RIU speaks

[evanovitch]

RIU speaks
Saturday, 10 May 2008
The RIU Group has defended itself against claims that it breached building regulations at its hotel site in St. James.

In a statement, RIU says the hotel is not being built in the direct take off and landing flight path of the Sangster International Airport.

It also denied that the hotel buildings were being built above the height permitted by the Civil Aviation Authority.

It said all but one of the six buildings at the site are within the permitted height and the one that is not, is merely 20 inches in breach.

According to RIU, it was not the buildings themselves which exceeded the permitted height but decorations on them which were removed when the concern was raised.

Responding to claims that one building had an unapproved fourth floor, RIU conceded that that floor had not been approved in the plans originally sent to the St. James Parish Council.

However, it argued that that floor was still within the allowed height and it said it later changed the building plans and sought and received approval from the Parish Council on June 29 last year.

The Hotel chain denied being involved in any corruption in obtaining approval for the revised building plans.

RIU said it regards these allegations so seriously that it is conducting an internal probe and will co-operate fully with the Jamaican authorities in their investigation.

[evanovitch]

The European Commission needs to look at RIU

The European Commission needs to look at RIU


Sunday, May 11, 2008



When allegations of bribery by Holland-based Trafigura Beheer surfaced, the Dutch Government elected to launch its own investigation, mindful that the European Commission has strong laws against transnationals corrupting local officials.

We have no evidence that the Spanish-owned RIU Hotel has bribed any local official. However, we believe that the suspicious circumstances under which the RIU Hotel is being built at Mahoe Bay near Montego Bay, St James warrants attention from the European Commission, if not the Government of Spain.

The Jamaican Government has acted against the former superintendent of roads and works for the parish of St James, Mr Tubal Brown, who has been interdicted at half pay by the Parish Council Services Commission, for failure to account for how his signature and the St James Parish Council stamp got onto an unapproved building plan, in Spanish, and which is being used to construct unapproved fourth floors at Mahoe Bay.

So serious is the business that the prime minister - who, ironically was instrumental in exposing Trafigura - instructed that the Police Fraud Squad be called in to investigate the RIU affair, because the new building plan did not go before the Council and no fees were received by the local authority.

For reasons best known to himself, Mr Brown has opted to keep quiet about this transaction. But he is not alone in this matter. The beneficiaries of his action are the RIU Hotel and they cannot escape their obligation to come clean on what business they had with Mr Brown.

It does not help that Jamaicans are aware that the RIU Hotel has had run-ins over alleged building breaches in other countries. The online publication, CafeCancun.com reported that the chain was recently fined more than US$3.5 million for building an entire hotel without permission as an annex to a new hotel in Cancun, Mexico for which they did have permission.

"The local federal environment director was relieved (of his job) amidst accusations that he had taken bribes in this and other situations," said the publication, which gives news, opinions and advice about the Mexican resort.

Of course, RIU Jamaica has sought to deflect attention away from its breaches of the building permit approved by the St James Parish Council, the National Environment and Planning Agency and the Civil Aviation Authority.

It is seeking to put the blame on the Observer. For the record, this newspaper received reports about breaches of construction hours by RIU at Mahoe Bay, after neighbouring hotel guests complained bitterly about the noise. Suspiciously, RIU refused to allow our news teams, on two occasions, to see behind the Fort Knox-like security walls.

Upon investigation, we found that there was an even graver danger, as it also breached height restrictions on buildings being constructed in the flight path to the Sangster International Airport. Had we not exposed this danger, we would have failed in our duty as a serious national newspaper. For that we make no apologies.

RIU's statement this weekend seeking to explain away all the breaches is further proof that they don't think Jamaicans are intelligent human beings. In time, we are sure, they will find out that we are a far cry from the Tainos and Arawaks who naively greeted Christopher Columbus in 1494.

[Blackstar*]

Re: The European Commission needs to look at RIU

Butch still de owna fi di Observer?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Of course, RIU Jamaica has sought to deflect attention away from its breaches of the building permit approved by the St James Parish Council, the National Environment and Planning Agency and the Civil Aviation Authority.

It is seeking to put the blame on the Observer. For the record, this newspaper received reports about breaches of construction hours by RIU at Mahoe Bay, after neighbouring hotel guests complained bitterly about the noise. Suspiciously, RIU refused to allow our news teams, on two occasions, to see behind the Fort Knox-like security walls.

Upon investigation, we found that there was an even graver danger, as it also breached height restrictions on buildings being constructed in the flight path to the Sangster International Airport. Had we not exposed this danger, we would have failed in our duty as a serious national newspaper. For that we make no apologies.

RIU's statement this weekend seeking to explain away all the breaches is further proof that they don't think Jamaicans are intelligent human beings. In time, we are sure, they will find out that we are a far cry from the Tainos and Arawaks who naively greeted Christopher Columbus in 1494. </div></div>

[evanovitch]

Re: The European Commission needs to look at RIU

yep..lock stock an barrel [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: The European Commission needs to look at RIU

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Butch still de owna fi di Observer?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Of course, RIU Jamaica has sought to deflect attention away from its breaches of the building permit approved by the St James Parish Council, the National Environment and Planning Agency and the Civil Aviation Authority.

It is seeking to put the blame on the Observer. For the record, this newspaper received reports about breaches of construction hours by RIU at Mahoe Bay, after neighbouring hotel guests complained bitterly about the noise. Suspiciously, RIU refused to allow our news teams, on two occasions, to see behind the Fort Knox-like security walls.

Upon investigation, we found that there was an even graver danger, as it also breached height restrictions on buildings being constructed in the flight path to the Sangster International Airport. Had we not exposed this danger, we would have failed in our duty as a serious national newspaper. For that we make no apologies.

RIU's statement this weekend seeking to explain away all the breaches is further proof that they don't think Jamaicans are intelligent human beings. In time, we are sure, they will find out that we are a far cry from the Tainos and Arawaks who naively greeted Christopher Columbus in 1494. </div></div> </div></div> Who ever own and control the media decides the recorded history.

[bee_bop]

Re: The European Commission needs to look at RIU

<span style="color: #660000">The RIU people made a threat that they were capable of moving to Aruba, N.A., in response to Jamaican officials being too slow on approving plans on building for their hotels. I think there are a lot of islands (particularly English speaking ones) where they wouldn't be allowed to get away with some of what they have done in Jamaica. I am sure Aruba, a Dutch-speaking island, isn't going to put up with flagrant, and frequent breaches of their laws.
I remember someone on this board remarking that there are some people here who are not good for Jamaican tourism. Maybe Jamaica needs the investment, but the real question is can tourism be sustained for a prolonged period of time, is it a sturdy investment??? Any incident thousands of miles from Jamaica's shores can damage tourism, possibly irreparably. Then there is the negative social impact, including; prostitution, drug pushing...Buildings not properly planned for...Environmental mistakes of RIUfor example, the spilling of effluent into the sea by a beach, in St. Ann; the displacement of turtles, and certain species of birds from their natural habitats)..</span>

[Blackstar*]

Re: The European Commission needs to look at RIU

It looks like readers of the Observer online feel JA shouldn't compromise its laws.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Should local laws be relaxed to accommodate large foreign investors such as RIU Hotel and Resorts?

Total Votes: 268

<span style="color: #000099">Yes 16.0%</span>
<span style='font-size: 14pt'><span style="color: red">No 81.7%</span></span>
<span style="color: #000099">Undecided 2.2%</span>

Source </div></div>

[bee_bop]

Re: The European Commission needs to look at RIU

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It looks like readers of the Observer online feel JA shouldn't compromise its laws.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Should local laws be relaxed to accommodate large foreign investors such as RIU Hotel and Resorts?

Total Votes: 268

<span style="color: #000099">Yes 16.0%</span>
<span style='font-size: 14pt'><span style="color: red">No 81.7%</span></span>
<span style="color: #000099">Undecided 2.2%</span>

Source </div></div> </div></div>

Littleman says:
<span style="color: #660000">I agree that the local laws should not be relaxed merely to accommodate large foreign investors, mainly because I maintain that there are islands in the Caribbean that some hotel chains would have problems trying to adhere to the local laws.
However, the poll results of the Observer online, are very far from being scientific. For one, I can change those results if I wanted to, and I assume there are a few other people who could do that if they felt up to it.</span>

[Blackstar*]

Re: The European Commission needs to look at RIU

No, the poll isn't scientific and visitors to the site can vote multiple times. Here's a snapshot of today's results.

[Blackstar*]

RIU speaks, but Bartlett Silent

<span style='font-family: Arial Black'><span style="color: #330033"><span style='font-size: 11pt'>Tourism minister's silence on RIU is deafening</span></span></span>
Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Dear Editor,

I vaguely remember a news report stating that the minister of tourism would comment on the RIU situation once an official report had been submitted. Well, judging from what I have heard over the past few weeks on the radio, it appears that quite a few reports have been submitted, but still no comment from the minister.

Quite frankly, it is improper for a minister to be so silent on a matter which directly impacts his portfolio. They say that silence speaks volumes, and in this case the minister's hushed approach to the RIU issue, or for that matter anything which paints the Spanish hotels in a negative light, is really scaring a lot of us.

I held Mr Edmund Bartlett in such high esteem when he took office. I remember the several photographs of him with the airport staff, and he seemed so genuinely interested in the livelihood of all tourism stakeholders. I cannot find the words to express my disappointment in him over this situation; he was always so quick to speak on any tourism-related matter.

Although he has been in office less than a year, it pains me to even consider that the minister of tourism is turning a deaf ear to such a critical issue because he may have fallen victim to any evil temptation. That would not only ruin his career but would also destroy an entire sector.

I can only hope that if he has fallen, he has not gone too far to recover.


J Brown
Havendale

<span style='font-size: 8pt'>Source</span>

[evanovitch]

Re: RIU speaks, but Bartlett Silent

him so freaking giddy wid di travelling weh him a rack up u wudden tink di worl deh pon recession..an mi sure is fuss class him a travel too u know...ah sah...neva see come see indeed

[evanovitch]

speak of di devil wid him drivel

Crime makes Jamaica a hard sell, says Bartlett

KERIL WRIGHT, Observer staff reporter [email protected]
Tuesday, May 13, 2008



Montego Bay, St James -

As the country grapples with an escalating murder rate and rampant criminality, minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett, on the weekend admitted that Jamaica's label as an 'unsafe destination' had made the tourism product a hard sell.

"I have to sell this country every day and I tell you, it's a hard sell," Bartlett said Saturday at his East Central St James annual Teachers Awards here.

Notwithstanding, he said the country continued to break records with its tourist arrivals, owing to the allure of the destination, its culture and its people.

"There is something about us," said Bartlett. "Even though we are seen to be an unsafe destination we continue to break records every year." [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Bartlett, who used his address to defend the Government's decision to introduce casino gambling against staunch opposition from the church, said poverty and unemployment were among the factors fuelling Jamaica's crime problem.
He insisted that casino gambling, instead of furthering this problem, would help to solve it by providing direct and indirect employment

"Casino gaming will not cause us to respect life any more or any less," implored the minister. "We have to purge ourselves of these deeper feelings that are telling us don't tell, don't report (criminal activities)," he encouraged the packed ballroom at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: speak of di devil wid him drivel

They only keep Bartlett in that post long enough to sacrifice him at the alter of casino gambling. they expected the country to come up harder against him,then they would use that as the ewxcuse to get rid of him. the reality is as far as they are concerned, he does not pass the 'brown paper bag test'. So he is a lame duck, with their select in the wings just biding their time.

[bee_bop]

Re: The European Commission needs to look at RIU

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No, the poll isn't scientific and visitors to the site can vote multiple times. Here's a snapshot of today's results.


</div></div>

<span style="color: #660000">The results might not be scientific, but I'm sure they reflect popular opinion though...</span>

[evanovitch]

Riu's fourth floor goes down

Riu's fourth floor goes down
published: Thursday | May 22, 2008

WESTERN BUREAU:

Workers at the Riu Montego Bay cite in St James began demolition of the controversial fourth floor of the hotel under construction yesterday.

This was in accordance with a recent stop order issued by the St James Parish Council, instructing the resort developers to dismantle the fourth floor, which the council said was in breach of its building code.

The demolition exercise is expected to resume today.

The site was ordered closed on the intervention of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who said the resort breached the law by constructing a fourth floor for which it had no permit from the St James Parish Council.

The Riu Group has, however, denied the claims, arguing it had submitted its revised plan, containing the four-storey building, in April last year.