an even more expensive place to visit because of the UK’s Air Passenger Duty. Because of the way the bandings of this duty work, it costs less in duty to fly from the UK to Hawaii, than to Barbados. So there are external factors at work, besides any internal factors. I have to say that managment at the Village was poor, facilities tired, and extras overpriced. Clearly marketing of the property was poor as occupancy rates had fallen. Cruise liners nearly always sail full, because the operators realise that an occupied cabin yeilds on borad revenue, while empty ones don’t. So long as a room is let at a rate which covers variable costs (like food and drink in an inclusive hotel) then anything else you get is at least some contribution towards the fixed costs – and thus long term losses are minimised or eliminated. Clearly Almond beach Inc were not up to the job of managing their hotels, and clearly took too long to address the problems. But why Barbadians think its the Government’s job to sort out the mess is beyond me – the private sector takes the risks and the profits; they also accept the losses. The job of the Government is to create the right conditions for growth, not to run everything themselves. Visit Cuba if you want to see where such an ideology takes a country and I’ll tell you this for free – you wouldn’t like it.
@Victor
Thanks for your comment. The debate is a divided one but what we know is that given the importance of tourism to the national economy government MUST play a leadership role. The question then becomes: is the private sector doing enough?
The private sector’s primary motive is to make profits, and when conditions are thought to be right, the private sector will invest in anticipation of making those profits. If the private sector isn’t willing to invest (3 bidders for the village suggests they are!) then that suggests the conditions are not right – many economies are flatlining now, so investing in tourism which is a largely discretionary area of personal expenditure might be considered rather risky. But if you take a longer term view then you might think that the world economic situation is starting to improve, and starting the investment in the village property might be sensible. When it will start to see guests again is another matter.Building will create jobs for some in the short term, but will not bring foreign currencies to Barbados as guests would. Perhaps the government can do more to make the conditions better, but not at the expense of unsupported borrowing. The economies of the southern meditteranean countries show what happens if your government debt to GDP figure gets too high.
Freundel is a big F….C…T!! He needs to get the hell out his office and see what’s happening! His stupidity is congenital. Is the typical F….. Bajan stubborn old man!! F.YOU!!