DOMINICA – Range Developments is delighted to announce that preliminary work is underway on the luxury operator’s first hotel project in Dominica. The Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica will be a 160-room hotel on Douglas Bay on the north shore of the island, close to the town of Portsmouth.
A team of experts is carrying out an environmental impact assessment report, which will provide a full analysis of all the trees, plants and species within the property. A separate team is also carrying out an analysis of the soil on the site. The resort is surrounded by the Cabrits National Park, an area known for its natural beauty. Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica will be designed to ensure a natural balance between the land and the sea, while ensuring a modern contemporary guest experience.
“The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica is the custodian of the natural heritage and resources of the country,” says Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. “We therefore take our responsibility to protect and preserve our natural assets very seriously. We are encouraged by the environmentally responsible approach that Range Developments has demonstrated so far in building a luxury resort in the proximity of the picturesque and historic Cabrits National Park.”
The soil-testing team is drilling a series of holes, taking samples and analysing them. Soils vary in type, composition and strength, and the differences can be significant. Some soils are very strong and can support significant weight, while other soils are weak and compress under light loads, so need to be strengthened before construction.
“This is typical of the attention to detail that characterizes our company’s approach,” says Mohammed Asaria, vice chairman of Range Developments. “This sort of work is fundamental to the success of the project. We also intend to make sure that we have as little negative impact on the environment of this beautiful site as possible.”
The development has been designed to take account of the unique landscape. Simeon Halstead of Arcadia Design Architects is the architect of the Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica. His stunning designs can be viewed at www.rangedominica.com.
The Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica is the first Government approved real estate project under the Citizenship by Investment Program of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Investors can obtain citizenship of the country by purchasing a share for US$220,000 in a limited partnership structure.
Such citizenship programmes are widespread among the Caribbean islands and are aimed at encouraging investment in the region. Investors not only have a chance to invest, but assuming they meet the stringent due diligence, receive citizenship of the country, which allows them visa free access to other Commonwealth and European countries.
This is Range Development’s second project in the Caribbean, following the launch of the Park Hyatt St Kitts, due to open in 2016. Park Hyatt St Kitts is employing more than 300 people during construction, and has been described by the Honourable Dr Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts & Nevis, as “a model development for the country”.
Are they going to sell shares , are we going to be servants or owners, who is going to sell them with water, vegatables, pork, chicken, are we going to let the cubans in miami supply every thing to the hotel. What about some one in portsmouth opening a commercial laundry to wash towels for the hotels get ready to supply these people with what they need
what about the unique village of calibishie. the best tourism destination in Dominica. the government has never done anything in that area to improve the potential and tourism product in that area, i could remember the people had to block roads to get a simple thing or a mandatory thing like road fixing. shame on the government of today and yesterday for not placing emphasis in this area. the government is talking a bout tourism? not doing a good job at all. neither the past governments. please develope calibishie village. it gave our island a big boost in terms of tourism.
It seems that many of you have been misinformed… The Cabrits Resort Kempinski is completely different, it is entirely separate from the Morrocan Hotel. I wish some of you would think before you speak! Construction of this hotel has not begun which is why they are now in the preliminary stages hence the soil testing etc! My goodness
But this cannot be the Kempinski either Diplomat. I think the people, who made this image took a lot of liberty. I know that area of Belle Hall and for a start there is no beach like this, going right down from the hotel entrance. There is a main road and a seawall and a tiny beach behind that. I don’t think it is right to fool people like that. Maybe the govt plan to divert the main road, I don’t know where but the y should say so if that is the case
But what are you getting for your U.S.220,000 apart from a piece of paper that says you are a citizen of Dominica and another piece of paper, a certificate that says you have a share in a limited partnership. Not even one hotel room you getting for your money. That sounding too much like time share to me, which has lost all credibility in Europe. Who is that partnership, do they own the property and will I own a piece of the property when I get my citizenship? What fuarantee will I have that the hote; will even be built, the Govt. of Dominica? Will I even be entitled to stay at the Kempinski or do I have to pay like any other guest? My advice, buy yourself a citizenship under the old scheme and buy or build your own property that is a real asset. Sorry to be so suspicious but my money is too precious to give away so.
I wonder how will tourist get to this hotel in a timely manner? That’s the 50 million dollar question.
Dominica is being carved out piece by piece. Our dear Land has been sold.Deals and more deals. Skerritt and his DLP Gov’t boasting about the foreign “investor” who comes empty-handed. He is facilitated by Gov’t. He, Range Development is given 15 acres plus our passports to sell to raise $$$$ to build his hotel. At the end of it all, having been facilitated by Gov’t with Land and passports to sell, Ordinary Dominicans have no say, no ownership, no shares in the hotel. Voodoo economics? A new kind of slavery, with a new breed of Massas, Black Massas, the Nouveau Rich.
Only because concerns of the absence of an EIA came out from patriots on DNO, we now hear talk of Environment assessment, blah, blah. That EIA will be done by whom, by Range Dev. or/and their Associates? The EIA will be fair, objective, truthful? So all dominicans are taken as fools? Whose fools are we?
15 acres taken from our Cabrits National Park for foreigner. Farmers have to protest…
All you crying now? All the force made about “we don’t want labor,” once skerot gave all you a sheet of galvanize and a RED T-Shirt and a selfie – here goes the country. Take what all you get. He is the law and ruler of Dominica.
Isn’t it a bit late to start with an environmental assessment impact now? Surely that should have been done before they started promoting the site. I am sure the survey will only endorse the development and is one only pro-forma to shut up the environmentalists. The cart before the horse again. That also means that no planning permission was legally given because that can not be done before the EIA is done and approved. Anyway, make that report available to the public as required by law.
Titiwi, Are you suggesting that the developers enter into a national park and start conducting surveys on lands before it is allocated to them? That would be insane !
Government must first allocate the land to them and then they do their studies. The studies will inform them on how and if to proceed. They are not yet at the point of seeking planning permission. Planning permission will be sought when they decide on the right structure and design for the site.
Carcon, Kempinski and Range are already promoting that hotel and govt. have given them approval to even increase the number of rooms BEFORE the impact study is done. Go to their sites and check for yourself.
Titiwi you are so right say la mem chores – we will never learn or I wonder if it is just deliberate because we as a people do not care two hooks – example the Geothermal project in the valley – everything was being done and planned way before the EIA, way before planning permission; the Roseau River Wall , the Morroco Hotel in Portsmouth, the Chinese playground around Public Works among others had no EIA, nor planning permission.
We must be careful not to get to excited about projects announced by this government – example where is and what happen to the 6 senses hotel for Woodford Hill; where is and what happen to Sisserou Air service – that last year January had a big splash on the internet with Dominica flag and paintings on it to the extent that the CEO said all the due diligence on the aircraft and the company was done and they should begin operations soon- where are they bondieu? Dominicans all you not tired with these people in office giving all you 6 for 9’s.
Let’s say for argument sake that this project is completed as planned, how will patrons get there? Please don’t answer with words like: LIAT and ferry service.
I wonder what the big “cheese” in Roseau has to say about this project? Only time will tell.
Anthony I am intrigued, Who is that big cheese in Roseau.? Everything is relative. A big cheese here maybe a small portion somewhere else, even a cow that laughs. I know of some old cheeses that are past their best-before date, even pouwee so you can not be referring to any of those.
MADNESS GOING ON IN DOMINICA. TIME WILL TELL.
Titiwi thanks for your comment, in response, we are pleased to have received approval to increase the size of the hotel and are currently in the process of updating websites and other marketing materials.
Thanks Range but only today the govt put out a press release on DNO quoting the P.M. as saying you have approval for 131 rooms. Sorry, but I am still confused. What exactly is the correct number please. Can you also tell us if as an ordinary Dominican, like myself I can also invest in your project or is reserved for foreigners only, who must buy a citizenship first?
In the last63 yrs the British created at the university of the westindes servants to push papers and serve people, create proffesional beggers and people quoting shakespear and running their mouth about politics, do we have trained people to managed the hotel, who is going to supply water to the hotel Trinidad, who is going to supply vegetables eggs, pork, chickens, where is the foresight, who is going to supply these things, the cubans in miami , there is a business model the Lazy people of portsmouth should think of. Tell the minister in portsmouth open a water company to supply all boats and hotel in portsmouth.
If Range is doing the Environmental Assessment it is obvious that the results will be in favour of the company. In fact this should be done before confirming the fact that a hotel will be built there. If Range and the government are transparent they would call for an independent assessment. So the assessment results will favor Range. And is it going to be made public? Even though it is not independent the public has a right to review the findings before work can commence.
This is a very valid point. The assessments in Dominica are commissioned, and paid for by the applicant seeking approval for the development and it is hardly likely that the company/person carrying out the survey will report against their client if they want to make sure to be paid. I have always seen this as a serious flaw in our procedure.
The artist rendition for whatever it us worth does not depict the existing land form. If this hotel is positioned in the Belle Hall section of the park the artist rendition is definitely a viKY vy. If the elevated mountain section is meant to depict the cabrits then this absolutely wrong.
The background rendition is so out of synch that it creates an uneasy feeling regarding the integrity of an environmental impact report.
Why the deception and distortion.
You are right. This is the packaging to entice people to pay their money for our passport. Completion of the hotel is secondary I think. Packaging can be very deceiving. Why you think a box of cornflakes is always bigger and looks better than its contents.
Whoever made that press release, please note the Kempinski webb site says it is 101 room hotel but your release says it is 160 rooms, 50% more! Who is correct Kempinski or you?
I am concerned that for inconsiderable investment people putting their money in this scheme will only receive a share in a partnership and not a title to any property. What is more, there is no guarantee that this project will be realized once they have parted with their money. It also begs the question “are native born Dominicans also able to invest in this development and if so, on what terms?”
We have a surfeit of existing properties in Dominica, that are cluttering the market. I would like investors in the scheme to be given an option to buy into that market as well in order to revive our stagnant real estate business. Investors would be property owners outright and more likely to become members of existing communities providing much needed cash flow for those communities. Proceeds from such transactions are also more likely to stay in in our local economy rather than in foreign bank accounts.
Investors under the Citizenship by Investment scheme should be given a choice.
I have to admit that my first post is actually addressing the issues of the Moroccan funded hotel… but again the same principles apply to this new initiative
Something is definitely wrong!!!! This announcement of soil testing and EIA comes how many months AFTER the start of construction. Can we recall what percentage of the infrastructure is complete.. So is it that the vast majority of the construction went on WITHOUT the knowledge of the soil properties. Then there is speculation that some of the buildings are already sinking.
Then EIA talking about trees and the fauna, etc… good but I want to hear about risk assessment of waste effluent going into the sea. Where will the waste water be disposed off… in the sky!!! and what parameters are being used to assess the potential negative impact of waste water generated at a 160 room hotel being disposed into a MARINE NATIONAL PARK. Talk about birds and bees and flowers and trees good BUT the EIA has to give some credible info on fecal matter disposal. Does anyone know what is happening in St. Lucia and Rodney Bay. Is the EIA being done according to ISO 14001. Patiently waiting for…
Anyone else questioning who is suppose to be staying in these “luxury” hotels on DA if and when they are built?