Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator
TWO MONTHS after the expiration of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Government-owned company, Harmonisation Limited and private developer Tavistock Group for the negotiation of plans to develop the multimillion-dollar Harmony Cove Resort in Trelawny, a deal is yet to be inked between the two entities for the development of the project.
Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who first announced the project in 2004, had indicated in February this year that he hoped the two entities would have been able to finalise an agreement before the MoU ended.
The MoU expired at the end of March and provided for the exclusive collaboration between Harmonisation Limited and Tavistock Group on due diligence studies with a view to defining the terms, conditions and parameters of the project.
In the question and answer session in Parliament on Tuesday, Leader of Government Business, Dr. Peter Phillips, issued a response to questions raised by Opposition Spokesman on Tourism, Ed Bartlett, on the Harmony Cove project.
But Mr. Bartlett, who was not at the sitting, is accusing Dr. Phillips of submitting an inadequate response to his queries.
The Opposition spokesman wants to know the total amount expended by Government on the project to date and by which agencies.
NEGOTIATIONS
In his response, Dr. Phillips said that, given the stage of negotiations at which Harmonisation Limited is currently engaged, a disclosure of the total expenditure by Government would jeopardise its position in those discussions.
Mr. Bartlett described this response as unacceptable, noting that the National Housing Trust (NHT), in its annual report for 2005, indicated that $680 million was provided for the Harmony Cove project. He said that, with the land acquisition costing some $400 million, the Opposition wants to know how the balance of the funds was expended.
However, Dr. Phillips said funds have been spent on purchasing the Harmony Cove property; marketing of the property to prospective investors; development costs associated with the property including the provision of water and security costs.
Harmony Cove Resort will be located on approximately 1,400 acres of land and will include four five-star hotels, including a 1,000 room convention hotel. Approximately 200 upscale villas and manor houses are also to be constructed.
