Hylton

Banker Patrick Hylton has replaced Richard Byles of chairman of Harmonisation Limited, but said he would not discuss the US$1.2 billion Harmony Cove project ahead of his first board meeting next week.

Hylton, the group managing director of National Commercial Bank and the former head of Finsac who helped negotiate the sale of NCB to billionaire investor Michael Lee Chin, was appointed to the state company's board just two weeks ago.

He is Harmonisation's third chairman in the company's two-year history. Byles had replaced Kingsley Thomas who left public service to head up the GV Media Group, a Gleaner subsidiary, in the United Kingdom.

Developing luxury resort

Harmonisation is partnering with chief investor, Tavistock Group, to develop, the sprawling 2,200-acre Trelawny property into a luxury resort. The lands have secured government a 49 per cent stake in the project.

At the announcement of the joint venture last September, Chris-topher Anand, managing partner for Tavistock, said construction of the project should begin in late 2008.

Byles also said then that approvals and licences were still pending.

Hylton was non-commital on his reading of the project.

"I wouldn't want to comment on Harmonisation Limited ahead of the board meeting," he told Wednesday Business.

susan.gordon@gleanerjm.com.