The award-winning Cap Juluca Resort which, over many years, has been regarded as the flagship of Anguilla’s upmarket tourism industry, is to pass into new hands shortly.
Chief Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Victor Banks, made the disclosure at the Government’s press conference on Tuesday, May 3.
“I just finished some of the final discussions with the proposed buyer of Cap Juluca,” he told reporters. “We hope to sign off on that MOU for that property before the end of this week – meaning Saturday and possibly Sunday – with a view towards the closing arrangements beginning on Monday the 9th of May.
“We had some final discussions along with the Minister of Social Development and the Permanent Secretary, Lands and Surveys. We went and looked at one of the outstanding issues in the Memorandum of Understanding. I think that we have come up with something that is viable, and we hope, before the end of the week, to come to some agreement about that.
“The proposed owner is on property, and may even have some perspective operators on site looking at the facility and making some determination as to how this will be dealt with going forward. We have taken every opportunity to talk about staffing issues, and how the staff will be affected as a result of this. We are hopeful that this whole thing can be wrapped up with the buyer and the seller towards the end of this month – may be earlier next month. That is going to be an important aspect of the strengthening of the economy going forward.
“The proposal includes the bringing together of groups within the Cap Juluca ownership – the Brilla Group, other individuals, as well as the Hickox Group. This venture is an effort to bring all those together. I think that is an important first step.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Banks disclosed that another investment is coming to fruition – the Altamer Resort marina and development project. He reported that the Memorandum of Understanding was now with the Ministry of Economic Development.
