Gordon 'Butch' Stewart's company, Gorstew Limited, is unhappy with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament and has taken action to show its displeasure.

In a letter written on its behalf by the law firm DunnCox, Gorstew has raised strong objections to sections of the PACís draft report on its Sandals Whitehouse inquiry, and, asked for changes reflecting its position.

Contentious draft

One of the more contentious conclusions in the draft report is that "there appeared to be excess capacity provided at the hotel in such areas as the laundry and air-conditioning systems, although this was strongly refuted by Gorstew".

During earlier sittings of the committee, this matter was raised several times, but was dismissed at every turn by representatives of Gorstew/Sandals Resorts International, including Mr. Stewart.

Of even graver concern to Gorstew were suggestions that there was an unspoken intention to use the presumed excess capacity to service the needs of a second hotel (for which no construction plan has been announced).

In its letter to Mike Henry, chairman of the PAC, Gorstew described this suggestion as "preposterous, unrealistic, unworkable, unfeasible and simply absurd".

Slight modification

The company's concern was noted during yesterday's sitting of the PAC and, although Audley Shaw, Opposition Spokesman on Finance and Mr. Henry advocated the removal of the contentious reference, it remains for now, with a slight modification recommended by K.D. Knight, a government member of the committee.

DunnCox, in reference to another observation in the draft report, takes issue with the assertion that some of the project's finishings and other specifications were more elaborate and costly than what was envisaged in the agreed budget of US$70 million.