The closure of Salt Kettle Guest House in Paget after decades of service is “bad news for the owners, bad news for Bermuda and bad news for Bermudians”, Shadow Tourism Minister Zane DeSilva said this afternoon.

The Opposition Progressive Labour Party MP called on Government to inform the public about developments being negotiated for the East End, the status of gaming and the conversion of the Grand Atlantic housing development into a tourism facility.

Salt Kettle’s closure, effective in January of next year, was announced over the weekend by owner Hazel Lowe and her family, with the property being repurposed for residential use.

Commending the Lowes for their years of “commitment and great service to our visitors”, Mr DeSilva said the closure signified “a further loss of Bermudian jobs and a further reduction in our much needed stock of beds for our visitors”.

Noting its impact on the Island’s bed count, Mr DeSilva said the time was ripe for Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell to give an update on “the status of negotiations with developers at the former Club Med site”.

The Minister told Parliament in May that Government had signed an exclusive 120-day negotiation period with the Venezuela-based Desarrollos Hotelco Group for the St George’s property.

“There also has been no sign of action on gaming since the One Bermuda Alliance broke their promise to hold a referendum on the issue almost a year ago,” Mr DeSilva added.

“These updates would serve to inform, provide hope, reassure the public that action on jobs is taking place and let the world know that Bermuda is on the move again in tourism.”

He also requested an update from Public Works Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin about the Grand Atlantic development.

Last month, Public Works extended by 90 days its memorandum of understanding with the proposed Bermudiana Beach Resort developer MacLellan and Associates, citing a need for further strategic planning.

“The original negotiation period was extended and yet we have seen no signs of progress or heard from the Minister as to the state of the negotiations,” Mr DeSilva said.

“With so many Bermudians out of work and the OBA a long way from fulfilling their promise to create jobs, Bermudians need to be kept in the loop and kept abreast of the work that the OBA is or is not doing.

“We encourage the OBA to be more open, be more accountable and be more forthcoming as to provide hope and avoid giving the impression that the OBA has something to hide.”