THE Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has completed its assessment of the proposed plans for the construction of the 701-room ClubRiu Hotel in Montego Bay, which was said to be in the flight path of the Sangster International Airport.

However, the CAA has refused to release the findings.

“The Obstacle Evaluation Unit completed an assessment of the proposed plans for the construction of the hotel in Mahoe Bay, St James, and forwarded the findings to the applicants on Tuesday, February 6, 2007,” the CAA said in a faxed response to questions from the Observer on Monday.

Information services manager at the CAA Jennifer Davies-McDonald suggested that the newspaper speak with CL Environmental Co Limited, which submitted the application on behalf of the developers, RIU Jamaicacotel Limited and Port Marly Ltd.

But Carlton Hamilton, managing director and owner of CL Environmental Co Limited, declined to comment on the issue. He said the results were likely to be made available in a couple of weeks.

The assessment was done following concerns raised at a January 19 meeting in Montego Bay to discuss the EIA, after it was said that the hotel could be in the flight path of the Sangster International Airport.

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), following that meeting, said the development would not be allowed to reach fruition if, in fact, it was in the flight path of the airport.

“They (the regulatory authorities) wouldn’t consider building anything in the flight path. If it is in the flight path, then they would consider shifting the footprint of the hotel outside of that area,” acting communications officer at NEPA, Zadie Neufville told the Observer in a January 22 interview.

The proposal on the table right now, according to the final draft report on the development, is to have the hotel constructed on 20.6 acres of land, three kilometres east of the Montego Bay airport. Close to 600 of the more than 700 rooms at the hotel are to be doubles, while 84 will be triples and 24 suites.

At the same time, there are to be six three-storey buildings for hotel rooms and a one-storey main building, according to the report.

The work will see up to 1,200 people being employed when construction gets under way. It is expected to be completed in 18 months.