Casino plan reportedly took down former premier
Bermudans may take news of a new casino development in St. George’s with a big grain of salt. According to the Bermuda Sun, residents in the East End are used to such “false dawns.” For years, plans to redevelop the old Club Med site have come and gone.
Late last month, Tourism Development Minister Shawn Crockwell announced that the government had entered into an “exclusive negotiation period” with the Desarrollos Hotelco Group to build a 238-room hotel, resort and casino at the property. No hotel brand was announced, but Crockwell said it would be a “high-end luxury” brand.
Former St. George’s Mayor Henry Hayward told the Sun that locals “will only believe it when they see it. So many developers have tried to do something with the Club Med site over the years, and we have seen a lot of failures. We’ve seen the closing of the golf course and the fallout from that for the St. George’s Club, and that came with the double whammy of losing the cruise ships.”
Hayward added that all the dashed hopes have “reflected on St. George’s terribly.”
Hayward said he’s encouraged by the identity of the developer, and says he hopes this time the idea moves from the planning stages to the drawing board. “It could be a beautiful idea for St George’s and I’m optimistic they can deliver.” Desarrollos has developed many real estate properties in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The proposed development includes a casino, 16 hotel residences, 24 golf villas, 16 estate residences and a spa and fitness center. The plan also calls for meeting rooms and a ballroom, among other amenities.
Former UBP leader Kim Swan said St. George “is starving for a development but it is incumbent on the government to get the process right first.”
Last month, Premier Craig Cannonier resigned after allegedly accepting $300,000 in campaign contributions from U.S. businessman Nathan Landow, who was interested in developing a casino at the same site in Bermuda, reported the Jamaica Observer. After Cannonier quit, Landow said he was no longer interested in the development.
