‘Potentially Transforming Daniels Head Area’
The Bermuda Land Management Corporation [BLMC] has entered an MOU with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings to “assess and evaluate the possibility of investing in and potentially transforming” the Daniels Head area into a “first-class day tourism product,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Housing and Municipalities Zane DeSilva said.
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday [July 18] the Minister said, ”The collective team of BLMC staff, Ministry of Public Works and Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture, and Sport, and in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings [NCLH], continue to prepare and work together to be ready to embark on the planned major redevelopment project at King’s Wharf Dock, which will commence in October 2025 and conclude by March 2026.
“At the end of May, I reported that BLMC was actively looking to find a positive solution for Daniels Head, as it has sat vacant for many years. I am extremely pleased to report that BLMC has entered an MOU with NCLH to assess and evaluate the possibility of investing in and potentially transforming this area into a first-class day tourism product.
“I cannot stress enough to all Honourable Members and the public that these discussions are in the beginning stages, and despite rumours that have recently begun to circulate, nothing has been signed off on or agreed to. BLMC has not issued a lease to run a private cruise passenger area or any other form of private resort.
“What I can share is that at this stage, BLMC has signed a non-binding MOU that provides six [6] months for NCLH to complete their vision and concept with high-level financial requirements for us to consider. This opportunity is still in its early stages, and conceptual designs and financial models have yet to be developed.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker,
I rise today to provide an update on the Bermuda Land Management Corporation [BLMC].
As Honourable Members may recall, I reported that the Bermuda Land Development Corporation [BLDC] would be fully dissolved by July 2025. While we are very close to completion, this deadline will slip into August.
Mr. Speaker,
I would also remind Honourable Members and the public that BLMC is fully operational and is managing all properties and operations formerly overseen by WEDCO and BLDC.
In the West, BLMC continues to work along with the Ministry of Public Works on the current North Arm repairs for the Tugs berth. This project is ongoing, and the collective team is making progress while ensuring that there is as little impact as possible on the day-to-day operations at King’s Wharf and the transportation of its passengers. This has and continues to be a challenging task. At this time, I wish to thank all involved in the project repairs as well as those who provide transportation and other services to the ships at King’s Wharf.
Mr. Speaker,
The ongoing Marine and Ports facility upgrade is now nearing completion, and it is anticipated that their newly renovated and upgraded site will be fully handed over by the end of July. As a reminder to all, this project will see the Marine and Ports Dockyard operation located in the North Camber, relocated to the former Oracle sheds. However, Marine and Ports will continue to operate within the ramp area.
Mr. Speaker,
The collective team of BLMC staff, Ministry of Public Works and Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture, and Sport, and in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings [NCLH], continue to prepare and work together to be ready to embark on the planned major redevelopment project at King’s Wharf Dock, which will commence in October 2025 and conclude by March 2026.
Mr. Speaker,
At the end of May, I reported that BLMC was actively looking to find a positive solution for Daniels Head, as it has sat vacant for many years. I am extremely pleased to report that BLMC has entered an MOU with NCLH to assess and evaluate the possibility of investing in and potentially transforming this area into a first-class day tourism product.
Mr. Speaker,
I cannot stress enough to all Honourable Members and the public that these discussions are in the beginning stages, and despite rumours that have recently begun to circulate, nothing has been signed off on or agreed to. BLMC has not issued a lease to run a private cruise passenger area or any other form of private resort.
Mr. Speaker,
What I can share is that at this stage, BLMC has signed a non-binding MOU that provides six [6] months for NCLH to complete their vision and concept with high-level financial requirements for us to consider. This opportunity is still in its early stages, and conceptual designs and financial models have yet to be developed. I wish to inform Honourable Members and the public that should this development mature and move forward, stakeholder engagement will be a major part of the process, and I am committed to continuing to deliver updates via this Honourable House for this and other potential projects.
Mr. Speaker,
What I do wish to make clear is that my Ministry and BLMC are committed to delivering a development for this site that will be a new first-class offering for Bermuda, that considers and includes both the needs and requirements of the investor as well as the Bermuda community, and incorporates Bermudian entrepreneurs and employees.
Mr. Speaker,
Staying in the West, discussions continue that could potentially see the Victualling Yard buildings being brought back to life. Should this potential project take off, it will enable the only remaining BLMC historical structures to be brought back to life. At this stage it would be premature to provide any specific information, as we still have a lot of work to do, but we are very hopeful that in the coming weeks and months we will be able to provide a more detailed update.
Mr. Speaker,
In the East, the Water and Waste Infrastructure Project is in the final stages before going live and receiving St. George’s waste and turning off the sewage outfall. Unfortunately, there were delays receiving the pumps. Final pump configurations at Market Square / King’s Square are currently ongoing, and sewage transfer to Southside is anticipated to begin in August.
Mr. Speaker,
The transfer of thirty-eight [38] houses, as mentioned in my May update, from leasehold to freehold is actively underway, with BLMC staff meeting with all lessees outlining the process and requirements. The legal firm Chancery Legal is now engaged so that we can complete this process as promised during this fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker,
I wish to also ensure the East End community that BLMC is actively working on two initiatives: one with the Bermuda Housing Corporation to identify possible housing opportunities, and BLMC is currently in preliminary talks with a major local wholesaler and retailer about relocating their operations to the East End, which would present additional commerce traffic within the area.
In closing, I wish to assure this Honourable House and the public that these updates will continue, and the Board and Management remain committed to delivering on their mandate.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
“looking to find a positive solution for Daniels Head, as it has sat vacant for many years”
Someone might want to go there and see how “vacant” it really is
9 beaches is ripe for development. A far more sensible and logical location than government’s latest plan to massively overdevelop Southlands National Park in Warwick with an obvious and user being the cruise ship industry. 55 car parking spaces, 76 bike parking spaces, 9 minibus/taxi spaces and a mini bus turning circle as well as a 120 seat restaurant. Bermudians fought hard for Southlands a decade ago with government’s commitment then to protect Southlands in perpetuity for the public by making it a protected national park. This tranquil and peaceful 37 acre park is used regularly by locals, tourists and families for quiet enjoyable walks, often with pets. The beach is notorious for submerged rocks and significant undertow and certainly would present a serious risk for large numbers of cruise ship passengers descending on its shores. Longtail, our prized protected local birds, nest throughout the banks and cliffs of Southlands and would be sadly pushed out from this peaceful park. The plan is unacceptable to the Warwick community and Bermudians in general who fought hard to protect this park. We cannot afford to lose more green space in our ever more built up and developed island. Once built and paved over, never to return. This plan must be rejected.
SOS. Save Our Southlands
Come on, Stephen. You know perfectly well that our government is in desperate need of money and the easiest way to get foreign currency with which to pay our nearly $4 BILLION of current account debt is to sell off parts of Bermuda.
Did you pick another OBA leader yet?
Bermuda has more MOUs of all sorts than sheets on a new three-ply roll of t-paper. In the end, all those sheets and waste get flushed.
Was agreed upon before agreement was printed n placed for signing