Phyllis Thomas, Enterprise Editor
DID THE National Land Agency sell Hoteles Pinero Jamaica (HOJAPI) Limited 200 acres of land at Belle Air, St. Ann?
The National Land Agency documents say yes. HOJAPI says no.
Documents which The Gleaner got from the the National Land Agency, through the Access to Information Act, about the sale of Crown Land by the agency between 2000 and 2005, showed that it was not just Jamaicans who benefited from these sales. The documents, including the signed agreement for sale showed the Pinero Group of Spain - HOJAPI, was sold 200 acres at Belle Air for $35 million.
But Ricardo Ardito, administrative manager of HOJAPI, said: "The agreement is not settled. We haven't signed. We still have money for them." He went further: "How can we buy land that is not subdivided? I can tell you we have not settled."
WE'RE INTERESTED
Even if The Gleaner has a copy of the sale agreement? he was asked. Mr. Ardito replied: "I know we are interested in it. We are in discussion and I think it is pending."
Sources told The Gleaner that the Pinero Group intended to use the Belle Air land as the site for a golf course. However, when asked the intended purpose of the land Mr. Ardito said, "Nothing." Asked to clarify that he said, "We have no plans for it as yet. We are just going to buy it."
HOJAPI, as at December 31, 2004, had Spanish nationals, Pablo Pinero Imbernon, Isabel Garcia Lorca and Maria Encarnacion Pinero Garcia as its directors. Each of them gave Spanish addresses as their place of residence when the company was registered with the Registrar of Companies.
HOJAPI is the same Pinero Group which is constructing the 1,918-room resort at Pear Tree Bottom in Runaway Bay, St. Ann, and this borders Belle Air, historically called 'Belair'.
TOTAL DISAGREEMENT
But local environmentalists are in total disagreement with the development taking place in the area which they said was environmentally sensitive.
Meanwhile, the National Land Agency sold several lots in the Portmore Mall, St. Catherine, in 2003. They include:
Lot 7C to Vashdev Balani et al in 2003 for $3.9 million
Lot 6C to Norman Walker et al in 2003 for $5.3 million
Lot 1G to Cable and Wireless Jamaica Pension Fund in 2003 for $14 million
Lot 4C to Jum Sik Moon in 2003 for $8.5 million
Lot 2C and Lot 16C to Progressive Grocers Ltd. in 2003 for $5.5 million and $6.8 million respectively.
Land was also sold to Discovery Bay Designs Limited - about two acres at Bridge Water Estate in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, for $2.4 million.
Not every sale by the National Land Agency went for what could be regarded as low prices.
The Port Authority of Jamaica was sold lands forming part of Fort Augusta, the female prison in St. Catherine, for $75 million. And West Indies Synthetic Company (WISYNCO) was sold lands at Cow Park, St. Catherine, for $70 million.
