by Curlan Campbell
- Mt Hartman Project on over 270 acres of prime real estate
- US$8 million spent thus far on phase zero
- Plans underway to commence 1 of 4 phases over a 5 to 8 year period
Hartman University Town, Grenada, is preparing to begin phase one of the US$2.9 billion Mt Hartman Project under the Citizenship By Investment (CBI) programme, on over 270 acres of prime real estate.
On the Mt Hartman site in the southern peninsula, work continues to complete phase zero, amounting to US$8 million spent thus far. That phase includes a showroom and other facilities.
Under a new investment company and management team, Hartman Education Enterprise Ltd indicated that despite setbacks due to the global pandemic, plans are underway to commence 1 of 4 phases over a 5 to 8 year period, which will see the construction of a modern science and technology university town. Hartman Education Enterprise facilitated a media tour of the property on Thursday, 11 November 2021.
Public Relations and Human Resource Manager Brenda Baptiste provided insight into the project’s various phases, including that they are already engaging several investors in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Without divulging the names of those investors since agreements have not yet been finalised, Baptiste indicated they had expressed interest in visiting the site.
“At the moment, we have two in the UK, we have one in Canada, and we have three in the US, so they’re all going to come to Grenada look at the site look at Granada itself as an investment place, you know, see what happens we even want to put them in touch because as I mentioned there won’t be any competing with St George’s University. Our country has a very long-standing relationship with St George’s University, and our government and officials honour that and we too because what we want to do is to build, not divide.”
While not competing with St George’s University (SGU) which has been operating on the island since 1976, the Hartman University Resort has chosen to focus its plans on the development of a state-of-the-art facility that centres around the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), that is expected to attract students from around the world.
In addition, Hartman University Resort will include a University Campus, Student Village, Medical Centre Commercial Areas, Resort, and Wellness Villas. The architectural design was awarded the Titan Property Awards 2021 by Titan Property Awards & International Real Estate.
The investment company has already forged meaningful partnerships with two Grenadian construction companies during the project’s construction phase. “Under the CBI arrangements with the government of Grenada, it is critical that the CBI projects encompass a ratio of foreign to local workers. Insofar for our company, our ratio is now at 70–30, 70% local 30% Chinese. In terms of our suppliers, 90% I would say of our supplies come from local suppliers. We have preferential supplier agreements with Gravel and Concrete and On the Spot Ltd, and that is a relationship which has been developed over the years, from you know, previous work with other Chinese counterparts and with our company,” Baptiste said.
Since the start of the project, environmentalist groups and organisations have condemned the encroachment of the project on vital wetlands and mangrove areas and one of Grenada’s last refuge for the critically endangered Grenada Dove.
At present, Grenada Land Actors (GLA) is awaiting judgment on a legal claim for Judicial Review against the Planning and Development Authority of Grenada in the High Court. The claim brought into question whether the Planning and Development Authority acted per the Physical Planning and Development Control Act 2016 in the granting of planning permissions to not only the Hartman University Resort, but also to two other tourism development projects namely the Levera Development Project in St Patrick, and Six Senses project at La Sagesse currently underway in proximity to coastal and wetland environments.
Baptiste explained that the developers are working alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to ensure that the construction does not adversely affect the environment. Addressing the environmental concerns by various groups, she said the developers have already set up a conservation fund to support the natural environment. “We have established a fund and, it is the Hartman Education Conservation Fund… already we have put in $100,000 into that fund just initially.”
She said, “All lands in the country whether you have deed or title, once you encroach our national parks the State is in control. So we are in compliance, so that so far we’ve established the fund to support. We know that is a national concern for our people. I, as a Grenadian, a very patriotic Grenadian at that, I work for this company. Still, it is part of my interest as well as a Grenadian to ensure that our national parks are preserved conserved.”
On Friday, the High Court is expected to deliver its verdict regarding the case filed by the Grenada Land Actors.
At Least the Chinese and the Investors are doing something that no other Grenadian will care to do in the next 100 years. Tell me what America has done for us or the same Europeans that Colonized us. Look at the economic growth taking place in Africa. Ever since China has stepped foot there GDP went up by more than 50% When Kenya had boycott the west and looked to China their GDP went from 1 Billion to 106 Billion. So I don’t know why Ungrateful Grenadians continue to run their mouth on China. Is it because we are so Brainwashed by the West into thinking that they are the savior and China is not. What is it that Grenadians have done for their country other than drink rum and eat barbeque chicken. I don’t have time to waste on Worthless Grenadians who can’t do anything good for their country than to just run their mouth on China and the good Dr.Mitchell.
Have the hidden infrastructure costs of a project of this magnitude properly been assessed? For example, the electrical power requirements will likely require substantial capital investment in Grenlec. Who is paying for this? The public roads accessing the private development will need to be enhanced. Who is paying for this? With the hoped-for increased traffic to the Island, the airport and other transportation infrastructure will need to be upgraded. Who is paying for this? It may be that the anticipated tax revenues will cover all of this, but has an analysis been done? Or do the developers plan to have these hidden costs “shared” with the Grenadian taxpayer.
How many books have been written, how many times this story has been shared. Now it must be Grenada culture where the unsuspecting are enticed and then fleeced. Those that come to Grenada are nothing more than flotsam to the local people, washed ashore to be plundered. It’s the old joke that’s not so funny, “if you want to make a small fortune in Grenada, bring a large one”. SGU seems an exception to the rule. Perhaps there will be others. I still think a 1st world hospital facility would be the most advantageous addition to Grenadas future.
Tell me when a Grenadian will put down a project like this in Grenada other than talking and complaining about the fact that the Chinese are doing something Grenadians should be doing. All these Grenadians who left the country through the brain drain and not one single one of them came back to Invest into our country. Change starts with people not Government. Only reason why Chinese are here is because they are here to come do something we should have done years ago.
Well done and god bless these investors and China. At least they are doing something that not one single Grenadian would do for the country. This is just the start to a new beginning in Grenada and I am glad to see it. UK enslaved us and completely ran us down to the ground, USA stole the best of our people and the best from them through the Brain Drain. China is just here to do good.
Yall can’t even be grateful for the fact that the good old kieth upgrading the western corridor road but you want to come on this project that should have been done by a grenadian 100 years ago. Just the negativity we black people have and the lack of unity as a people is the reason to our downfall. Tell me when some grenadian investors will come together to go and do the same thing.
Just the negativity we the grenadian people have is one of the reasons why we grenadians and we black people could never get ahead because all we continue to do is just run our mouth and take no action. Reason why china and the west may be coming back to take the caribbean and africa is because we the people our selves have failed to take accountability and responsibility to develop our countries.
God bless the investors especially Chinese who have come put down a great project in Grenada. Do hope it goes forward. Sad to see negativity from the many black grenafians who cannot do something for their country other to be ungrateful and run their mouth. I want to know what the average grenadian will do to help develop the country and what America and UK have done for us other than take our money and people through brain drain.
These Hardman Projects seem to change as often as our daily weather. Another high Rising Castle in the Sand. It’s Windy and Storm Clouds Brewing.
Reliable International as well as local credible Sources relaying news that Charles C. Liu is in fact ” Secretly ” pulling the strings and running the show from his hiding pad in Arab Operations.
Having prior postponed a multi Billion prior Hartman Projects as he and the wife were busy starting up a fraud scam to milk investors as ” Pacific Proton Therapy ” and the SEC recently Filed to recover nearly $21 million in investor fraud losses. Liu continues to romp and Kieth smiling with Green.
Alarming what this Secret Circle here is up to ? Will it lead to another Shrimp Farm kind of losses and caper ? Surely is the worst kind of growing concern.
Already enough international investors been stung & abused that RICO Fraud Charges are just a matter of time to come after these boys that play these games in real quick Grenada sand. Thus, its just a matter of time, but plenty of their pockets must be really well stuffed to continue to Play these Games; over and over. Bulging in their pants pockets takes on a new meaning of these type of slippery bromance moves.
Tell me what you have done for my country. I want to know or else shut it!
Why is a tired and grandfather making these ad hoc decisions that will negatively affect Grenada and its native people 100 years from now? Who runs this country? Grenada needs a Sankara, Kagame, or a Magufuli, but definitely not this.
Hush your mouth because you probably haven’t even pay a single to tax or contribute towards developing grenada.
so you telling me people like do nothing other than look up to the government expecting them to do something for you. no wonder why we black people could never get ahead.
So your telling me that Grenadians will not be able to go there and learn skills such as technology and manufacturing? You are telling me that Grenadians will no longer have to go abroad through Brain Drain and can remain to study here in Grenada at that University? How much more ignorant can you be?