Without CBI new Jungle Bay Villas would not happen says Sam Raphael

Raphael addressing a ground blessing ceremony of the resort on Sunday. Photo: Jungle Bay Villas

Owner of the Jungle Bay Villas, Sam Raphael, has stated that without the availability of funds from the Citizenship By Investment Program (CBI), the construction of the new resort would not have come to pass.

Speaking at the ground blessing ceremony on May 21st, 2017 at the new resort in Soufriere, Raphael said that since there is not “a lot of investment money going around the Caribbean,” the CBI can be seen as a “gift.”

“You don’t have a lot of investment money going around the Caribbean, not just Dominica, and the CBI is a gift to this island. I know some of us may have apprehensions and we need to talk about it and so on, but I am just laying it out,” Raphael said.

He also said that the CBI is something that combats the “serious challenges” that countries face, especially Jungle Bay and Dominica by extension.

“We have some serious challenges, so this is one way of Jungle Bay raising money. Even with our proven track record, I couldn’t get a loan to rebuild this place, so if we didn’t have CBI, we wouldn’t be sitting here having this conversation today,” he said.

He, therefore, encouraged persons “in position of public trust” to be responsible when it comes to how the program is being promoted.

“I’m not saying that everybody has to sing like we sing in church from the same hymn book, but at least, we all have a vested interest in the welfare of our island and our community, and whether we are batting or fielding, it is our game,” Raphael remarked.

With regards to employment, Raphael stated that the new construction project will be employing a large number of persons in addition to the permanent hotel workers that will eventually be needed.

“We are going to open Phase One with half of the development and finish the rest next year, but by that time we will hire 100 construction workers and we will need 100 hotel workers on a permanent basis; sustainable jobs,” he said.

This is in keeping with a promise he made on May 23rd,2016 when he addressed members of the Soufriere community.

“So the plan is to commence construction in this year,” he said at the meeting. “Phase one is the construction, so we will be hiring maybe a little more, maybe a little less, but I think around 100 people.”

Raphel projected that in addition to the in-house workers that the business will have, at least 60 farmers, fishermen and others will earn a livelihood in addition to the previous 40 in-house workers engaged at the former Resort.

The new resorts will have amenities including; two large pools, 60 villas, two large yoga studios, and a spa.

The resort will take up a total of 20 acres of land.

The old Jungle Bay, located in Delices on the eastern part of the island, was destroyed by Tropical Erika in 2015.

A view from the new resort. Photo: Jungle Bay Villas

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42 Comments

  1. Peepirit
    May 23, 2017

    Soo many people talk about how the CBI is not sustainable. It is projects such as these while will make it sustainable. We should rally around the Government and encourage them to invest CBI finds in projects like these. This is the only way the true benefits of CBI will be felt all over the country. Sam should be applauded for this project. People we should put the politics aside for once and this of the benefits of projects like these to the country. I can’t wait for the completion of this project. Will be nice driving through Soufriere and Scotts Head and seeing less unemployed young people on the streets.

  2. Positive vibes
    May 23, 2017

    On behalf of my communities of soufriere, scott’s head and gallion, i am saying a heartfelt thank you for providing our husbands, boyfriends, brothers, nephews and cousins with jobs. This is a plus in our communities. It is so refreshing to see our men walk up the hill on their way to work. Thank God for his mercies and blessings.

  3. viewsexpressed
    May 23, 2017

    ,” the CBI can be seen as a “gift.” Sam, Please just say Thank U & doh patronising us. You`re a highly rated professional and obviously been to school and been there. How would you like that Jungle Bay, a well reputed business, U travel away left business, finance in hands of UR staff, they end up fleecing your business saying what they did was invested, how would you feel? Number one, they have lied to you and done differently with the money, probably paid double for goods sold by a third party when really the goods belong to this employee. This insider trading is a scam done at many business places by unscrupulous staff, just like we have happening at government highest level, dat corrupt PM.
    We are happy for you…..good for Jungle Bay. On other hand u must know of Skerrit’s many bobol scams while our country sinks in deprivation, poverty, bobol projects just to impress suffering Dominicans still in the political corrupt web of poverty, deprivation. DA is in a bad state. Skerrit…

    • Junglebook
      May 23, 2017

      Really? You don’t make much sense to me.

  4. jazz53
    May 22, 2017

    This is Damm disgusting for this Gentleman to speak of such deed!! this is your investment and interest.What are the Banks for?

    • Junglebook
      May 23, 2017

      ‘Even with our proven track record, I couldn’t get a loan to rebuild this place’…I think if you had read this line then you would not have made such a silly comment.

    • Junglebook
      May 23, 2017

      Even with our proven track record, I couldn’t get a loan to rebuild this place, so if we didn’t have CBI, we wouldn’t be sitting here having this conversation today,” he said.
      This tells you that the banks were not of much help right?

  5. Tony
    May 22, 2017

    Hello and good evening my people. Well Mr Raphael stop taking our citizens for fools because you are telling us that. There isn’t any financial institution in Dominica that would give you a construction loan even with your business experience and your track record in operating a hotel rather your party must give you money from our treasury under the CBI funds. Now will this property be a private /public owned hotel or will it be solely owned by you. Anyway you choose a location with a nice view..

    • Junglebook
      May 23, 2017

      Does everything have to be political? if you read over you would see where he stated the difficulty in getting a loan. For once can we say ‘thank God for CBI…..and Sam Raphael?’

  6. only time will tell
    May 22, 2017

    Sam am happy that you a happy now I can recall all the years you walk up and down all over in Dominica and with lots of going and coming in and out of offices with this same gov to see your business get off the ground now it looks like its working for you can you please allowed Dominicans to talk

  7. %
    May 22, 2017

    Millions,millions,millions of dollars in the south of the island?!!! REALLY? Ask the UWI seismologists,they will give you their views..BLIND BATSYOU ALL ARE! Sam i listened to you,and just shook my head!!!Money can cause some people to sumersault boy!
    SKERRIT MUST GO!
    SKERRIT MUST GO!
    SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!

    • Fifi
      May 23, 2017

      Really? And can you share with us the information given to you by the seismologists? Skerrit must go on. Think the opposition actually has a plan?

  8. Me
    May 22, 2017

    I have lost all respect for this man, Sam. He appeared to be so cool, and now he is just like Gregoire nassief. a

  9. Jonathan St jean
    May 22, 2017

    Sam You are admitting that the Jungle Bay project should legally be a joint public/private partnership.You can’t out of the blue without a tendering process be given property of the state of Dominica to sell and tell us that without it you would not be a multi-millionaire. By what logic then we’re you given more rights to the assets of Dominica than the common man on the streets.You guys have no shame and can’t defend your shenanigans

  10. JOSH SHAW
    May 22, 2017

    Sam Raphael I have one question! What did you do with tge millions you got from the insurance company that your place was insured with? Was it just for pockets and not for reinvestment.

    • Fifi
      May 23, 2017

      How do you know there were millions from insurance? I haven’t heard anything yet.

  11. Lead Singer
    May 22, 2017

    Boy I never knew Sam Raphael was a musician. The man is a singer by profession now? Sam’s position and condition really describes the condition in Dominica today. Here is a man that prospered before Skerrit got into politics, let alone Pm, and somehow today the man is on stage singing and worshipping Skerrit for the servival of his business? If a once prosperous man can be on his knees begging and singing for his supper, imagine how he has bought the poor and unfortunate. Man Dominica is really in deep hell now

    • Fifi
      May 23, 2017

      Really? At what point exactly was Sam singing? Is it wrong that he is showing us Dcans that CBI can actually be beneficial? I guess people like you much rather see the young people unemployed by the road side because you all don’t like the DLP.

  12. Zandoli Claywat
    May 22, 2017

    What does this prove Sam and other Dominicans. That without CBI we would have nothing, a clear sign of FAILURE by this government. The banks will not lend money to citizens in Dominica because of the state of the economy. Labour Party has Failed Dominica.

    • Fifi
      May 23, 2017

      At the end of the day look at the CBI as a means of getting the economy back on track.

  13. Wrong becomes good
    May 22, 2017

    So Sam, are you saying the first Jungle Bay was as a result of CBI? Before CBI were sitting on your butts doing nothing? Are you telling us that CBI is now your Lord, and without it life is over for you? How shameful to hear a man that prospered without Skerrit, criticized him in public, and even ran against him, is now saying indirectly no CBI no Dominica. But Sam, I have also met and spoken to some people that told me that if it was not for the sale of CRACK Cocaine and GANJA,they would not be able to build their house or own a car. Is there any difference between the two? Should we justify Coke because some have prospered? I say a BIG NO! Wrong cannot become right even if it helped some. Money Laundering is wrong no matter who does it and who benefits from it. The drug dealer benefits from his drug trade and that’s good for him. But to sell our passports and ONLY a chosen few benefit while the majority gets nothing or if anything a few pampers, is wrong!

    • Fifi
      May 23, 2017

      This is why the government should be encouraged to invest the CBI funds in such projects. These projects are sustainable and will provide employment for the young people. That way the country as a whole will benefit and not just a selected few.

  14. originaljahguide
    May 22, 2017

    Sam shut up!!! How fair can it be for your private business to be funded with our passport money? You still have guts to come and spill out garbage here. Are you scared of the banks.

    • Peepirit
      May 23, 2017

      Would you also say how fair it is for Sam Raphael to provide employment for hundreds of Dominicans? Politics is destroying you all so you are blinded to the true benefit of the CBI. I wish there were more persons like Sam in Dominica

  15. Ibo France
    May 22, 2017

    The government seems to be made up of some expert extortionists . Most people are for the CBI program but many have problems with the lack of transparency, and the ad hoc manner in which it is governed. Illicit actors are getting diplomatic passports and the good name of Dominica is being sullied internationally. The money from the program is being spent arbitrarily to curry favor with the electorate. A good government is inclusive, consultative, unbolted and people oriented. My point is, Mr. Raphael, no one is intentionally trying to harm the CBI, just want it to be managed more openly and meticulously.

    • Peepirit
      May 23, 2017

      This we are all in agreement with. We want transparency…..but we also should not destroy our own bread and butter.

  16. John Jay
    May 22, 2017

    And persons who has airline ticket outstanding they haven’t get reimbursed. They have been calling your office since before you announce your closure ,so take some of this CBI monies and pay the outstanding tickets.

    • Peepirit
      May 23, 2017

      I don’t believe you. Even though that were the case, you are talking about two separate companies. Really man?

  17. Lucy
    May 22, 2017

    everybody is in the act—-that is where we are Sammy boy.——– Money makes the world go round and some time Sammy upside down…..

  18. Look It
    May 22, 2017

    Ain’t Sam an agent????

    He sells passports too, right???

    • V
      May 22, 2017

      You are so wrong. Sam Raphael had gone up as a candidate for UWP in the 2009 general election in the Petite Savanne Constituency against Dr. Kenneth Darroux

      • Tetemorne
        May 22, 2017

        He was an Independent candidate

      • viewsexpressed
        May 23, 2017

        That’s not true, Sam went up as an Independent candidate, if memory serves me right.

        What he doing hanging about with this rogue, corrupt government, I don’t know,

      • Peepirit
        May 23, 2017

        He is smart enough to know that politics should be kept away from business.

  19. Anthony P. Ismael
    May 22, 2017

    Soufriere is a great choice. Now persons from this and other surrounding communities will find employment when Jungle Bay reopens. The road leading to Soufriere needs serious attention. More guard rails and other safety measures are needed. With increased traffic comes increased responsibility on the government to make sure that accidents are minimized and human life continues to be preserved.

  20. Anthony P. Ismael
    May 22, 2017

    Sam is doing great work on the island with his resort, which employs locals both in the construction phase and service industry. That being said, no one ever stated that the Citizenship by Investment Program was terrible. The administration of this program, where international crooks were caught with Dominican passports which they used to help evade justice was the issue. He also mentioned the lack of Foreign Direct Investment on the island and the difficulty securing financing for new ventures, which is a common problem faced by small states like ours. Given the importance of the CBI Program, this is all the reason why we need to be good custodians of the CBI Program.

    • viewsexpressed
      May 23, 2017

      I agree, and not custodians of an inept PM and a corrupt Labour government.

  21. Shaka Zulu
    May 22, 2017

    Dude that is a bad sign. The Aid (Agricultural Industrial Development) bank should fund and CBI money used as securities in case your business fails. If it does well then Bank benefits and so does everyone. This Bank is sitting making most of its money on Student loans. This means that the main industry in Dominica is sending our talented folks away to study where they seek better opportunities. We are worst off as a people prior to independence. At least the British used their Knowledge to build sustainable Agri communities. Where are we today? Selling Passports

  22. May 22, 2017

    Very good for the community of Soufriere and environs. CBI is a real gift, a factor of our development.

  23. lightbulb
    May 22, 2017

    Thats a hell of a view though.
    Any timeshare opportunities?
    What will happen to the former site?

  24. May 22, 2017

    I agree with you Mr. Raphael. All the best with the new and improved Jungle Bay, things are looking up!

  25. HIFIVE
    May 22, 2017

    Sam hurry up with the project before things change. if people for some reason stop buying passports then you may be left half way.

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