UBP: Tucker’s Point Price Tag Too High
[By Cole Simons, Shadow Minister of Business Development and Tourism]
As far as I know, today [Feb. 28] the House of Assembly will be moving ahead and debating Tucker’s Point Resort Residential Development [Hamiliton and St. George's Parishes] Special Development Order 2011.
This will be one of the most controversial debates we have had for some time. At stake here is how much more are Bermudians prepared to pay to help rebuild Bermuda’s tourism industry, and whether Bermudians are prepared to commit additional resources to support Tucker’s Point Resort, when other hotel properties in Bermuda have been forced to close their doors, and others have been forced into receivership.
If we have been listening attentively to our people, we would have heard that most Bermudians feel that the price tag to support the proposed Tucker’s Point Resort Residential development is unreasonably high, and as a consquence they are not in a position to support it by committing additional resources to it.
Bermudians are not prepared to pay such a high price to support a very questionable business model which may not bear the fruit that it purports to deliver, especially since Tucker’s Point has had at least three other Special Development orders granted to them over the years, and the business model is still not as successful as it could have been.
Bermudians think that the price is too high because they are not prepared to give up or compromise their endemic species, open spaces, woodland reserves and coastal reserves for commercial and short term gains.
Bermudians think that the price tag is too high because they are not prepared to disrespect or disregard the rich history of the area and the Bermudians who were forced to relocate from their farming communities, for the development of our tourism industry back in the 1920s.
Bermudians think that the price tag is too high because they believe that the increased housing stock could have a negative impact on the value of their homes.
Bermudians think that the price tag is too high because the resort can not fill the rooms and sell all of the fractional units that they currently have.
As a Parliamentarian with over 12 years exeperience, one thing is very clear to me: When Bermuda speaks as one, they are invariably correct, and again, they are correct this time.
We in the United Bermuda Party, like the rest of Bermuda, believe that the price tag for the development of this resort, and its ultimate contribution to Bermuda’s tourism rebirth is far too high. We are truly supportive Bermuda’s tourism growth and equally supportive and empathetic to the Tuckers Point Resort’s development.
We hope that for the sake of our people, our environment and tourism, our Government will go back to the drawing board with the management of Tucker Point Resort and ask them to further refine ,and trim back their plans so that a new Special Development Order can be presented to Bermuda and her people: an order that would be more reasonable, more attractive, and less expensive for the people of Bermuda.
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Category: All, Environment, News, Politics
petition against it: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43111/signatures.html
UBP: Party of Contradiction
1) We need to stimulate our tourism project
2) Don’t allow Tucker’s Point to build anymore
Make up your bleeping minds!
This is why Ewart had it right. The PLP should have just published the SDO in the newspaper like they used to do, and the uproar would have been there, but that in time subsided. However in this instance, they decided to take it to the House of Assembly, which they DIDN’T have to do; and instead of a full SDO its an in-priciple SDO with numerous planning protections and STILL the UBP object.
Can’t win with these people, go back to putting it into the newspaper!
Is that the best you can do? ‘To hell with what the people think, let’s just do what we want’?
The Tuckers Hotel hasn’t been finished that long, its already a five star resort, WHY didn’t it stimulate out tourism product?????? What will this SDO do to change that Preto Plato? This SDO is for hotel to sell real estate, NOT for tourism. It is to raise revenue to SAVE a dying hotel.
Is Tucker’s Point really a five-star resort? Verdict is still out on this one! And this is a residential development, not a tourism product, so is the SDO in the best interests of Bermuda and future generations of Bermudians? I don’t think it is.
That’s what the MP’s are saying! Personally I am only going off of what the government and owners of Tuckers have said in articles. It seems we are only being told half the story as usual.
Sigh. First off, I’m not a UBP member.
In my opinion, Tucker’s Point hasn’t exhausted enough options to warrant an SDO. Do they advertise? Do they even have a vague plan of who they want to cater to and how? I haven’t seen it. Building building building solves nothing if the product isn’t there, and in this case the product isn’t there. The bare bones are, but the product is underutilised and needs work before more expansion can possibly be justified. Fix what’s broken before you add more, it’s a simple concept.
I’m a fan of more debate on important issues, but putting it in the newspaper won’t silence opposition in this age of information.
Didn’t mean to tag you with the UBP label, meant to commnet on the original post so i’m sorry.
My point is that the UBP (which the article is about) is opposing this. I think what should be highlighted is they have the ability to oppose. Whereas in the past SDOs just went in the newspaper in final form. Very few people are talking about the fact that this will be debated in parliament and is only an in-principle application with many safeguards. The Govt changed the law to allow this to happen. They didn’t have to do it.
Persoanlly, i don’t agree with the Tucker’s Point SDO, i think they should get a new hotel and no residences, or they should go belly up like Newstead and get investors. That is my personal view and i’ve told my representatives that.
However, as usual the UBP are PLAYING POLITICS. Go back to the drawing board… They know full well this SDO has taken a long time to put together, they also know that becase it is in-principle, all items in the plans may never come to fruition. Saying going back to the drawing board is attempting to trick the people into thinking the SDO means that the bulldozers come out tomorrow, which is NOT the case.
I’m a fan of more debate aswell, however, if the opposition are going to continue to be irrational and anti-progress, then why even bothering attempting to placate them by allowing debate on the motion, may aswell push it throught via the notice in the paper as the law allows! I was trying to be too cute by half.. I am happy the SDO is being debated, and i think it should be, but i think a LOT of people are missing the fact that the governement has opened this process up.
Sorry, I get touchy about it because I think it’s ridiculous to bring everything down to the bare bones, just political party level when it’s an issue that clearly transcends political parties. Everyone seems to have an opinion on this, and I wouldn’t really consider it politicky (in the bad way) to have the Shadow Minister comment on something that’s absolutely in the realm of that ministry. I do agree that not all of the facts have been highlighted (especially re: it won’t permit the bulldozers to drive in tomorrow, lol), but the only way to do that is through open debate, and unfortunately it’s impossible to do that without colouring it with opinion, not least because if it isn’t heated, no one will care, and therein lies the rub, I think. I don’t think we’re on different teams.
Please sign the petition.
In part response to Preto Plato, if you cannot stimulate our tourism project with the Tuckers Hotel as is, then you never will.
It’s an excellent hotel – but still no people. Ask yourself the question “why”?
Why don’t they try to cater to the locals in the off season? You know…like South P and the Reefs. Local rates are nice and low, everyone could use a staycation…
Wait…wait…maybe they don’t want to “local-up” Tuckers Town. We already have our public transportation going through there. LOL!
Do the SP and Reefs do decent winter rates? I’ve never seen it advertised, I could be just oblivious, but I really do think that advertising is something that *all* of the Bermuda hotels need to work on individually.
They are developing a gated community. Why would they want locals to come there?
I am a local and I stayed at the hotel this weekend. It was a thoroughly pleasant experience. In fact I would say it is if not the best, one of the best hotels I have stayed in. That hotel would thrive if we actually had a tourism product that marketed the Island effectively and also developed a product that attracted people other than golfers to Bermuda in the off season. I also looked into staying at the Reefs, which was way over priced compared to the local rate i got at Tuckers, call them for a local rate.
Tucker Point does cater to locals. Local rates are $195.00 for a first class room.
Doesn’t fit into the propoganda…. So those facts would be ignored
Do you not “get it”? The rates are better, it’s supposedly a five star hotel, so WHY is it failing???? HOW will the SDO help tourism any more than say better advertising?
South P does a promotion of $99/night for selected nights. The Reefs does $275 for two people with breakfast and dinner included for both people. Most of us cannot afford $195/night. So…winter time, they will remain empty. Their marketing sucks. The whole “elitist” thing doesn’t work in times of hardship.
I suggest all members of the House especially PLP read the history of the Land in question. It is inconceivable that they will allow it to be turned over for more development
It was stolen from black people in the 1920′s and the PLP are allowing this to happen again.
If you don’t believe me go here
http://bermyonionpatch.blogspot.com/2007/07/chasing-ballheads-outta-tuckers-town.html
If the Premier is thinking of calling an election she had better watch her back cos we PLP voters are some kind of vexed with all this nonsense.
^It was stolen from black people in the 1920’s^
It may not have been nice , but when something is *stolen* you get NOTHING for it , not ‘market value’ at the going rate.
That website is actually pretty disturbing. I also would not take anything written on it as fact. It looks like propaganda designed to make black people racially angry towards white people. If this is the type of person who supports the PLP, no wonder we have such a huge racial divide in Bermuda. These people really enjoy spreading hate, it has nothing to do with the SDO or the environment.
Its not about being a PLP supporter or a UBP supporter. This cannot be a partisan issue. We need to unilaterally object to the development of 60 acres of Bermuda real estate. This is something we will NEVER get back. NEVER. Consider that relative to a failed Tuckers Point business model. There are no guarantees as others have said here that if the land is developed that the rewards we seek will be forthcoming. Please sign the petition. Sarah gives the link in the first post. Has almost 700 signatures now. Rather then vent here or on radio talks, we must channel our collective energies into a constructive effort. There is power in numbers.
CAN SOMEONE START A FACEBOOK PAGE TO MEET AT TUCKERS POINT THIS COMING SUNDAY MARCH 6TH AT 2:00PM? THEY ARE INTENDING ON TAKING PEOPLE AROUND TO VIEW THE SITES THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED. TURN IT INTO A PROTEST!
It is still private property, so be prepared to be arrested if you do. I agree a protest is a good idea, but it should be done outside the Cabinet.
Who’s not willing to get arrested for a cause? In Libya they are getting killed for a cause.
In Bermuda we have thousands of people without jobs, poor public education, a corrupt government and mounting financial debt, add that to the list of things we should be protesting for. All I am saying is if you want to go up there, just tell work you might not be in on Monday morning. (if your employed)
To local says:
Well done! The first person on here that tells everyone that it is PRIVATE property not PUBLIC property. Listen, I think the development is wrong at this time but there are many people on here suggesting that this land is being taken from the people. It is not, because it does not belong to the people. The quality of the environment is being taken away from the people NOT the land. I mean it’s not like anyone who wants to can go walking, exercising or camping up there anyway.
It doesn’t matter!! Do you actually think that destroying an ecosystem of 60 acres will not affect the ecosystem of the entire 22 sq mile island??? Its 22 square miles for gods sake. Please don’t be so one dimensional! The land may not belong to the people, BUT ACCORDING TO THE LAW, it is NOT to be built on. Why do you think these laws were made????? SO WE DON’T DESTROY THE ENVIRONMENT!!!
These regulations aren’t specifically to protect the people, but they are (possibly) being breached, and that needs to be assessed further. They are to reduce harm to the environment, maintain Bermuda’s ecosystems and envionrmental viability, and to ensure that all safety regulations (hurricanes etc) are in place. This is the same as building on land zoned agricultural. Is the benefit worth the loss of open space? It doesn’t matter if it’s private or public, the regulations are the same and anything outside the rules needs to be given very meticulous consideration.
Obviously, there is still a lot of open space in Tuckers Town, you just have to look around if you can get in there.
The UBP should ask for an ‘SDO’ to aquire these lands and work with the blacks that it was stolen from.
As for Mr. Chapmans comments about not being able to walk the ‘properties’ years ago, bullhocky.
As the Smiths, Talbots et al who roamed these/this are freeling for many years. It was their “Railway Trail” along with many others that took the time to search and enjoy nature.
Now it’s all about “Me”.
In fact, I am off to the shirt shop and get a print made…..(this will be trademarked, caution is advised)
SAVE DE ONION
Remember, it’s mine, it’s yours so let be there for the cause.
It’s not about the amount of open space in Tucker’s Town, though; it’s about the amount of open space in Bermuda as a whole.
I don’t support this SDO either but it is wonderfully entertaining to see so many of you thrashing around without Ewart to blame for “ramming it through” like you did for four years. Maybe, just maybe…….you’ll bring yourselves to attack equally cause you can’t pin this one on him. This is so much more difficult for you all without a villan in the plot.
Funny how you always bring Ewart up while the rest of us try to pretend he never happened.
When you all stop bringing him up so will I.
I seriously doubt that.
Yoh Hmmmmmmmmm. We get it. Got your spin. Proove comments wrong. Why do you think Pala gave up wearing those big hats. Bald is beautifull….present and past.
Even if Tucker’s Point were the best hotel in the world, if people overseas have never heard of it and/or for whatever reason people that DO visit it do not spread the word of how great it is, then spending more money on building will not solve the current issues.
For tourism to thrive, this establishment AND Bermuda as a whole needs to heavily promote more then just the establishments and the beauty.
Wealthy people want to have a fun atmosphere when they travel. You can’t just have a 5 star hotel with just golf and food. It needs to have an atmosphere of FUN, something that will make it memorable and make people WANT to return. Most people when they travel to places will go several times to that location IF they had a MEMORABLE time. Beauty alone doesn’t cut it for repeat visitors.
When the wealthy eat at one of the many fine Restaurants in Bermuda, there is practically nothing else to do once the sun sets.
Introduce elements of FUN. Wealthy people want an enjoyable fun atmosphere, not just a fancy hotel. I keep mentioning Wealthy people because many of these hotels would rather not have many of us locals there.
I am always surprised at establishments that would rather have empty rooms instead of renting them at a substantially reduced rate for locals. Some money is better then No money isn’t it? By the way $200 a night is not cheap (for me), be creative for goodness sake! Try charging $600 total and let me stay for 5 nights.
Creativity is needed and cost a lot less then buildings
Oops. Maybe I should’ve posted my reply here!
Point taken. They need to do a heck of a lot better at catering to the folk they have.
South P does a promotion of $99/night for selected nights. The Reefs does $275 for two people with breakfast and dinner included for both people. Most of us cannot afford $195/night. So…winter time, they will remain empty. Their marketing sucks. The whole “elitist” thing doesn’t work in times of hardship.