PM Sees Benefits to Playing Casino Card – The Nation News - April 24, 2010

GOVERNMENT is placing a big bet on having cruise ships stay over longer in Barbados..

And one of the attractions being pursued is to allow these ships to open their casinos in port for their passengers.

Prime Minister David Thompson announced this yesterday during a tour of the multi-million dollar Limegrove Lifestyle Centre - a world-class entertainment and shopping complex - in Holetown, St James.

He said that ships usually left Barbados early because of the inability to open their casinos, and by allowing them to stay longer the benefits would trickle down since passengers would be able to visit places such as Holetown and Speightstown and shops would open longer to cater to these tourists.

Barbadians who offer products for the market would also have an opportunity to get involved.

The Prime Minister said that the Government had established a cruise tourism task force whose mandate was to examine all aspects of cruise tourism and advise Government as a matter of urgency.

He said he was impressed with the Limegrove concept which was going to "transform Holetown and surrounding areas".

Thompson praised real estate mogul and developer Paul Altman for pursuing the project during tough economic times.

Altman explained that the commercial aspect of the project was 80 per cent complete and would be ready for opening in December, while eight of the 57 town houses and condominiums were under construction.

Limegrove, he said, would feature a number of world-class designer shops such as Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton and Cartier, among others; cinemas, art gallery restaurants and night club.

“We want this to be the fashion capital of Barbados," he said, adding that the centre would also offer film festivals, art and music.

Altman also pointed out that the chronic flooding problem in Holetown had been resolved after Limegrove hired several engineering firms to provide technical advice, and that for the past two years there has been no flooding in the area.