The debates and discussions continue unabated as to what is the perfect method of putting Grenada back onto the map of the world.
Some think a return to the glory days of agriculture is the panacea, some opine manufacturing should be given a boost while to others tourism development is the way to go.

Most believe that a stream of foreign investors beating a path to our shores is the only solution despite what area they decide to get into but there are some Grenadian businesspeople who do not share that feeling.

These far thinking and forward looking Grenadians have no problem at all with foreign investment which does have its part to play in the development of our country but they hold fast to the principle that local businesspeople have just as important a role.

Not being the types to sit and talk while hoping for the best these local entrepreneurs have taken one giant step toward ensuring that they play their part in this development and that locals do their full share.

Grand Harbour Condominiums, an undertaking of the Egmont Development Project is a 54-unit luxury condominium hotel that will soon grace the Egmont Harbor peninsula. This is indeed a very ambitious and exciting undertaking, one that certainly has the ability upon completion, to put Grenada back on the map of the world.

The four gentlemen behind the project, all of them already successful businessmen in their own right bring a great deal of combined years of business experience and management to the venture but in addition are men who know what it takes to succeed.

Mr. Derek Steele as Chairman of the company has as partners, Geoffrey Thompson, Anthony Mc Leish and Andrew Bierzynski and this formidable team is working to realize Grenada’s most ambitious tourism project by Grenadians to date.

In an interview with Barnacle Bierzynski gave a clear picture of the origin of the Egmont Development Project, what it is up to now and where it is going.

The development of the Egmont Harbor Peninsula, off the Calivigny main road, it turned out, began in 1999, the group having acquired the area in 1998. This however is no Johnnycome- lately idea but is a Project the group had been chasing for the last 20 years according to Bierzynski, having begun looking at it and trying to raise funding since 1984-85.

This in itself, is a story of persistence and following a dream that augurs well for the success of the present project because the group never lost sight of their intentions and pursued the property until they were successful in acquiring it.

Some will recall the development of the first phase of the Egmont Harbor venture some years ago which involved opening up the access road and selling properties for housing development.

Bierzynski said the primary target at that time was Grenadians both here and in the Diaspora.
Some 142 lots were sold to an agreeable mix of Grenadians resident here and living abroad with a smattering of foreign expatriates thrown in.

Having been successful in phase 1 in that they sold the lots relatively quickly, Bierzynski said this gave his partners and himself the impetus to open phase 2.

At the phase one stage the main purpose of the project was that there was a demand for land and the group had a desire to assist in answering that demand. Now for the next level of the development which was always one of their objectives and this phase begins with the condominium hotel just getting underway.

What exactly is this Grand Harbor Condos all about?
Well, as Bierzynski explained, the result of this phase of the project will be luxurious and exclusively outfitted one and two-bedroom units for sale to upscale clients mainly from England and Ireland. The project has been designed by one of the most renowned Caribbean architects, Ian Morrison who is based in Barbados but has done projects across the Caribbean.

Bierzynski said Morrison visited Grenada fell in love with the site and proceeded to design something the he thinks will be quite special and spectacular. Morrison was operating under strict instructors from the company to design something that would be eco-friendly, should be relevant to Grenada and reflect things Caribbean and while aimed at the visitor/expatriate market should be affordable and within the reach of Caribbean people.

ANDREW BIERZYNSKI

He described it as a perennial issue that has been plaguing Grenada over the years. Although we built an international airport we have been unable to produce the hotel rooms necessary to encourage the aircraft volume that will assure Grenada a place on the list of preferred tourist destinations in the Caribbean.

The Grand Harbor developers believe that until Grenadian businesspeople step up to the plate, allow other investors to join them to create a critical mass of rooms the country will forever be facing this problem.

The condominium-hotel facility which will reach completion in the next 18- 24 months will include a central hotel facility, restaurant, pool, spa and will essentially add another 160 beds to the available plant in Grenada.

As Bierzynski eloquently put it, what will be sitting on the peninsula is a combination condominium waterfront living lifestyle facility. Some units, built on the water will have as part of the conveniences, individual mooring facilities so that boat owners can moor right up to their property. A second set of units will be on the hillside of these for people who may not be into boats.

One of the benefits of the realization of this venture is that there will be a cadre of loyal expatriates who will spend time and money here and perhaps send their friends over who besides being money spending visitors, may also choose to invest and own second homes here.

The Grand Harbour Condominiums are, second only to the La Source resort which has local involvement, the largest local investment at one shot in this type of business.
Bierzynski said for the partners it is a very exciting venture which they are convinced can add value to Grenada’s tourism plant by way of the mix of products being offered. By opting for the condo type hotel they are ensuring that people who invest in Grenada have a stake in it since owners of units can have it rented out at times each year when they are not occupying it.

Bierzynski said some owners may occupy their properties for only a couple of months each year but in the interim it will be operating basically as a standard hotel.

As mentioned the project is aimed primarily at the British and Irish markets where there are people with disposable income who have second homes but the places that they have traditionally been going to have been sold out.

In addition many of the Caribbean islands like Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua while in the building phase are considerably more expensive than Grenada for comparative properties.

The businessman is of the feeling that what we have here is a potential niche of some really exciting products that will appeal to the market out there.

Is this project still a dream? Not at all, this US$30 million undertaking (the cost of this present phase) is well on the way. Earthworks have been done and construction is beginning at this moment. Local company Creative Designs and Building Construction will be involved in the project since the group insists that all talent that can be found in Grenada be sourced in Grenada and whatever skill cannot be found here should be sought in other Caribbean island as much as possible. Marketing has already begun in the target countries and potential clients have come out to view the site. There is a marketing agent in the UK and a local representative based here in the local sales office.

Bierzynski and his partners by entering into this size of investment are saying that they believe in Grenada, that they are not afraid to jump into the biggest risk of their lives. They share the philosophy however that where there is great risk there is likely to be great rewards. They feel it is time that local businesspeople get together and learn to work together and invest in Grenada.

Bierzynski said this is happening in the other islands around us but in Grenada we do not have a good track record of.

The investor admits that the Egmont Development Company is shaking the very foundation of tourism in Grenada. They believe that “until and unless we add the necessary rooms to the island, tourism will continue as it has done for the last 40 years.”

The experienced manager said he and his partners have spent the last 40 years waiting for Grenada to take off and are now tired of waiting. The long standing players have not taken the plunge he said and they have decided to jump in and make a statement thereby shaking the foundations of the industry.

Bierzynski admitted that the Government of Grenada has been very helpful from the very beginning and has given concessions to make the project possible.

He thanks the government for being very supportive and wishing to see the project succeed for the express reason that it is a local group involved and wanting to have a group of locals out there doing things.

In fact the Prime Minister himself is on record as saying that he believes foreigners will not be willing to invest if they cannot see what locals are doing to invest as well. Bierzynski said the government has been 100% behind the project and has given every encouragement and facility along the way.

As the Grand Harbour Condominiums project goes ahead one can expect to see another set of condominium units once this phase is completed and sold out. It is the intention of the company to duplicate it alongside and develop the peninsula, taking the development to around 150 units-300 beds.

The impact of this up-market residential development on employment cannot be overstated.

Besides the couple of hundred that will be employed in the construction stage, on completion there will be jobs for persons in hotel management, hospitality areas, dockage, maintenance in many different areas, landscaping and a host of other services that will be in demand at the facility.

No wonder the partners, although going about their business quietly are seething with excitement inside.

It certainly must be hard to contain ones excitement after chasing a dream for so long to see it finally materializing before one’s eyes taking into consideration as well the scope of the venture.

http://www.grandharbourgrenada.com