Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
Encarna Pinero, head of the Pinero Group delegation in Jamaica, outlines her family's decision to purchase Tank-Weld's 200-acre property in St. Ann to build a new resort. She was speaking at a JAMPRO function in 2003.
OCHO RIOS, St Ann:
CONSTRUCTION OF Jamaica's largest resort complex on more than 200 acres of prime beach front property at Pear Tree Bottom in Runaway Bay in St. Ann is now awaiting planning approval.
The resort complex, which will be known as Hotel Bahia Principe Jamaica, is being undertaken by Pinero Group out of Spain at a cost of approximately US$200 million. The complex will have nearly 2,000 hotel rooms along with other facilities, and will join eight other hotels in the Pinero Group which already has properties in Spain, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Project manager of the Pinero Group, Jesus Castellanos Ortega, said that the project is now awaiting environmental and building approval. Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner Mr. Ortega said the project will be done in three phases with the construction of one hotel in each phase, with the first hotel scheduled to be completed by November next year.
He explained that each hotel on the property will have at least 600 rooms with the second scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2007 and the third in 2008, and that this will bring the total number of hotel rooms on the property to 1,918.
ENORMOUS BENEFIT
Mr. Ortega said this project will bring enormous benefit to Jamaica both during the construction, stages and when the hotels open. "We plan to have up to 1,000 employees during the construction and for the operation of the hotel, we expect to employ between 2,000 and 3,000 workers," he added.
Mr. Ortega added that based on his experience in the building of other Pinero hotels in Spain and Mexico, some specialist workers will have to be brought in, especially for the beginning of the construction work. He said that almost everything is now in place for the start of the project and that the company is now awaiting the granting of a building permit.
He continues, "All drawings for Phase 1 have been submitted to the parish council and all relevant agencies. In order to save time, we have asked the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to allow us to clear an area where the main building will be sited and soil test are being done to decide on the type of foundation we need to have."
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Mr. Ortega also said that an environmental impact assessment study has been done already and submitted to NEPA, and that the public hearing which was also a requirement has been done with the residents of Runaway Bay.
The Pinero Group project manager disclosed that discussion is now taking place between the company and several major construction companies in the island but that no contract has been awarded as yet.
Asked why the company chose Jamaica for this major investment, Mr. Ortega said the company's own tour operators move nearly one million people out of Spain each year and that many of them want to come to Jamaica. Mr. Ortega said the company is looking forward to an excellent relationship with the people of Jamaica, especially those in the Runaway Bay area where the resort complex will be located.
