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The principals behind the project were in Belize two weeks ago - but they never sat down with the media as promised. But they did sit down with the Cabinet subcommittee on investment and Chairman Hulse told us what they had to say:..

Hon. Godwin Hulse, Chair - Cabinet Investment Sbcmte
"We have met for 3 hours and it was the full team, the full invest committee that met with them. We had about 20 people in the room and it was an interesting presentation. Where they are - they have pitched to the government what they intend to do. And as I understand it from them they want to create an event facility…one of those facilities which will bring the Emmy Awards and those kinds of fancy things that happen around the world where people have no problem paying fifty thousand or one hundred thousand dollars to come. So what they want to develop is this facility, because Belize is not New York so you don't have all the hotels to host people so when they fly in they will be wined and dined and pampered, attend the event and fly out. There's nothing wrong with that, if that happens and can be developed properly because it would put Belize even more on the map and it would bring more revenue to government, etc. They're at the stage where they have brought in a marketing expert to see first of all whether Belize would be a suitable location. So he is studying the country and he is going to do his thing abroad, I don't remember his name and company. Then they have brought in an environmental assessment company from the United States who is looking at the island to see if the island is suitable. They told us that in between four to six months time they will give us a report on both of those. At that point, then the committee will look in-depth at their proposal and move forward. So that's where we are with that."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you of the opinion which Mike Singh and the Prime Minister expressed that it seems fantastical?"

Hon. Godwin Hulse
"It seemed fantastical when it looked like rich guys bringing their girlfriends or wives or rich women bringing their friends or husbands to hang out on the beach and paying eighty thousand or fifty thousand to do. That would sound crazy. I don't think however rich you are you do that. But pitched in the sense that it is an event facility where people will come in for the international fashion show or the Emmys or whatever it is…it's a different concept."

Jules Vasquez
"But then isn't it a concern that it seems to be a moving target?"

Hon. Godwin Hulse
"It doesn't stop them from making their proposal and doing what they have to do. At that point in time we are going to look at their money and make sure they have their money and all the rest of things. Remember we have a strict 5 point criteria that they have to meet."