THE EDITOR, Sir:
I OBSERVE with interest the ongoing exchange between the UDC and Mr Stewart's company on who is to blame for the cost overruns for the Sandals White-house development. Both sides seem to have plausible reasons or excuses for these delays.
Might I suggest another possible factor for these delays. A third possible reason for the delay is that the hotel development in its current format is not suitable for the location.
BOUNDED BY WETLANDS
The property is (or was) bounded by wetlands and seagrass beds and other sensitive habitats including crocodile nesting areas. It is my guess that the engineering solutions required to achieve the desired "standard" of lily white sand beaches and pretty blue swimming areas, introduced additional construction costs to the project. As well, quite possibly, environmental monitoring by the relevant agencies (NEPA etc) may have also introduced "delays" if there were any breaches by the contractors.
Perhaps the developers should have adjusted the development more in line with the ecological characteristics of the area. The large super-inclusive hotel concept may not be the solution for this part of the island.
A development "footprint" that matched with the natural features may have been less costly and more attractive to a more discerning and educated tourist.
Who knows, maybe some day we will learn how to get this "tourism development" thing right.
I am, etc.,
PETER E.T. EDWARDS
pedwards@udel.edu
Graduate Student,
Marine Policy
University of Delaware
Via Go-Jamaica
