Developer of Cabrits Resort dispels ‘fake news’ regarding arrest in China

 

Asaria has provided this photo showing he is in Geneva

Developer of Cabrits Resort Kempinski, now under construction in the north of the island, and founder of Range Developments, Mohammed Asaria, is dispelling as ‘fake news’ that he has been arrested and detained in China on suspicion of illegal fundraising.

 

On Sunday a number of online media outlets reported the matter but Range Development has rejected the story and has provided photographic evidence that he is Geneva and not a Chinese jail.

The story has since been taken down from some of the websites but Range Development has promised to pursue “the highest possible damages” in court.

A statement from Range Developments on Monday morning reads as follows:

Yesterday, a news outlet based in the Caribbean published a story claiming Mohammed Asaria – founder of Range Developments, the developer of Park Hyatt Saint Kitts, the Cabrits Resort in Dominica, as well as the Six Senses Saint Kitts – had been arrested and detained in China on suspicion of illegal fundraising.

Range Developments have vigorously rejected the story, provided photographic evidence to disprove the false claims, and promised to pursue “the highest possible damages” in court.

Upon request from Investment Migration Insider, Mr. Asaria has provided photographic evidence to prove that he is, in fact, in Geneva, and not in a Chinese jail.

The allegation first surfaced on a website called MNI Alive: Global Caribbean Media, and have been picked up by other media, including NewsAmericaNow and Jamaica Inquirer. While speaking at a conference in China last week, Mr Asaria was targeted by a number of protesters. When he sat down to listen to their grievances, it turned out they were baseless and rebutted by Range immediately with evidence, and the protestors had just been paid to make trouble.

“It seems this is one of the challenges of being a successful developer,” said Mr Asaria. “I won’t let this distract from our efforts to build world-class projects in the Caribbean.”

Range Developments is the developer of several resorts in the Caribbean Park Hyatt Saint Kitts, the Cabrits Resort in Dominica, as well as the Six Senses Saint Kitts.

The developers say the resort in Cabrits will be the best in the Eastern Caribbean when it is completed.

The 160-room Cabrits Resort Kempinski, which will be located at Douglas Bay between the Cabrits National Park and the community of Tan Tan.

Artist’s impression of the Kempinski Hotel when complete

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23 Comments

  1. Think for YOURSELF
    June 5, 2018

    “There were protesters, who were paid to protest”

    Just to cause trouble and that’s a challenge of being a successful developer…………………

    Dude this sounds suspicious…… what is it you aren’t telling us????

    I believe all these hotel developments and which never seems to reach a completion stage are just a front for something else *AHEM*…..money laundering *AHEM*

  2. J.John-Charles
    June 4, 2018

    I am happy to see foreign investment but why does he have to use the countries passport to raise money?

  3. whose hotel?
    June 4, 2018

    CAN YOU IMAGINE?

    Sons and daughters of Kalinago and Black Freedom Fighters of Dominica, please listen to sense for a while.
    Skerritt and his DLP Gov’t, totally forgetting our rich history of struggle against colonial rule, sold us out for Range Development, in the name of building hotel.

    Range development came with NOTHING as “Investors.” Skerritt and his cabal, strangely, unexplanably, went to Parliament, changed the Law regarding our National Park, and carved out 15 acres of our land, gave all that to the foreigners for Kemspinsky hotel.

    Many Dominicans sat there, witnessed 15 acres of their land being taken, forcefully by politicians, by an “Act of Parliament” and agreed to by supporters. The “I”s had it to give our Cabrits land away, just like that.

    Range Development got our passports from authorities to sell to raise MILLIONS to build the hotel.

    So our land, our passportsn millions making, but hotel is not ours. Dominicans SLEEPING STILL.

    • Neville
      June 5, 2018

      That’s exactly how it works. Dominica has given the land, Dominica has given its passports to finance the project but up until now nobody knows who the legal owners of the hotel are. Skerrit does not want to talk about it, i.e. it’s non of your damn business. So in absence of a clear statement from the government of Dominica, I have to assume that Skerrit and friends are the owners.

  4. Frank Talker
    June 4, 2018

    Was he really in Geneva? This photo above does not provide indisputable proof that he was in Geneva. In any event, successful people in the news MUST MUST be prepared for the public prying into their private lives.

    • UKDominican
      June 5, 2018

      As much as I have misgivings about mr. Asaria, I have to confirm that he was in Geneva on 4 June, the date this photo was taken. The view in the photo is of lake Geneva and he is holding a copy of the local newspaper of that date.
      He is a speaker at the Investment Migration Forum at the Kempinski in Geneva, held from 4-6 June. Other speakers are, among others, our own Sam Raphael(Jungle Bay), Timothy Harris of St, Kitts, Alan Chastenet of St. Lucia and also “Mano”, Emmanuel Nanthan the head of our CBI programme as is the controversial Chris Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, who are sponsors of this event ….makes you wonder about our exclusive deal with CS l, doesn’t it?

  5. Stubborn Facts
    June 4, 2018

    From February 2018, Dr. Denzel Douglas, the former Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, now opposition leader, had been denying that he had Dominica Diplomatic passport and said he never applied. However,last month he admitted he has a Dominica Diplomatic passport that he applied for and has used it to travel. I bet you Douglas is a friend of this developer, as well as Skerrit and therefore I will not be like Ian Douglas that was fooled by Skerrit, not once, not twice, not three times to be fooled again by friends of Skerrit’

  6. MET BONDA YO
    June 4, 2018

    Matt ain’t see nothing yet. He is one that is always there to ignite the fire on his Q95 Talk On The Block show. Now he is served with some papers he crying, victim. Hope he can defend himself from that false news he brought to the public.
    This guy does not take his time to hear two bells ring. Once is Skerrit or the Government, and the issue is in the negative, that makes his day. Never have listened to a program where this guy compliments the Government or Skerrit for a job well done. His entertainments are always negative vibes.

    • Ha
      June 4, 2018

      Looks like you’re reading it all wrong, not Matt.

    • Neville
      June 5, 2018

      Compliment the government of a job well done?? Give me an example when they did a good job in the past 18 years. The only time they do a good job if it comes to deceiving Ma Dominique of huge amounts of money.

  7. June 4, 2018

    What did Range Development brought to table??????
    They were given Dominica’s crown land ** protected land** and 800 Dominica’s passports to tell to finance the hotel and ALL Range brought was their name
    Dominica and its people sure got the short end of the stick :-D :-D

  8. Dominican
    June 4, 2018

    I d.on’t know what is really going on here. Kempinski have their head office in Geneva and I suppose that is why mr. Asaria is there. On the other hand I can not find any listing on any of their recent websites of the opening of a Kempinski in Dominica in the near future, although I do recall our govt. signing an agreement with Range (Mr. Asaria) on 7 Nov. of 2014 at the Fort Young hotel. I remember that clearly because Vince Henderson, our current ambassador to the U.S.A. was present also, although I do not know why. The other gentleman at that ceremony was mr. Destribats of Kempenski and I do know him as being Kempinki’s CEO for the Americas. At that time it was said that Range was ready to start construction right away. I Know we had Maria to contend with but does it take that long to construct a 120 room hotel like this? It will be more than four years if it does open this year.

  9. Man bite dogs
    June 4, 2018

    I am not one of these stupid workers supporters that would believe anything such as the world is square, I know exactly where that fake rubbish is coming from, regarding arrest in China, What a load of crap it just goes to show how Rijock that dirty borbor face would go along with so-called Workers idiotics would go to bring Dominica down, asked your selfs that question if that nasty white man Rijock was any good he would not be mixing with So-called Workers party, having said that anywhere and time turnaround you will see workers and criminals working hands in hands….. DNO may not like what I have got to say, I’m militant only in speech and will not use force on anyone onless I am push to for example 3oo degrees.

    • Toto
      June 4, 2018

      You silly man, would Rijock be better if he wasblack like most Dominicans?

  10. Dalit
    June 4, 2018

    It is opening in 2019.

    This UWP website keeps on trying to cause trouble with false information.

    • Anonymous
      June 4, 2018

      Yeah, just like the Moroccan hotel.

  11. Ha
    June 4, 2018

    No smoke without fire… Somethings smells off for that to be reported…

  12. UKDominican
    June 4, 2018

    Cabrits Kempinski…..expected to be completed in 2018? We have just entered our hurricane season, which typically impacts building projects so how are Range going to pull this off? Lets say that by some miracle they open their doors for business in time for the new season,, say in Dec. how are they going to bring their guest to Dominica giving the severe limitations of our airport. And how are they going to get their supplies in or have adequately trained staff available to offer a five-star service. I think they owe us and the their investors a realistic status report, complete with photographic/video evidence.

    • Neville
      June 4, 2018

      Not only severe limitations to the airport but also severe limitations to the road from the airport to the hotel. Everything back to front in DA again as usual.

      • we are watching you
        June 4, 2018

        They are going to use helicopters to ferry guests from the airport.

    • Jaimous Thomas
      June 4, 2018

      We always look and search for the negatives. Lord when will our perspective on things change in this country we proclaim to love so much.

      Until then we ain’t going anywhere as a nation!!!!!

    • deeyeshaveit
      June 4, 2018

      They don’t owe you crap. Range is a proven Developer and does not speak idle words. The renowned Park Hyatt in St. Kitts a Range Development project was completed on time and within budget. At the height of Construction there were well over 800 locals in St. Kitts employed. They now have two other developments Cabrits Kempinski and another development The Six Sense Ultra Luxury brand on going in St. Kitts. Instead of encouraging them you come with your nonsense you sound like the usual Bitter Blue Pinez!!!

      • Toto
        June 4, 2018

        It is obvious, St. Kitts is not Dominica. They also have an international airport and more cruise ships calling but they smaller than us.

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