The following is an edited version of a letter from from Gorstew Ltd responding to excerpts from the findings of the Contractor General on the Sandals Whitehouse investigation published on July 27:
THE EDITOR, Sir:
For the record:
1. We maintain that the Contractor General has been misinformed, or he would certainly not have stated that the cost overrun had anything to do with the change from Beaches to Sandals. Our position is that this change actually resulted in a net savings.
2. There was no "new Sandals concept". The Contractor General appears of the view that the hotel was modeled on Beaches Negril and that the name change signified a major change in the design. As we have pointed out, the project that was the basis of the joint venture between the UDC, the NIBJ and Gorstew Ltd. was at all times based on the design of Beaches Turks and Caicos. This design, which has remained unchanged throughout the construction, IS the basis for the existing Sandals Whitehouse Resort.
3. Neither Gorstew nor the NIBJ appointed directors to the Board of Ackendown New Town Development Company Ltd., were able to obtain financial information from the project manager until January 4, 2005, one month before the date of the opening of the hotel. All attempts by Gorstew to obtain such information prior to this date were rebuffed.
Our attorneys have written to the Contractor General and have provided him with a detailed statement, which we believe will clarify many of the misconceptions set out in the report.
I am, etc.,
CHRISTOPHER ZACCA
Director
