Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....

[mountaingal]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ohliz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Indeed, TG, I just came to post that.

...and it is no surprise at all that the actual reason the Fiesta workers are not working is that they aren't being paid.

I feel a blu-like fyah bun coming on.... </div></div>
a nuh you wan!! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad2.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....


<span style="color: #FF0000">LETTER OF THE DAY - Negative impact seen in Spanish hotel 'invasion'</span>
published: Friday | January 19, 2007
The Editor, Sir:

Please allow me to make some comments on the Spanish Hotels 'invasion'. First, during the construction of each of the two Riu hotels in Negril, many environmental restrictions were blatantly breached, impacting negatively on our environment.

Since then, hundreds of visitors to Negril have decried the 'concrete defacing' of Negril by these new hotels, pointing out that our home-grown hotels are pleasantly blending with nature from the road and the sea. Adding that the sheer size of such hotels becomes an eyesore in this beautiful island and should have remained on the Costa del Sol or Marbella, not here!

It appears that the Fiesta building on the outskirts of Lucea is already defacing our coastline as well as its environs by the dumping of extracted soil all over by the roadside. Another eyesore in the making! And, where will their sewage go with the expected 2,000 plus rooms?

Yes, there will be work, both during construction and for line staff afterwards, but virtually none, even in lower management for Jamaicans! While home-grown all-inclusive and small hotels are proud of our Jamaican staff reflecting the beauty of our island. Our supposed-to-be monopolies such as Sandals, SuperClubs, Couples, etc., have all spent time and money to train our bright young Jamaicans with great success.

Basically, the concept of these Spanish hotels is 'rock bottom cheapness' so you may have the room occupancy count, but what is their financial contribution in terms of GCT, PAYE, taxes, etc., to the Jamaican coffers? Has their overwhelming presence in the Dominican Republic really helped the economy and the social environment there?

The Spanish hotels privileged tax incentive, together with their sheer size, ensure that no one can compete with them. The majority of small hotels in Negril and other resort areas have difficulties in making enough money to keep their property at the ideal standard.

Undoubtedly, Jamaica's infrastructure is not ready to cope with such mega resorts. Who will pay the price for not enough water or electricity or any other services?

Investments

We are running before we can walk! But the price to the environment and to our tourist industry will be felt for a very long time! What a shame!

Needless to say, investments in tourism are welcomed when they take into account our environment, the aesthetic of scale for our small beautiful island, proper employment and development of local persons. Why is it that only huge Spanish hotels are invading Jamaica?

No American, British, French or Dutch hotel, etc., has been tempted to invest here! Is there a secret that we do not know about the Spanish investors? Is it wise to let 50 per cent of our room inventory in the hands of one foreign country? Is it wise to add more and more cheap all-inclusive hotels?

I am, etc.,

SYLVIE GRIZZLE

Owner, Charela Inn, Negril

https://<a href="http://www.jamaica-...ters1.html</a>

[Gen]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....

ah ..the great Conquistadores [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70365-flirt.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....


Spanish hotel moves ahead

The Bahia Principe Hotel won its final legal hurdle hours before its official opening yesterday, when the Solicitor General shot down claims by the National Resource Conservation Authority (NRCA) that the hotel had breached its beach licence.

The environmentalists charged that the sand used to build the beach at the five-star hotel at Pear Tree Bottom was mined illegally. This, they said, was in breach of the rules as the sand should come from an “officially licensed and approved quarry”.

Last December, members of the Northern Jamaica Conservation Association charged that the sand used by the hotel was being mined illegally.

“As a condition of the environmental permit for this development, earth materials must be obtained from officially licensed and approved quarries and copies of the relevant licences made available by the contractor for inspection,” NJCA’s Wendy Lee wrote last December in a letter to the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) .

Lee then urged NEPA to probe the charge saying, as far as she was aware, legal sand available in Jamaica is either grey or black river sand, not golden beach sand that was used to build the beach at Pear Tree Bottom.

But, the Solicitor General after reviewing the charges, cleared the hotel. It was just hours before Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller was due to cut the ribbon, that the environmental organization raised fresh concerns over possible breaches. However, this did not prevent the Prime Minister from declaring the hotel open. In fact, she told Development Minister Donald Buchanan that she did not want any more hold-ups.

Declaring that the hotel was “simply remarkable”, the Prime Minister said she was pleased that so much was achieved over short time. Prime Minister Simpson-Miller announced that a major heritage tourism project was slated for St Ann and $60 million was approved from the Tourism Enhancement Fund for the transformation of the Seville Heritage Park.

After spending US$150 million building 680 rooms, the developers are now awaiting approval for another 1,000 rooms slated to cost US$250 million. Group president, Pablo Pinero told his audience yesterday, that of all the countries where he has invested, the first leg of the Jamaican construction, which took 15 months, was the fastest.

<span style="color: #FF0000">Tankweld’s CEO Chris Bicknell, who sold the land for the development, said he was given 30 minutes to consider Pinero’s request to sell. According to Bicknell, he was persuaded after being told that it had been either Jamaica or Brazil.</span>

[url]http://www.sunheraldjamaica.com/coverstory1.htm[url]

[Blackstar*]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="color: #FF0000">Tankweld’s CEO Chris Bicknell, who sold the land for the development, said he was given 30 minutes to consider Pinero’s request to sell. According to Bicknell, he was persuaded after being told that it had been either Jamaica or Brazil.</span>
</div></div>

Would that it had been Brazil. They have the space for that big helluva monstrosity on their coastline. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70400-talktohand.gif[/img]

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is statements like these that devalue ones views.
If you don't know about construction (as you admits), it may be prudent to at least give it the benefit of the doubt.
The casing looks similar to the type used in HILTI power nailers,used extensively in the construction industry as fasteners in hardened concrete. </div></div>Dr. D, I have no vested interested in proving anyone right or wrong, but the casings Yuri posted don't really look like the one in the photo upthread. Maybe I'm seeing wrong though. </div></div>

That is because she showed nuw caps,while the ones in the original picture have been fired. Yes shots look different after being fired than before.Those shouts have a crimping at the end when new. they also are physicallt shorter. There is also a difference with the size and power of the shot. they also differ in shape between types of tools the work with.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is statements like these that devalue ones views.
If you don't know about construction (as you admits), it may be prudent to at least give it the benefit of the doubt.
The casing looks similar to the type used in HILTI power nailers,used extensively in the construction industry as fasteners in hardened concrete. </div></div>Dr. D, I have no vested interested in proving anyone right or wrong, but the casings Yuri posted don't really look like the one in the photo upthread. Maybe I'm seeing wrong though. </div></div>

I don't overstand his attack either...but you know it is the Doc. </div></div>

Where is the attack?
Oh I forgot that this is the manufactured accusation season.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is statements like these that devalue ones views.
If you don't know about construction (as you admits), it may be prudent to at least give it the benefit of the doubt.
The casing looks similar to the type used in HILTI power nailers,used extensively in the construction industry as fasteners in hardened concrete. </div></div>Dr. D, I have no vested interested in proving anyone right or wrong, but the casings Yuri posted don't really look like the one in the photo upthread. Maybe I'm seeing wrong though. </div></div>

I don't overstand his attack either...but you know it is the Doc. </div></div>

Where is the attack?
Oh I forgot that this is the manufactured accusations season.

[ohliz]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....

So where did the sand come from?

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ohliz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So where did the sand come from? </div></div>

It won't matter now look @ this perfect Photo-Op

Gran Bahia Principe hotel officially opens

By Carl Gilchrist Sunday Observer staff reporter
Sunday, January 21, 2007


Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (3rd left) cutting the ribbon to officially open the Gran Bahia Principe hotel in Pear Tree Bottom, St Ann, yesterday afternoon. Others in picture are (from left) Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica Jesus Silva; Elizabeth Piñero, wife of Pablo Piñero, owner of the hotel; Pablo Piñero; former prime ministers P J Patterson and Edward Seaga.

We have to go to the [b]next gripe[/i].
This one is even funnier!

<span style="color: #FF0000">Design error puts RIU hotel in flight path to Sangster Airport</span>

BY KERIL WRIGHT Sunday Observer staff reporter
Sunday, January 21, 2007

Montego Bay, St James - An error in the design of the proposed six-storey 701-room RIU hotel at Mahoe Bay in the northcoast city of Montego Bay, would put it in the flight path of the Sangster International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has warned.

The warning was among the burning issues ventilated Friday at a public presentation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed development of the 61.6-acre property, situated in Ironshore between the Caribbean Beach Park and Sandals Royal Caribbean.

Spanish hotel chain RIU came under heated accusations of inadequate consultation with the community and regulatory agencies and unresolved issues over the true ownership of the property on which the hotel is to be sited.

A representative of the CAA alleged that RIU's designers did not consult with the authority and had erred when they designed a six-storey structure as one of the seven buildings on the property.
According to the CAA, hotels in that area were mandated to conform to a three-storey building design, due to the close proximity of the Sangster International Airport (SIA).

"You are here to tell us what you are going to do, not to consult with us," head of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), Diana McCaulay accused the developers.
According to McCaulay, the point of a public presentation of the EIA in pursuant of a licence to construct the hotel was futile, as the developers had already begun to clear the site and had been granted a beach licence to dredge the property.

She further pointed to the explanation by a representative of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) that a beach licence is customarily granted separately to the construction permit, because of inefficiencies in the relevant legislation.
However, the forum held at the Rose Hall Golf Club in Ironshore grew more animated when the Rose Hall Community Development Committee alleged that the land was set aside as community property and accused the developers of acquiring it suspiciously.
"This hotel is being built on private property. The land does not belong to the person you bought it from," charged the committee's president, Neville Thomas.

"We as a community will not stand by and see our property taken away," Thomas vowed, suggesting that illegal means would have to be used to secure the property.

However, in their defence, attorney for RIU, Ena Chin assured the audience that the hotel group had acquired the registered title for the property, which was duly registered at the Registrar of Titles.
But in support of the community, Member of Parliament (MP) for North West St James Dr Horace Chang insisted that there were discrepancies with the transfer of the property and noted that the matter should be seriously investigated.

"If appropriate research is done, you will find that you have a genuine problem," he told the RIU representatives. "Appropriate research needs to be done."
Ralph Mairs, one of the purported owners of the remaining Mahoe Bay property, said he and his partners welcomed the investment on their idle property.

Representatives from Sandals Resorts International (SRI) expressed concern about the possible effects that dredging at the RIU property would have on their properties and other properties in the area.

"Do not rush to give approval for this hotel to be built," warned Sandals Montego Bay general manager Horace Peterkin, who is also president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).
Peterkin called for due process to ensure the sustainability of the tourism product.

The hotel is slated to employ 450 people during construction and up to 1,200 when completed.

[email protected]

https://<a href="http://www.jamaicao...PORT__.asp</a>

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Bahia 3 riots, 2 collapse, one murder, etc. etc....


Thu May 24, 2007
Bahia Principe employees agree to return to work

Workers at the Bahia Principe Hotel in Runaway Bay, St. Ann should be back on the job Friday.
The more than 200 workers protested at the front of the property Thursday morning over what they said is the non-payment of gratuity since the hotel was opened in January.

<span style="color: #990000">The workers, who had blocked the gates preventing tour buses from entering the complex, were eventually tear-gassed by the police.</span>

The workers decided to return to work after they were addressed by Opposition Spokesman on Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, who had met with the management of the Hotel.

<span style="color: #000099">It is reported that the Jamaica Tourist Board had not issued a licence to the hotel and as a result the Ministry of Finance could not approve the gratuity payment to the workers.</span>

RJR News has since been informed that the gratuity payment will be made in another two weeks.

It is not clear if the gratuity payment will be retroactive

http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story.php?category=0&story=36161