The following is a telling slip of the tongue from the developer of the Sonesta/Wyndham site.
Scout Real Estate Capital CEO Alan Worden announced today that work on its new 5-star resort hotel on the site of the old Wyndham Beach Resort in Southampton Parish is progressing on schedule. Scout intends to present its proposed plans for the property to the Government’s Special Cabinet Committee for approval in early September 2008.
The SDO for this property specifically lays out that approval by the Department of Planning will be required. Or will the decisions really be made by a fast track “Special Committee” of the Cabinet. Hmm, do they meet on Saturdays?
The processes of Government must be respected. First, such that there is no favoritism in the execution of law, and second so that short-term political expediencies do not wash out the cumulative and time-tested judgment of Bermuda’s plans, rules, and procedures. Sure this development should be encouraged - but it should not be yet another widening of the “short cuts” around Bermuda’s governance.
Scout are seeking to raise $300 million for the development, hence the optimistic news release. The new development is targeted towards both tourists and locals - including150 hotel rooms, villas and a private spa/club. On the positive side, the developers have a focus on the traditional New England market which has always been Bermuda’s strongest feeder - despite the Ministry of Tourism’s pop & sizzle aspirations.
