ST ANN, Jamaica — Some semblance of normality has returned to the construction site at the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande Resort in St Ann, following a series of disruptions earlier this month due to a pay dispute.

Hundreds of disgruntled construction workers had resorted to protesting outside the construction site on Main Street in Ocho Rios, for monies reportedly owed to them, which put a sudden halt in activities at the site.

The workers argued that the contracts of subcontractors which employed them were suspended as ICON, the lead subcontractor at the time, met with officials of BARMA Constructions the main contractor employed to execute the renovation of the hotel.

OBSERVER ONLINE has been told that since then, a Jamaican project management company, Enviro-Planners, has been contracted to be the project manager. Enviro-Planners is also to supervise Mexican construction company, BARMA Construction Limited, and certify their payment while ensuring quality in construction.

The former Sunset Jamaica Grande was taken over by the Mexico-based Palace Resort in September 1, 2014, with a total investment of US$150 million to acquire and renovate the property. OBSERVER ONLINE understands that BARMA Construction Limited was hired to undertake the construction. However that company hired ICON Development Construction Company, a Jamaican firm, as the main subcontractor. OBSERVER ONLINE was told that some six months later the pay dispute developed between BARMA and ICON which this resulted in ICON being unable to pay subcontractors. The workers protested and this led to a halt in construction, which dealt a blow to investments.

After doing its due diligence,OBSERVER ONLINE was informed that Enviro-planner recommended the re-engagement of ICON and a way forward to resolve the dispute was agreed on by all parties.

Since then it has been working with the stakeholders, including Member of Parliament Shahine Robinson, Mayor Desmond Gilmore as well as the Ministry of Labour, among others, to ensure that the project is delivered based on the scheduled time for opening.

Reports are that refurbishing work on hotel is approximately 80 per cent complete.

Meanwhile, General Manager of the resort, Clifton Reader, told JIS News that most of the work should be completed in April. This includes refurbishing of the rooms, lobby, pools, restaurants, landscaping, and other areas.

“We knocked down 40 rooms and we put up 65 rooms. What we have done on the north tower… we have taken four rooms and made one suite, so at the end of it we will have …705 units to include one and two bedroom suites and two fantastic villas,” Reader said, adding that a date is to be finalised for the opening of the property.

The general manager also said that part of Moon Palace’s commitment is to employ former Sunset Jamaica Grande employees. So far the company has employed 564 of those workers, which will be increased to 1,200 when the property opens.

“When the hotel is open at 100 per cent, we will be employing twice the amount of staff that we had before…. this will be very good for Ocho Rios,” Reader shared.