Susan Gordon, Business Reporter

Dr. Lorna Simmonds - File

Harmonisation Limited has invited bids from security companies to safeguard the 2,200-acre property on which the US$2 billion luxury resort, Harmony Cove, is to be developed.

The project is two years away from construction and Harmonisation wants to ensure that no squatters take up residence on the sprawling Trelawny property, a company spokeswoman said.

The land secured its 49 per cent stake in the Harmony Cove project, with American joint venture partner Tavistock with 51 per cent. Tavistock is investing an initial US$100 million in the project.

The bid invitation spoke of securing fixed assets, which interim manager of Harmonisation Limited, Dr. Lorna Simmonds, explained was a reference not to machinery and construction material but the natural cover of the property as well as an existing building on the site.

The house of about 2,000 square feet is furnished, Simmonds said.

Harmonisation is not commenting on its security budget ahead of the tenders which close Friday.

"It's just for the grounds to ensure that the squatters don't come on or cut down the log," Dr. Simmonds told Wednesday Business in response to a query on whether the bid invitation meant an earlier start to construction.

"There are some mahogany trees and things like that that people will chop down at a moment's notice to burn for coal. It's really to secure what's there," she said.

Parts of the property are fenced, but remain accessible to the public, Simmonds noted.

Ongoing talks

Tavistock and Harmonistation remain in discussion on the final features of the luxury development.

Simmonds said although design work has begun, the company is still projecting that plan approvals and other arrangements will take another two years.

Actual construction is targeted at early 2009.

Tavistock Group will develop several luxury resort hotels comprising a total of 5,000 rooms with the hope of completing 2,000 of them in 2009.

The original plan for Harmony Cove included a spa and fitness centre, an array of luxury residences, multiple championship golf courses, a equestrian centre, water park, large scale marina with shops, restaurants, nightclubs and a wide range of amenities, but managing partner for Tavistock, Christopher Anand, had said at the project launch that perhaps not much of the original plan would be kept.

susan.gordon@gleanerjm.com