The runner-up developer in the shortlist to build a new resort on the former Club Med site at the east end will be named by Government when the 120-day negotiating period draws to a close.

Tourism and Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell said the unsuccessful applicant “didn’t want to be revealed as the failed developer” in the meantime.

Government had agreed to that “in case we have to rely on that developer as an alternative”, the Minister continued.

Mr Crockwell’s remarks came during the Motion to Adjourn in Friday’s House of Assembly, as Shadow Minister Zane DeSilva questioned his rationale for not revealing the candidate.

The Minister last month announced that Government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Venezuela-based developers Desarrollos Hotelco Group for a possible hotel and casino at the brownfield site in St George’s.

Mr DeSilva maintained that Government must have hired US consultant Ronald Sutherland to shepherd the Request for Proposal process for the site before the Tourism Board was dissolved in favour of an independent Tourism Authority, but Mr Crockwell insisted that Mr Sutherland had been hired in December of last year for the role of “concierge of the RFP processes”.

The Ministry had developed the previous RFP under the leadership of the Permanent Secretary, he said.

“It was recommended to me by the chairman of the Tourism Authority that we should get professional assistance to beef up the RFP and make it more of a marketing document,” Mr Crockwell told the House.

“I thought it was a good idea and that we could also get the RFP out to a broader group of developers. At that time, which was in December, Mr Sutherland was hired for that purpose.”

Mr Crockwell added that the Tourism Authority had thus far spent $3.2 million, out of a total budget of $23 million. Government provides a quarterly disbursement of $6 million.