Search still on for Cabrits hotel management company

View of the hotel under construction
View of the hotel under construction

The government of Dominica is still seeking a team to manage a Morocco-funded hotel now being built in Portsmouth, according to trade minister Collin McIntyre.

“The hotel is currently being built. We expect it to be open sometime next year and right now we are recruiting staff and training staff for the hotel. The discussions yesterday basically had to do with the management of the hotel, the completion of construction and putting a time frame together,” he told reporters on Tuesday morning.

He indicated that thus far a number of companies, including a local firm, have expressed interest in managing the hotel, called the Cabrits Resort and Spa.

“We have opened it up to locals as well but we’ve only received one application to a local firm and soon after they pulled out. We also received interest from other players within the region stating that they would like to be part of the hotel also the Moroccans as well,” McIntyre noted.

He added that over the next few weeks an implementation plan for the completion of the hotel and a management structure will be put in place.

“The Moroccans are interesting in training the young people for us. Morocco considers Dominica as a serious friend and wants to put a stamp in the region,” he stated. they are interested in training some of the people in terms of diplomacy, as well as opening a school here so that Dominica can become like the headquarters for the rest of the region.

He also said government officials met on Monday evening with a representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to discuss the project.

The property includes 58 rooms and 10 suites. It will also feature a conference facility for more than 100 people, a spa, a pool and restaurants.

The project has space for an additional 30 rooms on its 4.5-acre site.

The project has been touted as a ‘generous gift’ from the government of Morroco to Dominica and during a site visit last year Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit vowed that it will be completed by October, 2013 and “not one day later.”

He said that when the hotel becomes fully operational at least 100 Dominicans will be employed full time.

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44 Comments

  1. tinz
    November 14, 2013

    Hire me!!! all i want is $ 0.50 a year…. that’s a good deal rite? its less than others have agreed to in the past :lol:

  2. Purple Turtle
    November 14, 2013

    Don’t we have many jokes and jokers in Dominica? The same people who tell us that we have no need for an International Airport because we don’t have the business are supposedly building a Hotel when the hotels in Dominica are operating on 20% capacity.

    It is no surprise that today we are considered #6 of the worse economy among the 190 countries sur la terre. I didn’t say it -the information is there for everybody to see. When we have people in government who have no idea what they are doing, they are only concerned about their own empire.

    What a shame that a country that was so productive and doing well has been brought down to abject poverty. We sat by as a people enamored by dimples and a few Chinese projects. At the end of the dimples we see a bald head a fat face , a few cricket games , a west coast rehabilitated road, a presidential palace , red clinic and more unemployment and poverty.

  3. Nature boy
    November 13, 2013

    Not one Day later? So wats up with 14 days late!!!?

  4. Steve W
    November 13, 2013

    Where are the terms of reference for the management contract?
    I cannot remember ever seeing a notice out for the expression of interest. I may be wrong.
    Dominica has a multitude of trained people who are more than capable of managing a 68 room hotel with a projected occupancy of 30%.
    Why 30%? With crime escalating in Portsmouth, LIAT on a mission to frustrate travelers and nothing to do in Portsmouth, who is really going to waste their time to full up a hotel in Portsmouth?
    This hotel was built with absolutely no planning. It was first announced as an airport hotel in Melville Hall, at least every time LIAT strike it would be filled to capacity, then they decide to put it in Portsmouth with no Environmental Impact Assessment, no market research, no business plan, no nothing and now they looking for management.
    When a new Hotel is built, years before completion, even with the designs the developments are already selling rooms, but in DOMINICA we are looking for management. This is a PAPPYSHOW.
    In fact let PAPPY manage the damn thing. I know he will bring in some superstars to occupy it.

  5. Frank Talker
    November 13, 2013

    I share the sentiments expressed by some local entrepreneurs that the Government desires to put the hotel in the hands of people who either have sworn allegiance to the DLP or those who it can manipulate. The selection process seem more about control and opportunities for personal gain than about competence to run and manage the facility. Now, all this may be simply a perception but there are many things feeding perceptions in Dominica than not. One of the things on the minds of people who are interested in managing the resort is “how would Skerro and his cabal respond if the managing team speaks its minds about the poor stewardship of the country? How would Skerro respond if the hotel refuses to take Gov’t LPOs because of the poor servicing of those LPOs?”
    Dr Mac and those in his team should do much more than just put the hotel up for managing; they should build an environment where entrepreneurs will feel safe to put their million dollars in this venture.

  6. Van
    November 13, 2013

    The question of managing the hotel should have been addressed prior to building/completion of said project.

    • the sage
      November 14, 2013

      cart before the horse

  7. lolz
    November 13, 2013

    If nobody interested in managing the hotel then it means the Govt’s expectations from the mgmt companies are simply unrealistic. Come on Mr. PM et al. Tell us the truth on what is really going on.

  8. D/can
    November 12, 2013

    mie dabaa ar dominic say la

  9. Hm
    November 12, 2013

    I find it a bit strange that Dominica has so many hotels and yet there seems to be even /less/ for a tourist to do here now when compared to a few years ago.

    • me
      November 13, 2013

      What was there to do a few years ago?

  10. overseas
    November 12, 2013

    where can I submit an application to for the management of this hotel??

  11. john bess
    November 12, 2013

    This grabberment saying all kind of hilarious things this days,good luck with this white elephant,i discarding all u next election.

  12. DA
    November 12, 2013

    without a tourist industry, which overseas managment company would take this seriously if it would not be profitable ?

  13. Ann Derass
    November 12, 2013

    Something is extremely wrong with the Dominica leadership. How many rooms are in this hotel? 58 rooms and 10 suites. In the real world this is really a Big Guest House, which real company will waste their time to manage a 68 room hotel and depending on LIAT to full it up? In a country where 30% occupancy is the norm?
    Garcon let’s put a management team together with Simeon Albert as CEO and Mamie chief chef, with the rest of the Cabal as directors.
    You mean a government with so many PHDs MBAs Bsc and a graduate in every home, we cannot get a manager on island to manage 68 Guest rooms.
    Those foreigners must be laughing and saying, Si Zandoli Tay Bon Vien e patakay asou baicad, if zandoli was good meat it would not be on fences.
    Oh Dominica you need prayers of deliverance from incompetence.
    You build a hotel, you do not know haow it going to full up and you cannot find a manager. Garcon give me a million bucks and you’ll see how I making wonders with this thing with only Dominican employees.
    Look out for my application!

    • November 12, 2013

      @Ann, I agree with you in part. Dominica is a very small Island, so a 68 room hotel is a Hotel. You can call it a “Big Guest House” if you want to. I agree that there should be people, unemployed people, at home that are capable of managing that place. Seeking management OUTSIDE of Dominica is a crying SHAME. Personally, I would NOT depend on LIAT even if my life depended on their flight.

      I do not understand how so many people are crying “UNEMPLOYMENT” and a few are not EMPLOYABLE. I see the Fort Young Hotel has yet to fill up the Management position that they have been advertising for several weeks. A manager should not be hard to find. How do one expect changes for a better Dominican future when they do not hire Dominicans?

      You do not need a million bucks to make wonders, you need SKILL. Honestly, Dominicans should be the employees at ANY ESTABLISHMENT regardless to who invested. The GOAL is to IMPROVE the Island, that will NEVER be when those companies come with THEIR EMPLOYEES.

      • me
        November 13, 2013

        The employment offer is also extended to Dominicans. How do you employ someone who does not want to be employed?

    • Frank Talker
      November 13, 2013

      Dominica is flooding with people qualified and experienced to run a hotel. Just think for a moment that all our hotels are family-owned and have been riding the faced of hardship for eons, yet remaining opened. The challenge with this new establishment is not about the location or anything bout the property. Dominicans do not trust this administration to enter into a partnership relation with it.

  14. Straight Talk
    November 12, 2013

    Isn’t there any Dominican individual or organization qualified enough in Hotel management that the government is seeking people from outside to manage a hotel?. What about the (DHTA)Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association? Can’t they assist in identifying such an invididual or organization?

    • forreal
      November 12, 2013

      but you seem to have a serious reading and understanding problem,the statement read as follows:he indicated that thus far a number of companies including a local firm,have expresed interest in managing the hotel,called the cabrits and spa,they further went on to say:we have opened it up to locals as well but we have only received one application to a local firm and soon after they pulled out,so where is your sense of reasoning heading at,and have seven oh so smarties in agreement,hotel and tourism association organisation play a completely different role to what you are insinuating.

      • Santa Claus
        November 12, 2013

        @forrel, you don’t seem to be able to comprehend what you are reading. I guess the reason the local firm pulled out soon after they applied is because of the criteria. I wonder if the sale of PASSPORTS was part of the criteria in very small print and hence honest Dominicans had to back out. Just wondering OK because I cannot understand why in these difficult times when people are hungry for work nobody applying.

    • DA LOVE
      November 12, 2013

      The simple answer is NO!!! NO!!!

    • Frank Talker
      November 13, 2013

      It is simple as this: Too many people don’t trust the Government of Dominica.

  15. lala
    November 12, 2013

    Shouldn’t the government first be trying to figure out how to get tourists to the island so that they can fill the hotel rooms? Even the best management company can’t fill a hotel if nobody can get there!!

    • forreal
      November 12, 2013

      hotels are filled by advertisement,in other countries,and that marketing is done by the hotel and touristism association

      • Santa Claus
        November 12, 2013

        @forreal, you are partly right in saying that hotels are filled by advertisement in other countries… However, how does a person or company truly advertise the New Dominica of Skerrit? How do you advertise Dominica locally or in other countries, when you cannot even accommodate nationals that are constantly stock in other islands because of lack of air / sea access? You mean the same government whose policies FORCED Carnival Ship out? How do you sell this to tourist? I guess to sell this out Skerrit will have to hire private jets like he did during the last election. But then again tourist are not as crazy as those Dominican tourists that were paid to come and vote.

      • lala
        November 13, 2013

        You missed my point. You can advertise all you want but the real problem is accessibility. I might see an advertisement for Dominica, but when I try to make arrangements to spend a week in Dominica and it takes me 2 days to get there and 2 days to get home (if Liat is operating properly), why should I come to Dominica for 3 days of vacation when I can go to St Maarten or San Juan or even Florida and have my entire 7 days to spend vacationing? And trust me… I LOVE Dominica.

    • Listening!!!
      November 12, 2013

      Forreal….You could not have said it any better.

  16. Santa Claus
    November 12, 2013

    What about the PM resigning his post and become the manager just as Savarin resigned his to become president? isn’t that the style these days?
    Oh, since they are looking for a management team they should just hire the Blair Court team to run it.

    • Helium&Beryllium
      November 12, 2013

      Ahwoah

    • Anonymous
      November 12, 2013

      We cannot afford to waste such great leadership on a hotel. Maybe Lennox should try, after all, he is unemployed.

      • Domnique fene bat
        November 12, 2013

        @Anonymous, you mean the same Lenox that caught them doing their thing in the garbage bin bobol? A thief and police don’t usually agree you know and Lenox who represents honesty does not suite that team.

      • me
        November 13, 2013

        The same one that claims that he sent out thousands of applications and no one will hire him.

    • forreal
      November 12, 2013

      santa clause,while you at it,why dont suggest the UWP team

      • Domnique fene bat
        November 12, 2013

        @forreal, They are not use to hiring UWPites and there are certain commitments they are looking for and UWP team is just too honest for them. Have you ever heard the story of “The thief who unknowingly hired a police officer as guard and next thing the police caught the thief stealing? You interprete this parable as u see fit.

    • November 12, 2013

      @Santa Claus, if you are not employed you will remain UNEMPLOYED LONGER.

  17. Pedro
    November 12, 2013

    Somebody has some explaining to do. Here was the previous release:

    A management team from Bonaire is expected in Dominica next week as a Morocco-funded hotel project in Portsmouth moves to the next stage, according to tourism minister, Ian Douglas.

    “They should be arriving next week which will allow us to have more detailed discussions with a team of persons from the Invest Dominica Authority and the Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority, to see if we can reach a happy medium as far as what the government would want and what we can expect from them managing the facility,” he stated.

    There was never any prior suggestion that government was still entertaining bids. It suggested that government was in teh final stages of negotiating to take them onboard. What went wrong? Was the government considering other persons at that point or did things change? More clarification is needed. The previous article did not suggest that the government had completed its homework on details of exactly what it wanted from the management company. Maybe things have changed now…

    • dafriend
      November 12, 2013

      The right does not know what the left is doing in this monkey circus called ‘Dominica Government’. It is absolutely unbelievable! This government and the Board of LIAT are so similar. None of them could organise a ‘knees-up’ in a brewery. It’s laughable…

    • BobE
      November 12, 2013

      All this means is that they did not reach an agreement. Is that a crime? Deals fall through every day and the process continues.

    • #Uknowit
      November 12, 2013

      But you know they full of LIES!

      You believed that press release??

      HAHA! so you meen to tell me you believe this one TOO?

      Not quite as funny as the promise of 500 jobs though.

      #Labor#power

  18. naturalistic
    November 12, 2013

    Thank you DNO I know i read that in the article when he visited it.”not one day later”.Rest assured it will be opened but not next year,the diversion of the road has not occurred yet. So give us, 2015 and not one year later.

    • Me
      November 12, 2013

      as with every good plan setbacks do occur. There are some things you just can’t plan for.

      • Frank Talker
        November 13, 2013

        No Sir! This is bad planning. No contractor makes those puerile statements. If it is a fact that “setbacks do occur”, how come Skerro does not know so?

        What we are seeing is a set of wild promises by the PM. Promises about the creation of 500 jobs before September ends. Promises about geothermal energy. Promises about purchasing ships to aid the export potential of Dominica. Promises about solar lighting (yet we see Domlec lighting under the Canefield cliff). Promises and one graduate in every family. Promises about Roseau being the number 1 city in the OECS. Promises about 100 jobs in 100 days following elections, and so on and so on. All these promises amount to bluff!!

      • me
        November 13, 2013

        Mr./Ms. Frank talker,
        You are wrong again. A project going a few months past it’s due date is not bad planning. In life there are unforeseen circumstances.

        You are gullible enough to believe the foolishness uwp is feeding you. I hope for the nature island sake you do not have to find out the hard way. The records are there. Check the stats when uwp was in office as compared to DLP. There is simply no comparism.

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