SETTLERS BEACH HOTEL, an upscale West Coast property, may become a private villa facility if a proposed business deal succeeds.An offer is being made to the British shareholders of Settlers Beach Hotel through its board of directors, for the purchase of their shares in the property. That potential purchaser for the Holetown, St James property reportedly plans to replace the hotel operation with privately-owned villas. That change could cost 26 Barbadians their jobs.A SUNDAY SUN source said that such a move would mean the loss of yet another prime traditional Barbados hotel, and jobs for Barbadians who had worked at the resort for as long as 25 years.A competing offer for the shares made by locally-based hotel developers BACASA Development Limited has been turned down. This was confirmed by developer Mark King, a partner in BACASA, who said his bid had been rejected by the chairman of the Settlers Beach board. King said his company was in the process of submitting its proposal directly to the individual shareholders.Settlers Beach Hotel consists of 22 individual suites and operates as a resort which primarily attracts visitors from Britain. The valuable beachfront property has reportedly experienced some financial problems in recent times, necessitating an injection of funds by shareholders to keep the operation afloat.King expressed disappointment that BACASA had been turned down even though he said they had offered “the same money per share as the other party”.“We had also offered to put in some more money into the operation to keep it up and running until such time as we could complete, and then redevelop and renovate the property. “As of Thursday, we were writing to the individual shareholders to see which offer they would accept. We felt the best use of the property would be to retain it as a hotel.”During his term as president of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, hotelier Wayne Capaldi had been vocal about the proliferation of condominiums along the West Coast, particularly at the expense of traditional hotel properties.
(GC)
Settlers Beach Hotel to be sold
Follow Me hits bump
LACK OF AIRLIFT is undermining the Follow Me To Crop-Over promotion in neighbouring islands.Chairman of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) Ken Knight told the SUNDAY SUN yesterday the annual promotions in Trinidad and St Lucia had generated a lot of interest again this year, but that fact will not be reflected in actual numbers.Knight said close to 2 800 people were expected from Trinidad and another 1 200 from St Lucia this Crop-Over, but the numbers could be considerably higher.“If the powers that be in tourism and civil aviation can resolve that problem, Barbados would be flourishing at Crop-Over,” he observed.Knight lamented the fact that LIAT was the only carrier flying between the islands since BWIA quit several years ago and has not been replaced. Airlift capacity has been significantly reduced ever since.“That is where we take our lashes. So until we can drive that home, I don’t know what the answer is,” Knight said, adding that both he and Minister of Community Development and Culture Steve Blackett had previously met with Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy on the issue. “I’m also mindful of the fact that there are limitations of equipment that is available . . . . The market is there, but the airlift is not there,” he stressed.“The Follow Me To Crop-Over has caught on. If we can have the airlift, we will have a lot of excitement out of the region for Crop-Over,” he added.While there is seemingly no solution to boosting the numbers from the region for Crop-Over, Knight said arrivals from the North American market will be booming this year.He said they were doing a lot of indirect promotion in North America through the various groups.The NCF chair did not have supporting figures, but he said plane-loads of people will be coming from Canada this season.“There are a lot of promotional flights out of Canada, and air fares are comparatively lower than in previous years. We’ve been getting a lot of buzz in terms of people coming down from the Toronto area, Montreal and Hamilton. So we expect a higher number of Barbadians coming in from Canada than in previous years,” he revealed.High numbers are expected from Miami, New York, New Jersey and Boston, which was largely due to the NCF/BTA promotion done at the Labour Day parade in New York every September, and organised trips through Barbadian and West Indian groups.
Special honour for Romeo
VETERAN CALYPSONIAN Charles Romeo Smith will receive a special honour from his peers tomorrow at 8 p.m.Romeo will be recognised by the Kingdom Of The Super Gladiators for his 45 years in entertainment, at their annual in-house calypso competition at their Waterford, St Michael base.Calypsonians in the tent will face judgement on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Villa Gate, to bring their 2010 run to a close. In addition to the singers in their line-up, Mr Dale, Bumba, Dragon Slayer and Sly La Ry, who are all from other tents, will go before the judges.“We don’t turn back. We give the fellas a chance; we open we doors. We ain’t afraid . . . we gotta keep the festival alive, so we gotta do what we gotta do,” Winston Alleyne of the management team said. (YB)
Coverley houses soon ready
THREE HUNDRED HOUSES at Coverley, Christ Church, will be made available to Barbadians by year-end.And 70 of those are to be handed over to prospective homeowners on July 24.Yesterday Minister of Housing and Lands, Michael Lashley, officials of the National Housing Corporation and project developers, were at Coverley, at a section of the development called Tamarind Loop, where they fine-tuned plans for the July 24 handing-over ceremony.It was revealed that some fortunate householder from the initial 300-houses phase would have the opportunity to win a car which is already parked in the garage of one of the completed houses.Developers are utilising a building system that allows for the houses to be constructed in a factory and transported to the site for erection. The private/public sector project of 1 026 homes is divided into 17 villa neighbourhoods with a combination of two-house styles in each area. Tamarind Loop villas is the first completed village comprising 47 three-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom homes. Each house sits on approximately 2 500 square feet of land.The project also includes a state-of-the-art sewage reclamation facility, which once commissioned, will treat up to 450 000 gallons of sewage from homes and commercial buildings daily.The housing project will also include a town centre – Coverley Square – that will feature retail, recreational, medical and day care facilities.The expected completion date for the entire project is 2014.
(PR/WG)
Ease us now!
“WE DO NOT want it next year. We want it now!” Those were the comments of president of the Barbados Association of Tent Managers (BATMAN), Sinclair Gittens, in response to the Minister of Community Development and Culture Steve Blackett’s decision to decrease Valued Added Tax (VAT) for the tent managers and bandleaders. Gittens, who said they welcomed the decision to have a decrease, noted that overhead costs were not going down, and they were being forced to spend money “before we could even make money”.Heard pleasBlackett, speaking to WEEKEND NATION at the launch of the Visual Arts Festival, said he had heard the pleas and all the suggestions from those in the cultural industries, and would be making representation to the Minister of Finance on their behalf, but noted however, that the relief would not be in time for Crop-Over 2010.But Gittens said they had already written a letter to the Minister of Finance to request a meeting, and felt that something could be done sooner.“Next year we could look at putting a permanent solution into place, but we have to get something done this year,” he said.The tent managers were previously given a subvention of $16 000, which this year was cut to just a “participation fee” of $7 000. According to some tent managers, it was not enough.Not competingTent manager Harvey “Pop” Daniel of Tornadoes which is not competing this year, said Government’s decision to stop the subvention has now placed them (tent managers) in a state of “impecuniosity”.“How can they stop the subvention fees? They can do better than that because Crop-Over is a national festival and the protagonists must be respected and treated accordingly,” he said.Daniel said the tents were “the engines that ran Crop Over, and calypso music, so they should bea part of the festival and they should be compensated for the work that they do.”He admitted that it was not easy to run a tent, especially a small one, but said he would be back next year.“In Barbados there is a big thing about big and small tents. They don’t really check for the small tents but it is the smaller tents that have very good social commentary,” he noted.
Sisters 100 and batting strong
TOGETHER THEIR LIVES span over two centuries, bridging the gap between how Barbados used to be and how it is today.The SUNDAY SUN spoke to centenarians Viola Verona Broomes, 101, and her “little sister” Glendora “Germie” Cyrus, 100, in Broomes’ Upper Carlton, St James home on Thursday.The interview started with recollections of the siblings’ lives over the years but included a mini sermon and ended with a prayer session.Cyrus recently played host to Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands in her Sion Hill, St James home on her birthday. She is slightly more alert than her elder sister and has excellent hearing. During the interview, she often shushed her sister for interrupting her when she spoke.“Barbados was a nice place back then. There was proper food and drink; there is only husks now. I remember [running] after my sister to her work rather than go to school,” she said.If this sounds confusing, then realise Cyrus was not speaking about the sister sitting next to her. Their family has a history of longevity and there are two other sisters who would have been older then they, were they still alive: Viola White, who died at 100 and Rhonda Delcina Millar, who lived to see 101.Broomes said she remembered their father as being a strict but nice man, who did not allow them to go anywhere “just so”.Both sisters have worked in agriculture, although Broomes can also boast of being a midwife and a seamstress. They are devout Christian, who raised their children and grandchildren in the church.“I raised four children and told them ‘don’t steal, don’t tell lies’ but I had to beat this one,” Cyrus said, referring to granddaughter Marcia Babb, who was sitting beside her.Babb, 54, said it was a pleasure to take care of her grandmother now in her old age as Cyrus had raised her.“It can be very tiring but I am happy because it is not many people who still have a grandmother at my age. She’s still a disciplinarian. Her great grandchildren shy away from her because she chastises them and encourages them to go back to the house of the Lord,” she said.Annette Stuart helps take care of Broomes, her grandmother. Like Babb, she said Broomes was a disciplinarian who kept them rooted in the church.“We always had to go to church and Sunday school, and we couldn’t go anywhere until we were grown. We had a good upbringing, and I thank God for her,” she said.Also in attendance was Broomes’ 84-year-old daughter, Damsel Thompson, the eldest of nine surviving children, who said she and her mother often engaged in discussions and singing.In addition to her children, Broomes also has 47 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren while Cyrus has 50 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren and ten great, great grandchildren. Cyrus said she loved ground provisions and cited banana, breadfruit and cassava cou-cou as her favourite meals but said she wanted nothing to do with rice. She also showed how big pig tails were then and gave a mock demonstration of what she used to do with them.Her sister was less discriminating about food. She, too, was raised on ground provision, but these days she said she “did not pick out” but ate what she was given.Broomes will be celebrating her 102nd birthday on August 5, an event Cyrus does not want to miss. At this point, the interview took a religious turn as Cyrus gave advice to young people and the SUNDAY SUN team.“I does talk with them and show them the Word of God; some of them are walking around half-naked. I teach both young and old. I am not afraid because God is coming soon.“You have to accept and serve God or you will burn in brimstone and fire,” she admonished.For her part, Broomes also encouraged the young to live for God.“They must live as I lived – righteously. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. I hope to see my family there (in heaven),” she said.Broomes then broke into song. Patting her little sister on the knee, she sang “when the roll is called up yonder”, adding they would meet each other up above.
Bigger, longer Foreday jam
FOREDAY MORNING, July 31, will be its biggest ever in Crop-Over’s history.Bridgetown will come alive with 15 bands of night-time masqueraders, the largest the event has ever seen, and three times last year’s.Mark Massiah from the National Cultural Foundation said people were becoming more interested in the Foreday Morning jump: “Foreday Morning used to have a stigma attached to it, but people are recognising that it is now better organised,” he said.He said many of the current band leaders are young people, so more people want to be involved.Three leadersOne of the newest and biggest bands, Muddslyde, will hit the road with about 500 revellers.The band has three leaders, Chetwyn Stewart, Kamal Clarke and Chris John and is operating in collaboration with the popular Power X 4 band.Spokesman Stewart, who participates in many J’Ouvert Morning celebrations around the Caribbean, said he was looking forward to the jump this year, adding: “For years I have been looking to open a band for J’Ouvert in Barbados and it is good to see it getting bigger.”He also called for more people to get involved in J’Ouvert.“Instead of just watching from the road side, jump in a band and you will see that it will get much better,” Stewart said.Massiah also confirmed that there would be a slightly longer route this year, from Heliport on the Princess Alice Highway to Workbench on the Spring Garden Highway, rather than originating from the Pelican Craft Centre. The jump will then be followed by the Sunrise Beach Party on Brandons beach.Another new band added to the Foreday Morning jump, Island Fusion, has five young leaders who are all eager for the jump. Creative director Toni Thorne said she believed Foreday Morning had a lot of potential.“Foreday Morning can become a very big Crop-Over event in Barbados, but it is not given the necessary attention that it needs to grow,” she said.Thorne also said that they were bringing a young person’s perspective to Crop-Over because “we are the future band leaders for the festival and have to hold high standards.”She added: “This is our first time jumping and each year we are going to bring something to improve and at the same time maintain high standards that will not be compromised.”Thorne also mentioned that this year 80 members of the Tribe band from Trinidad and Tobago would be jumping with Island Fusion.
Mayers’ 64 not enough to save the day
A PURPOSEFUL 64 from Police allrounder Antonio Mayers was not enough to prevent the lawmen from conceding first innings lead to visitors BNB St Catherine as left-arm spinner Derick Bishop starred with bat and ball. Mayers came to the crease with his side struggling on ten for three and shared in a 56-run fourth-wicket partnership with opener Roger Williams (30) and a 53-run fifth-wicket stand with Brian Corbin (22). Steady lineIt was during that partnership that Mayers brought up his half century after batting for 100 minutes and facing 64 deliveries, five of which reached the boundary.Bishop, who kept a steady line throughout the innings, finished with four for 31 and then hit a fluent 44 as St Catherine reached 162 for five at the close for an overall lead of 203 going into the third and final day. Captain Kenroy Williams contributed 35.
Thomas sets up LIME to ‘uncork’ Banks
RANDY THOMAS fell nine runs short of his second century for the season, but still helped LIME to first innings honours over Banks.Despite losing batsman Aubrey Towler who did not add to his overnight score with the total on 44, LIME’s middle order easily overhauled the modest Banks’ first innings total of 164 runs.Thomas, resuming on 17 overnight, seemed entrenched for a second century when he gifted his wicket at 91 against a trouble-free Banks attack. He struck eight fours and three sixes from 148 balls in 217 minutes of batting.He featured in two crucial partnerships, first a third-wicket stand of 57 with Ashley Nurse, who hit a run-a-ball 27 and then a fourth-wicket partnership of 64 with the aggressive Cyprian Payne, who contributed a quick 34 from 48 deliveries.LIME’s final total of 260 from 65.3 overs was given a low order boost by 18-year-old Alex Browne, who stroked a majestic 53 not out from 59 balls, with five fours and three sixes. Martin Nurse was Banks’ chief wicket-taker with three for 43.In deficit by 96 runs, Banks started their second innings disastrously losing opener Kofi Hurdle with nine runs on the board. They would eventually finish on 73 for three off 26 overs with the aggressive Nurse contributing 49 not out from 88 balls with seven fours and one six.Jeremy Marshall has picked up two for 33 for LIME, who would be fancying their chances of pressing for an outright victory today.
EDITORIAL – Rule of law guarantees freedom
We are often reminded that we are living in a global village with the consequence that what happens in other countries affects us in our neck of the woods, and that we should draw lessons from these events in order not to make the same mistakes. It is in this context that recent events in Britain and the United States command our attention, if only because of related developments on the local scene.The Saville enquiry in Britain and the firing of General McChrystal by President Obama make the same point. The military power of the army is subject at all times to the overriding authority of the civilian power. The right to bear arms as a member of a defence force or an army does not give the military, however powerfully armed it may be, the right to disobey the civil laws of that country. So the British soldiers who shot unarmed protesting civilians are answerable in the first place to the ordinary law of the land.By parity of reasoning and principle, President Obama is commander-in-chief of the United States armed forces, as a matter of law and constitution; and as such, is the superior of any general in the United States. That is the impact of civil law of the United States, and it is an immutable principle on which all democracies are based. It is therefore the paramountcy of the rule of law and not the rule of weapon that principally guarantees our freedom. Disrespect, expressed or demonstrated, for the commander-in-chief therefore is the ultimate threat to the rule of law and is met with the severe penalty of requested resignation.It is just as well that all members of our disciplined forces, such as police officers, continue like their brothers in the other forces, to remember that they operate under the overarching principles of the rule of law. The strictures delivered by a High Court judge recently in a case where an accused walked free after an alleged beating at the hands of police officers, is, thankfully, a relatively rare event, but it is a careful illustration of the superiority of the law and legal rules, particularly during investigation of breaches of the law itself.The death of United States Senator Bird at the ripe old age of 92, until his death still a sitting member, should be a lesson to us about change and healing in human society. The senator who started out as a youthful member of the feared Klu Klux Klan, an organisation devoted to the hatred of Blacks, vehemently opposed the Civil Rights legislation in 1964, but ended up as a friend, supporter, and admirer of Senator Obama as Obama fought his way into the White House.Similarly, in the past three weeks, articles in NATION publications have been tracing the evolution of certain districts such as Belleville and Strathclyde from “apartheid Whites-only enclaves” into integrated areas where people of all kinds of ethnic backgrounds now live together under the protective umbrella of equality of law guaranteed by our Constitution.Clearly the law helps to change people’s attitudes, but it is now obvious that just as societies in Britain and the United States change and become more multicultural and multiethnic, our small island is undergoing similar changes in smaller and tighter living space.In order to maintain peace and good order as our society changes, we will have, like Senator Bird, to exercise greater tolerance towards our neighbours and pay more than lip service to the meaning of “loving one’s neighbour as one’s self.”The late senator came to see the light and to respect the laws which established and respected the rights of others. Each one of us, whether in or out of uniform, would do well to remember that. It makes for a better society.