JULY 17TH, 2015 – JULY 24TH, 2015
Website: www.suntci.com
VOLUME 11 - NO. 27
Email: sun@suntci.com
Tel: (649) 339-5879
$1.00
Fax: (649) 941-3281
www.facebook.com/tcisun
BUTCH NOT INTERESTED IN ALEXANDRA RESORT by Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
G
ordon “Butch” Stewart, the owner and chairman of Beaches and Sandals resorts, is apparently not interested in purchasing the Alexandra Resort. In recent months there have been widespread reports that Stewart was keen on buying the property which is located next to the Key West Village (formerly) Verandah hotel, which he bought for about $100million in 2012 and incorporated into his sprawling Beaches Resort and Spa, which is the largest hotel complex in Turks and Caicos Islands. “We have not spoken to anyone about buying the Alexandria and our position remains clear: We have absolutely no interest nor have we ever had any interest in buying The Alexandria now or in the future,” a senior official from Sandals Resorts International, told the SUN. The source said the company’s rapid expansion in other destinations like Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean makes an Alexandra takeover unlikely. “There is a lot going on elsewhere that we have to complete before spreading ourselves too thin. We have some exciting projects under
construction presently and in the planning to spend millions of dollars follow my example, despite increasing pipeline,” the official said. renovating it in a few months. obstacles, and that Turks and Caicos “TCI is a beautiful and important The Alexandra resort is Islanders will be able to maintain a destination for us. We have been here the fifth property in the Turks and modicum of ownership interest in the since 1995 and have grown with the Caicos Islands that is owned by BCB. industry.” island and have been happy to see how The others are The Sporting Club – much we have all achieved together. Ambergris Cay, St. Charles Resort ‘TCI CAN’T DO WITHOUT But Alexandra is not on the cards now _ North Caicos; The Turks & Caicos BEACHES’ at all.” Club, Leeward Resort (originally Nikki Beaches Turks and Caicos presently Beach). A few weeks ago, Misick was quoted has over 1,000 rooms mainly suites. When BCB placed the in the Butch Stewart-owned Jamaica The Alexandra comprises just over Alexandra is receivership three years Observer newspaper as saying that 100 condominium units that are ago, Washington Misick said he was the economy of the Turks and Caicos individually owned and which are part “disappointed” that the bank chose Islands (TCI) could not do without of a time-share operation. that route instead of exploring other the contribution of its expatriate For Stewart to purchase the options. community, particularly Beaches Alexandra would be rather expensive “I am disappointed that BCB Resorts which is “the single largest and complicated exercise, as he would chose receivership rather than a contributor to our tourism numbers”. have to buy-out all of the existing number of possible work-out options The Finance Minister stated: “People owners and then spend millions available to it,” Misick said then. who don’t understand the economic renovating the property and converting He added: “Alexanrda, like context of the contribution of Beaches it to fit within the Beaches brand. many other properties, has been hit to the TCI might be irritated because The Alexandra was once owned by hard by the international phenomenon of the sheer size of the ‘juggernaut’, current Turks and Caicos Islands of high levels of inventory; penal but its benefit to the economy and Minister of Finance Washington interest rates, and sluggish sales. The tourism especially of Turks and Caicos Misick, his brother, former Premier Alexandra, for me, is as much a legacy Islands is clear. We have a symbiotic Michael Misick and local businessman project as it is a business: it is the only relationship in that Sandals Resorts Sherlock Walkin. locally owned development on Grace International as a good business On June 7, 2012, British Bay, the Turks and Caicos’ Gold Coast. promotes the resort but that promotion Caribbean Bank (BCB), which is owned It is for this reason that I have poured at the same time helps the Turks and by British billionaire Lord Michael my soul and resources into it, over the Caicos Islands. Beaches has also had Ashcroft, placed the Alexandra in last twelve years. I genuinely consider a tremendous impact on airlift into receivership, and appointed a receiver/ it a national imperative to have local the TCI which impacts the tourism manager of the property. BCB now ownership in the islands’ only major industry as whole.” owns the property and is reportedly industry. I hope that others will
MANPOWER VIGIL AND WALKERTON: Manpower Inc, an organization geared to heal and save especially the young generation and bring healing to grieving families, staged its second annual community event last weekend. On Friday, July 10, a community meeting was held at the Edward Gartland Youth Centre in Providenciales, which saw Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing and Deputy Leader for the opposition PDM in attendance. The families of Robert “Robbie” Been and Kenley Walters, both of whom were murdered last year – 2014 – in separate violent fashions, were also in attendance. The event took the form of a panel discussion, which saw the premier , the deputy PDM leader and Kenley Walters elder sibling, Kenrick Walters, as the panelists. On Saturday morning, July 11, a prayer vigil and walkathon was held downtown Providenciales. Members of the Walters and Been families also took part in the early morning event. Here both families can be seen in a photo op with Manpower organizer Darron Hillaire (centre stooping).