Parliament

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Minister of State with responsibility for Project Implementation and Service Delivery in the Office of the Prime Minister, Daryl Vaz, yesterday (May 13) announced a number of hotel projects for the parish of Portland, which will create employment and contribute to the development of the parish.

Among the projects is the upgrading of the Trident Hotel into a luxury Caribbean resort with 42 rooms. The work, Mr. Vaz said, will be done in phases, with phase one to come on stream in 2009/2010 at a cost of US$15 million. Phase two, which is expected to cost US$25 million to US$30 million, will include the addition of short stay hotel suites and villas, as well as high-end residential homes.

"The construction phase will employ some 200 workers and upon completion, some 150 full-time staff," Mr. Vaz said during his contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate, which began yesterday (May 13) in the House of Representatives.

The renovation of the Trident Hotel is being undertaken by the AIC Group.

The Minister of State also informed the House of the construction of high-end luxury villas for Drapers and Turtle Crawle at a cost of US$67 million.

"It is estimated that the construction of these units will employ a large number of parishioners of Portland in the construction phase. This will further reduce the unemployment figure by providing permanent employment for 190 persons upon completion," Mr. Vaz said.

He said that the projects will be jointly funded by overseas and local investors.

Mr. Vaz further informed that the GEEJAM Recording Studio and Boutique Hotel will be renovated at a cost of US$3.5 million. "This boutique hotel, which currently consists of seven luxury suites, is to be expanded to a total of 10 by Christmas 2008," Mr. Vaz said.

GEEJAM is home to the Japanese-Jamaican restaurant called the 'Bushbar,' which has been featured in Vanity Fair Magazine.

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