by Linda Straker
- Silversands officially opened
- 210 team members currently working
- First guests check in on 1 December
Naguib Sawiris, owner of Silversands, Grenada’s newest hotel, disclosed his goal is to increase Grenada’s hotel room stock by 30% in the coming years with the building of 2 additional properties.
Speaking at the reception to officially open the property on Thursday, 22 November 2018 at Grand Anse beach, Sawiris gave the assurance that his promised investment would become a reality, profits will be re-invested into the country and none of his property will restrict Grenadians from using the beaches where they are located. “We will build 2 more properties on this island, we will start construction next year,” he told the hundreds of guests comprising villa owners, government officials, parliamentarians and others.
Chief Executive Officer of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) Patricia Maher said that at present there are just over 2,000 rooms. “We at the GTA have licenced and certified 2,163 rooms, and this will bring us closer to 3,000. That is good news, that is very exciting,” said Maher who recently reported that Grenada would surpass its target of welcoming 500,000 guests to the island in 2018.
Disputing claims that the beach area in front of his property will be private, Sawiris said, “Anyone that tells you this is a private beach, tell them to go have a swim.”
The sod turning ceremony to build the 52-unit Silversands Grenada was held in January 2015. Since then, Naguib Sawiris has invested over US$125,000,000 to build the intimate luxury resort. Since construction started, the number of construction jobs has fluctuated, and at its peak, there have been over 500 construction workers employed.
The first guests will be checking in on 1 December, and there are 210 Silversands team members currently working. A statement from the hotel said that “as the resort becomes fully operational, there will be just over 300 full-time employees.”
Alas,it seems you are right.If Mr Sawiris wants to build huge walls along the public highway obscuring the sea views we have all enjoyed for free and making a tunnel of that once bright beautiful stretch of road
and if he wants to construct the largest swimming pool in the Caribbean on the beach on an island plagued by water shortages
then we will let him as we need his money at all costs.
And if he wants to enjoy a monopoly of the best beach in Grenada by buying up two more choice sites there then our fine respinsible government led by Dr.Mitchell is estatic to facilitate him.
He,Mr Sawiris is reported to have a wonderful sense of humour according to his dear wife.He must be smiling smugly up his robes now.
Welcome Mr. Sawiris and pals.You have conquered.Enjoy Port Louis too.
.We give you Grenada on a golden platter,
Yes note gold in which you put so much of your money and your faith..
As a long term loyal visitor to Grenada (spending two months a year there) I watched with interest the development and construction of Silversands. I spend a great deal of my holiday enjoying your beautiful island by walking. Daily on the beach and also further afield, exploring and meeting with those lucky enough to call Grenada their home.
When walking on the beach I litter pick and place it in the numerous bins along Grand Anse.
During the construction on site I was horrified by the litter left to blow on the beach and into the sea. This consisted of polystyrene and plastic along with vast amounts of packaging from food outlets.
As a visitor I am mortified by the damage caused by waste in the ocean across the world and could not understand how the disregard for our planet was so apparent on your precious island.
As construction continued we enjoyed our daily walk, collecting even more litter, as furniture and packing was discarded on the PUBLIC beach….things were to become worse!
By this time guards were positioned along the frontage of Silversands, being a sociable person, I always greet people and as is usual in the Caribbean, enjoy talking to those I meet.
On approaching the first guard I smiled and said good morning….I was then told I could not walk past the hotel as it was private and the beach was not accessible to the public.!!!
I replied that to my knowledge ALL beaches in the Caribbean were public and I was within the law to walk on the beach, not trespassing on hotel property.
I was again told it was a private beach and I would have to end my walk.
This happened every day (twice a day )
This went on through 2017 and 2018
I still continued to walk as I take the pathway at the end of the beach to extend my walk to Captain Harris and beyond….
Of course I realise and appreciate that investors to your island are of importance but surely not at ANY cost!
Imposing our own laws/rules because we have money?
I was also very concerned about the tanks for L.P.G. being sited adjacent to the nursery, along a shared path/ roadway being the access road to the beach where the children can be seen enjoying the freedom to play.
I am VERY pleased to hear that the decision has been taken to site these tanks elsewhere.
Disabling the rights of the men, women and children who are entitled to, and have always taken the opportunity to enjoy their sea-bath, relax on the beach, meet with family and friends….
Does being a millionaire entitle you to run roughshod over the people who live in Grenada ?
Does being a millionaire entitle you to abuse and ignore the law of the land ?
If the proposed further development is allowed and undertaken by Naguib Sawiris along Grand Anse beach and the surrounding area….I despair for the future of your home and it’s wonderful people.