A plan from the past
Plan for the 90s''. Before the plan appeared, Co-Chairman of the PLP campaign, Senator Alex Scott, told us the public was going to be "astounded by the comprehensiveness'' of the document. In truth, the only astounding thing was how repetitive the plan was of old PLP positions and how much it used of the United Bermuda Party's Blueprint for Bermuda.
The PLP plan is so worn that PLP leader Mr. Frederick Wade was put to using some rather weak suggestions for the old Holiday Inn-Club Med, St. George's, as an example of "fresh initiative''. This "fresh initiative'' is a clearly unworkable scheme to open restaurants, shops and "entertainment facilities'' in the hotel.
The PLP does not seem to know that a major problem with the closed hotel is its isolated location. This is a very difficult property to deal with.
Solutions to the problem are not simple or easy to come by. Because three big hotel operators failed, other people are reluctant to try because they might lose. If that were not so, the Government would have found a solution long before an election campaign.
The answer is that there is no quick-fix to the Club Med problem and the PLP should not be suggesting unrealistic and half-baked solutions to a complex problem at election time. We see this only as an attempt to get votes. It is cynical because it creates false hope for the people of St. George's. If the PLP had any real suggestions to solve the problem, it has had a few years to try them out. It did not do that and now it suggests endangering what there is going in St. George's in order to make political points.
We have to notice that the PLP plan suggests creating "entertainment facilities'' at the hotel. The hotel has had those facilities in the past and major and highly experienced hotel operators went broke there. Holiday Inn operated several excellent night clubs but it did not succeed. We think the only thing the PLP could have under wraps to get people to go to the hotel is a casino.
Shops in the hotel building would mean quick bankruptcy for the owners. They would be off the tourist path which is essential to success.
There are already more than enough restaurants in St. George's, some good ones not doing too well. More restaurants at Club Med would only hurt the present St. George's restaurants, their owners and their staff.
PLP St. George's candidate Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams knows very well how difficult and financially dangerous it is to run restaurants in St. George's.
Perhaps he should enlighten his leader, Mr. Wade. Perhaps Mr. Williams should have had some input in this "Plan For The 90s''.