Tweet
Whitehouse Vindicated - Hotel was 'value for money'
published: Tuesday | September 5, 2006 <DIV class=KonaBody>
Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator
The <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; COLOR: black! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; POSITION: relative">forensic</SPAN> audit into the US$41 million (J$2.7 billion) cost overrun at the controversial Sandals Whitehouse project in Westmore-<SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; COLOR: black! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; POSITION: relative">land</SPAN> has concluded that the project delivered value for money.
According to Mr. Campbell, the report made it clear that the original project cost of US$60 million was inadequate for the kind of hotel that was to be constructed.
The original budget for the <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; COLOR: black! important; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1px solid; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; POSITION: relative; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">hotel</SPAN> was about US$86 million based on the Beaches Negril concept.
"However, it was determined that that cost was too high and eventually it was reduced to US$60 million based upon a recom-mendation by a company called Capital Options Limited. The auditors conclude, however, that it is clear that this figure bore no relationship to the size or specification of the proposed hotel as was conceptualised and proposed by the <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; COLOR: black! important; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1px solid; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; POSITION: relative; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">architects</SPAN> in May 2000," Mr. Campbell explained.
The auditors noted that if the US$60 million budget had been adopted, the scope of the project would have had to be substantially reduced.
Another point high
published: Tuesday | September 5, 2006 <DIV class=KonaBody>
Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator
The <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; COLOR: black! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; POSITION: relative">forensic</SPAN> audit into the US$41 million (J$2.7 billion) cost overrun at the controversial Sandals Whitehouse project in Westmore-<SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; COLOR: black! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; POSITION: relative">land</SPAN> has concluded that the project delivered value for money.
According to Mr. Campbell, the report made it clear that the original project cost of US$60 million was inadequate for the kind of hotel that was to be constructed.
The original budget for the <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; COLOR: black! important; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1px solid; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; POSITION: relative; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">hotel</SPAN> was about US$86 million based on the Beaches Negril concept.
"However, it was determined that that cost was too high and eventually it was reduced to US$60 million based upon a recom-mendation by a company called Capital Options Limited. The auditors conclude, however, that it is clear that this figure bore no relationship to the size or specification of the proposed hotel as was conceptualised and proposed by the <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; COLOR: black! important; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1px solid; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; POSITION: relative; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">architects</SPAN> in May 2000," Mr. Campbell explained.
The auditors noted that if the US$60 million budget had been adopted, the scope of the project would have had to be substantially reduced.
Another point high
Comment