The St Peter branch of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) will be shining the spotlight on how the incoming Pendry Hotel and Resort will impact residents of Six Men’s and people living in the northern parishes.
A meeting, which will be held at Braddey’s Bar in the community at 5 p.m., will discuss the project which will see Pendry Residences Barbados built on the land at Six Men’s and Retreat.
Former Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy, former DLP President Verla Depeiza, former Attorney General (acting) and Minister of Housing Michael Lashley, as well as former DLP candidate for St Peter, Alwyn Babb, will address the attendees.
The invitation is extended to residents of Retreat, Six Men’s Development, Colleton Garden and the surrounding areas.
Earlier this year Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance, Dwight Sutherland, announced Government’s plan to introduce major tourism development in Six Men’s, one of the country’s well known fishing villages.
Speaking in Parliament on January 17, Sutherland said the three parcels of land were vested to the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. (BTII) so they could find investment which would enhance, revitalise and innovate the tourism product.
“These three parcels of land serve to create a larger seaside parcel of land for development and it is the view of, and it is the view of the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Maintenance that the land at Six Men’s is therefore suitable for further tourism development in the north,” Sutherland noted. “This has the potential to create a significant number of employment opportunities and it also has the potential to attract foreign direct investment.”
In his view, as Barbados tries to get its economy back on track and firing on all cylinders, “we have to recognise the need to protect the coastal area from an environmental standpoint but also to make sure that the….state lands that we have can be utilised for the benefit of the country to create jobs, to generate revenue, to create growth and to boost our economy”.
Earlier this month, Pendry Hotel and Resorts announced it would be opening its first international destination in Barbados.
The resort will be designed by architect Robert Glazier and feature 74 ocean front rooms and suites and 46 private residences. It will also feature a beach club, a pool bar, the signature Spa Pendry, a fitness centre and a 111-berth marina as well as Pendry’s Pinwheel Kids Club and Compass Sports.
The brand operates seven luxury hotels throughout the US.
One of the issues which will arise from the installation of the hotel including the expected traffic diversions because of the temporary roadway put in place.
Meanwhile, contractors One Builders Limited issued public notices that the bridge at Port Ferdinand would be temporarily closed to facilitate construction on the bridge from 1 a.m. on April 28 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, weather permitting.
Motorists and pedestrians are asked to use alternative routes during this period, and where necessary, follow the instructions on diversion signs and directions from flag men in the area.
The following Traffic travelling along Highway 1B exiting Speightstown heading in a northerly direction will be diverted onto Retreat Road through Maynards, St Peter.
Traffic heading towards Speightstown in a southerly direction from Half Moon Fort will be diverted onto Colleton.
There will be local access only to Six Men’s village from the junction at Shermans.
Please note, there will be no access to the public beach area at Port Ferdinand adjacent to the old Nikki Beach property during the closure. (JC)