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‘He didn’t give a damn!’ - Investor says Dr Smith killed Prospect Reef project

- ICA Group CEO, Mr Ali Nawaz Shaikh breaks silence, ‘I’ve never seen any leader like this in my life!’
Former Premier Dr D. Orlando Smith, and then Managing Director of ICA (BVI) Group Corp, Mr. Ali Nawaz Shaikh. Photo: GIS/File
In July 2017, Dr D. Orlando Smith had revealed at Press Conference that his government had finally reached an agreement to re-developed the Prospect Reef Resort after purchasing the facility sometime between 2003 and 2007, in their first terms of office. Photo: Internet Source
In July 2017, Dr D. Orlando Smith had revealed at Press Conference that his government had finally reached an agreement to re-developed the Prospect Reef Resort after purchasing the facility sometime between 2003 and 2007, in their first terms of office. Photo: Internet Source
Former Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr D. Orlando Smith and Managing Director, Mr. Ali Nawaz Shaikh signing the agreement. Photo: GIS/File
Former Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr D. Orlando Smith and Managing Director, Mr. Ali Nawaz Shaikh signing the agreement. Photo: GIS/File
Prospect Reef abandoned. Photo: VINO/File
Prospect Reef abandoned. Photo: VINO/File
One of the more popular signage at Prospect Reef on display amidst the destruction. Photo: VINO/File
One of the more popular signage at Prospect Reef on display amidst the destruction. Photo: VINO/File
The facility suffered extensive damage during the 2017 Hurricanes that devastated the Territory. Photo: VINO/File
The facility suffered extensive damage during the 2017 Hurricanes that devastated the Territory. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – With Dolphin Discovery and Prospect Reef now abandoned and in complete ruins as another symbol of the National Democratic Party’s (NDP) failure to the People of the Virgin Islands (VI), investors have now come forward with damning allegations regarding the role previous Premier, Dr. D Orlando Smith played in bringing the project to a halt.

Chairman and CEO of the ICA Group—a Key Prospect Reef Investment Company—Mr Ali Nawaz Shaikh of the Middle East, has detailed to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), shocking revelations via emails and other correspondence regarding Dr Smith and his administration’s handling of the project in a beyond lacklustre manner, which, according to the ICA Group top brass, showed they cared little for the people and the territory.  

Dr D. Orlando Smith’s Brainchild

In July 2017, Dr D. Orlando Smith had revealed at a Press Conference that his government had finally reached an agreement to re-developed the Prospect Reef Resort after purchasing the facility sometime between 2003 and 2007, in their first term of office.

It was revealed that in March 2016 the ICA (BVI) Group was awarded the opportunity to complete the development of Prospect Reef Hotel with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Group in December of 2016.

The agreement at the time was for the re-development of the resort and also to operate a hotel. Dolphin Discovery, an associated project, was to be located just inside the Prospect Reef Port, according to their website, however, none of the projects materialised.

In what can only be described as slothfulness, begging on the investor side and bureaucratic back and forth, correspondence and the entire project came to a standstill, which further prevented the investors from completing their financing and getting the lease approved.

Email sent hours before 2019 General Elections

Following this bureaucratic ‘tie up’ which spanned the majority life of the project, in an email seen by this news website, Dr Smith had contacted Mr Lorenzo Camara, Director of Operations at Dolphin Discovery, at 4:30pm on February 24, 2019, just hours before the February 25, 2019, General Elections in the VI, to share his alleged concerns over why the project had come to a stall.

"Dear Mr Camara:

I am Dr DO Smith Premier of the BVI and am concerned that discussions on the return of Dolphin Discovery to BVI post hurricane Irma has stalled.

I would appreciate an understanding of the issues so that we can have a fruitful exchange and commitment before I leave office.

I may be reached at the email [withheld] or by Cell [withheld] or by Whatsapp.

Kind regards

DO Smith"

According to the ICA Group CEO, “I think that was very odd that he’s not even the Premier and sending a message to Dolphin and to us… He was looking for a job to get him hired like an advisor or something because it doesn’t make sense, why would he reach out to us?” Mr Shaikh told VINO.

The CEO continued, “Back in December [2018] we wanted to start the operations for the Dolphin Discovery… and hire people, and he didn’t budge. We reminded him that we will hire 45 people and he didn’t do it…. and in February he is calling and telling us how can we help, he’s just a bad man!” Mr Shaikh said while expressing anger at the situation.

‘Lame Duck’ Premier

When questioned about why a ‘Lame-Duck’ Premier would be reaching out to the company, considering he would have been powerless just days before the elections, Mr Shaikh further told this news site that former Premier Smith was very clever with his words.

“He didn’t say anything openly, he is very clever… he never says anything openly, but he gives you a chance to offer him something, he’s very clever,” the ICA Group CEO reiterated.

During the investment proposal stages, Mr Shaikh told VINO, “We offered him to send a team, we sent engineers, we sent the proposals to start the operation for Dolphin Discovery and then he didn’t do anything.”

Assessing the losses to the Territory he said, “Dolphin Discovery attraction is the second highest tourist visitors on the islands, so they lost maybe close to half a million dollar cash from revenue. If they had allowed us to open the Dolphin [Discovery], they probably would be making close to half a million dollars right now, in four months,” he said.

45-50 families lost income – Mr Shaikh

The irate CEO further lashed out, “There’s a high unemployment and we were going to hire 45-50 people before the Christmas and if he [Dr Smith] had any sincerity towards the people, who are suffering in the BVI, he would accept yes.”

“To be honest with you we [are] not interested in [the] BVI, just a too corrupt country for us,” he said in noting that his company and their investors have no plans to continue with the project.

According to Mr Shaikh, “Forty-Five (45) families would have had a nice BVI Christmas, [but] he [Dr Smith] didn’t give a damn, and I’ve never seen any leader like this in my life!”

Our newsroom reached out to Dr Smith today, June 17, 2019 to provide a response on the claims but did not receive a reply up to the time of publication.

21 Responses to “‘He didn’t give a damn!’ - Investor says Dr Smith killed Prospect Reef project”

  • I sick of this (17/06/2019, 10:36) Like (26) Dislike (9) Reply
    What’s done is done move more professional and put the pieces into place make the bvi greats again
    • True but... (18/06/2019, 06:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      It would be great to rebuild and restore Prospect Reef (not so sure about Dolphin Discovery) but where does the money come from? Was it even insured? My guess this project stalled out because key players did not get their graft. Total write off at this time. Govt needs to find a buyer with capital and make a sweetheart deal. Recover the losses in the long run though my guess is it will languish in decay for some time to come.
  • Hmmmmmmm (17/06/2019, 10:54) Like (20) Dislike (26) Reply

    “Mr Shaikh further told this news site that former Premier Smith was very clever with his words.”

    HOW MANY OF YOU I****** ARE NOT CLEVER WITH YOUR WORDS? Go long ...

    • lol (17/06/2019, 11:31) Like (0) Dislike (21) Reply

      You stupid fool. Your own b**** people is killing you and you bringing down another race. Probably we deserve it because look at the minds of you people!

      • @LOL (17/06/2019, 11:57) Like (26) Dislike (6) Reply
        You laughing at yourself. No one is bringing down another race. Read the article again. How could Mr. Shaikh say former Premier was very clever with his words? Because the former premier outsmarted him. It takes one to know the next. And that is why Mr. Shaikh is angry and sour. Look, he even says the BVI is too corrupt a country for them. Who bringing down who?

        And, did not your parents taught you that the Bible says to call no one a fool? Keep lol!
      • wize up (18/06/2019, 01:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        @LOL: not all blacks are a$$ kissers like you: the issue with some negros like u is money,
        Simply wave a few dollars and you fall to your knees: a&& wipes like you cause problems for top ranking black men: for 30 peaces of silver you will give away your birthrights: LOL, stop sell your soul to achieve vanity(u jive turkey)
  • Equity For Both Sides (17/06/2019, 11:01) Like (33) Dislike (7) Reply
    Okay then Mr Shaikh speak to Fahie and see if he would not be clever too. Everybody want to come bout them making investment but in a capitalist world we know is a lie. We got to be very very clever Mr Shaikh. And not only that, we are clever. So come again with a real better offer and we will talk real talk. No stupid talk.

    Your story is just half the story. We don’t have the whole story right now so we the people can’t make an informed decision.
  • The fox (17/06/2019, 11:05) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    “To be honest with you we [are] not interested in [the] BVI, just a too corrupt country for us,”

    Hear what Mr Shaikh says about ayo BVI people? You too corrupt. When the fox
  • Hillary (17/06/2019, 11:06) Like (9) Dislike (13) Reply
    NDP the most corrupt party. Dr zzzz is just dr zzzzz.
  • wise man (17/06/2019, 11:08) Like (28) Dislike (7) Reply
    “Our newsroom reached out to Dr Smith today, June 17, 2019 to provide a response on the claims but did not receive a reply up to the time of publication.”

    Because, the information you received was false. A wise does not respond to foolishness otherwise he would make himself a fool too.
  • wize up (17/06/2019, 12:37) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    maybe nothing was in the project for DEM!!!! sometimes you have to pay the piper!!!
  • one eye (17/06/2019, 12:40) Like (15) Dislike (12) Reply
    thank god we went to the polls on February 25, 2019 and vote them out
  • tretretrete (17/06/2019, 13:33) Like (12) Dislike (11) Reply
    The whole world knows that the NDP was corrupt
  • Fighting Competition (17/06/2019, 14:03) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    Person or persons in the X NDP government were anti competitive business.. Not just Prospect got shut down but the the one they refused to let finished after prospect heading Duff Bottom.. I think they lost that court case... For 8;yrs I never believe Doc Smith was in charge.. Doc Smith was just a name bearer...
  • the NDP was (17/06/2019, 14:11) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    lower than dirt?
  • Steve (17/06/2019, 16:05) Like (16) Dislike (8) Reply
    How good are your memories? NDP got in because VIP was voted out. Why? For the same reasons you now voted out NDP. This is a never ending vicious circle being p,aged over again. If VIP was so good, why were they replaced? Ask the people who voted here and they will tell you. Wow! How soon we forget. We will see in 4 more years what people are complaining about. Just watch and remember people.
  • Well Well (17/06/2019, 20:46) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    we need to move on. Forget torturing dolfins in a tiny dirt enclosure. time to move on and seek a developer to re design Prospect Reef into a property that can make money without abusing Dolphins. It is a small marina, with restaurants and a pool that could reignite out BVI swimming team. There are also several small shops for business. Condos are the best option IMHO.
  • Happy (17/06/2019, 22:00) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is great news. We can move on with marketing the property to lease to a developer on commercial and transparent terms. Dr Smith never should have misappropriated our monies to pay off the Romneys in the first place. Prospect Reef now just needs to be properly marketed and developed. There are a range of ideas of mixed use, none which ought to have anything to do with Dolphin captivity which is destroying our overnight tourism product and frankly just a grubbier version of what the other cruise ports are doing. We are better than that.
    Flipping the microscope, ICA and its principal seem only to be famous for stalled projects and ones that don’t start - presumably extending all investor monies in their efforts.
    It should be absolutely possible to get a development that has lots of potential for local business and training in its construction and ongoing businesses, whatever they may be, without killing it before it starts by the old BVI style nepotism that’s meant to sound all pro-Belongers but in reality is screwing these islands and the people out of economic activity and options.
  • ABC (17/06/2019, 22:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lock him up
  • bvi to the bone (20/06/2019, 07:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    In my opinion this investor is just another squirrel trying to get a nut. He doesn’t get what he wants from the BVI government so he now tries to defame the former Premier to leverage the current one. The fact is that this so called investor wasn’t bringing anything I gotta concrete to the table. Just talk and bluff. First of all he had no money and no financing to get the project off the ground. He was relying on the BVI government to most likely carry all the risk on the project, while he just collects the money with no strings attached. Then he says that Premier Smith was looking for a job with him. Really. So now we are to believe that this Middle Easterner with no ties to the BVI, no financing to invest in anything, and nothing but propaganda to spread about the country, suddenly has the BVI’s best interest at heart? Anyone believing that must also believe that monkeys can fly by flapping their ears. In the end most of these so called investors are just trying to get your stuff for free and only want the people of the BVI to carry all the risk.


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