They Jumped the Gun

The below article was published in the Royal Gazette approx. July 2010.

Dear Sir,

As a life long resident of St. George’s it saddens me to see it's current state. I can’t help but feel that a big part of the problem here is a direct result of deals brokered by our current Minister of Tourism.

I, like everyone else in the town was overjoyed to hear of the new development that was slated for the old Club Med site, but what was the purpose of:

1. Shutting down the Golf Course so far ahead of any development.

2. Tearing the Golf Clubhouse down when the building was in perfectly good shape and once again, so far ahead of development.

3. Demolishing the St. Cathrine's Beach House which housed bathroom facilities, bar & food concession.

All these facilities were completely separate from the Club Med Hotel structure. It also appears that thus far the only money invested in the site has come from the taxpayers of Bermuda as we all paid for it’s spectacular destruction.

Wouldn’t the prudent course of action have been to wait at least until construction of the new Hotel had already begun? Scores of tourists this past season have been severely disappointed by the loss of their beloved Golf Course and Beach Facilities. These loses couldn’t have come at a worse time for the poor town.

It is also my suspicion that the PLP Government did not put enough effort into securing a dedicated cruise ship for the beleaguered old town. Was this all some fiendish plan to make the “reform” (takeover) of the Corporation of St. George’s just that much easier?

Just a little food for thought.


Clinton J. A. Paynter
St. George's