Video: Hunt “Elated” Over Morgan’s Point Act
Businessman Nelson Hunt — one of the principles behind the Morgan’s Point Resort development — said he is “elated” following the passage of the Morgan’s Point Resort Act 2014 in the House of Assembly on Friday.
Calling it the “realisation of a dream,” Mr. Hunt said it has been a “long, hard fight”, adding that with the OBA and the PLP now agreeing on this subject, he feels it will be a lot easier to get the development up and running, and provide jobs.
The Bill, which passed with support from both sides of the aisle, covers a range of things including giving planning permission in principle for the development and granting hotel concessions.
Speaking after the Bill passed on Friday Mr. Hunt said, “I think, finally we’re all looking in the same direction. I think everybody tonight in the Chamber, we are looking at creating the jobs. That’s all we are interested in.
“It’s been a long, hard fight, but now I think that everybody is looking in the right direction. We’re all concerned about the creation of jobs.
“All of us are moving with haste right now. They can depend on me that I’ll work harder and faster to put a shovel in the ground to get people working.
“It’s not about politics anymore. It’s about the country. It’s about the basic need of jobs so people can take care of their families,” continued Mr. Hunt.
“I don’t think that anything is going to get in our way now, with everybody pulling in the same direction. I feel great about it. I’m elated.”
Asked what will happen going forward, Mr. Hunt said, “They’ve got to complete the remediation in certain sections. I guess they will write that off or validate it as they go along, and then we can start making plans for the Boutique Hotel to go up.
“Our financing will be a lot easier now. We’ve had financiers on the hook that want to do it, but we had to get some of the legislation passed first. Tonight, that was done so I am very confident… I am most confident that we will definitely speed it up now.
“In fact, I feel this has taken about 15 years off….put 15 years on my life. I’m happy for once. You see me smiling, right! In fact, it’s now a realization of the dream.
“I think now with the OBA and the PLP agreeing on this subject, it’s going to be a lot easier to get this thing up and running. Because that’s what investors are looking for, is for Government to agree. So the fight is now a lot easier than it was before.
When asked when he thinks shovels may hit the ground, Mr. Hunt said: “We are talking to some of the brands right now. In fact, I have a partner right now talking with a brand. Once the brands feel comfortable and the investors feel comfortable, we will go.
“I think after tonight, I think they’ll feel a lot more comfortable. Because in any country, the Government has to be on board. It’s not only to have a vision, but everybody’s got to be behind that vision. And we are committed, no matter what, we are committed.”
In 2012 Morgans Point was swapped for the Southlands property in Warwick, after concerns were raised over building on the Southlands property, which was then owned by Craig Christensen, Nelson Hunt and Brian Duperreault.
They planned to develop a resort at Southlands, however this was met with resistance from segments of the public who wanted the property to be retained in its natural state, so the deal to swap the two properties was worked out.
The 80 acres at Morgan’s Point in Sandys/Southampton was owned by Government, while the 37 acres at Southlands in Warwick was owned by Morgan’s Point Limited, and the two sides swapped the properties.
The full Morgan’s Point Resort Act 2014 is below [PDF here]
Read More About
Category: All, Business, News, Politics, Sports
No thanks to the PTP either
Elated about what exactly? who is going to biuld a hotel on a concrete brownfield with no beach? These people are all dreaming, let’s focus on fixing what we have . Spend our energy and creativity (import some labour, some workers, casino etc) on making world class resorts at coral beach and pink beach, and old sonesta and club med. Morgans a waste of time as will never happen at least not in next 10 years. Their swapping Southlands for MOrgans was a big business mistake, taxpayers should not have to eat it.
@mb–What are you talking about!!, those properties are owned by other people. Mr. Hunt has several businesses and i’m sure he understands better than you do about what it takes to build a resort..shhshh!Why don’t you question the greens on how long it will take before the former sonesta beach property gets underway to being a toursism resort. I’m happy for Mr. Hunt, a Bermudian who has been waiting almost ten years for this day!
Aahh is Las Vegas in a desert.
I’d be elated too if I could swap heavily polluted land for prime waterfront.
Keep trading up.
They have investors prepared to inject cash into this good for nuffin wasteland?….full steam ahead Lord Nelson! Get it done guys!
New hotel, construction jobs created, a new hotel for tourists…..
If the hotel in St George’s gets the green light as well, we are most definitely on our way. Don’t forget the lease for the new hotel in town just got approved as well.
I’d say, if any of this actually does get started, now the good news begins for Bermuda.
And can someone tell me please because I can’t recall this but since when did bills from the HoA get released into the public domain?