Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush recently questioned the government’s decision to lease a national heritage site, Pedro Castle restaurant, to a commercial restaurant-bar, which began operations there last week.
Mr. Bush’s parliamentary question was not necessarily critical; he merely sought details of the arrangement that had been made for Reid’s at Pedro.
Tourism Minister Charles Clifford said the government had tried to lease the café at Pedro St. James about six years ago and received three proposals that were unsuccessful, largely because the facility lacked a liquor licence.
A liquor licence was obtained for Pedro in 2002, which had been used in the past for special events such as weddings, but never as a full-time restaurant or bar.
Mr. Clifford told the Legislative Assembly last week that the café has operated at a financial loss of nearly $314,000 over the past six years; a loss which he said would have forced the government to put more money into the establishment or close it down unless a private business could come in and lease the facility.
Red Bay Café, also known as Durty Reid’s Palace, was the only proposal government received for Pedro’s lease. Bar owner Reid Dennis was forced to close his previous establishment because government was bulldozing its location at Red Bay plaza to make room for a road.
Mr. Clifford said Red Bay Café signed a two year lease at Pedro on 17 September.
Head of Cayman’s Tourism Attraction Board Gilbert Connolly, now holds Pedro’s liquor licence, which previously belonged to the general manager of Pedro Caste. Government has insisted the establishment will be run as a family-style restaurant.
The creation of a full time restaurant-bar in the centre of Savannah, a formerly dry community, has not generated the same level of public controversy that the proposed move of a Jacques Scott liquor store did earlier this year. The liquor store, also affected by the Red Bay plaza demolition, has moved into the Countryside Shopping Village.
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