Dave Ames, Marketing Director of Harlequin Properties, responsible for developing the Buccama site, said that his company has over-exceeded promises made. Ames made the comment, Monday, May 18, during a surprise media tour of the Buccament Bay site.
“Over the past 3 years, I have taken knocks from people; we are the ones still building while no one else is,” Ames told members of the media, referring to three known development sites in neighbouring St Lucia where construction has been stopped. “A lot has happened, good and bad,” he continued. “We know we are fulfilling what we said… We have a business model that works,” Ames said.
The size of the project has since been increased and is now being marketed as a 1000 room destination, requiring 80 to 100 acres this according to Ames. Ames contended that there were still opportunities being made available to Vincentians and, once the facility was completed, the site would be of benefit to visitors and locals alike.
“We are here for the long term; we are not just here to make money but to work with the local people and give them opportunities that the people in the west have got,” the Marketing Director said. Work at the site is progressing, with the scheduled opening date for the first phase of the project slated for July 2010.
Ames told THE VINCENTIAN that even during the time of the recent problems at the project, work was still in progress. He said that he was unhappy with what was going on, and had made a decision to get rid of some of the people.
However, according to Ames, work has always been going on at the site, and now it was in full swing, with a further 400 persons being required to complete the task.
by Dayle Dasilva
2009/05/21
The Vincentian Newspaper
www.thevincentian.com
