A new developer has become the front runner to take charge of the former Club Med resort site overlooking St. George?s and bring a five-star hotel to the town.

The identity of the person set to take over what was previously a $220 million scheme to transform the old hotel will be revealed next month.

Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown, announcing that a new developer was in talks with the Government to bring a five-star hotel to the East End, said the person in question had some link with the formerly favoured developer the St. George?s Renaissance Consortium.

The news comes two weeks after reported that the development consortium?s negotiations with the Government had ?stalled? after two years of discussions.

Consortium leader Wanda Dorosz was not available to respond immediately to the news yesterday.

The group, headed by Canada-based group Quorum, had plans for a Four Seasons Hotel along with a European-style cultural village and low-rise homes.

The former Club Med resort has lain empty for almost two decades and become what some consider an eyesore above St. George?s.

Announcing the change of developer, Dr. Brown said: ?We have signed on with a new developer for the Club Med site. That developer will be introduced to the media in the middle of February.

?The Mayor (E. Michael Jones) has been introduced to the developer and we are not stalled at all, we are very much on our way to finally getting something done on that site.

?I?m sure it?s welcome news to the Mayor and most Bermudians that finally we are going to have action as opposed to words with respect to that site.?

Asked why negotiations with the former development group had stopped, the Minister said: ?I do not think it serves a purpose to go into details why the talks didn?t come to fruition. I think it is clear through the multiple extensions of exclusivity that were awarded that we were operating in good faith. But we had to make progress and we are happy that we have found a team that will deliver.?

Of the new developer Dr. Brown would only say that ?he had some type of relationship with the former developer? and bringing a five-star hotel to the town was still the intention.

Mayor E. Michael Jones, who also attended the joint press conference with Dr. Brown, afterwards said: ?I fully expect there will be a five-star hotel project and that the town will reap the benefits that would previously occur with a Four Seasons Hotel.?

He said he was not in a position to say whether or not the new hotel would now be Four Seasons.

Mr. Jones, who is seeking re-election as Mayor of St. George?s in tomorrow?s Corporation election, was given high praise from the Deputy Premier when the two appeared at the Senate offices in Hamilton.

Dr. Brown said he wanted to clarify the Mayor?s role in various projects in which the Government is involved: ?Let me state categorically that this Mayor has been extremely involved with our cruise ship negotiations.

?With the work he has done in St. George after Hurricane Fabian, and the ongoing work that is being done on the Waterfront Taskforce, the Mayor has taken charge of what has to be done in the St.George community to help that town come to a conclusion about what it wants in respect to ships and he is guiding that public consultation.?

Mr. Brown said it had been a pleasure to have the Mayor, who is also a member of the Tourism Board, as a representative at talks in Miami last year with cruise ship operators focusing on the future requirements of the industry and its relationship with Bermuda.

And Mr. Jones said: ?I just want to assure the people of St George?s in particular, and residents of Bermuda in general, that we are looking forward to continuing our negotiations and deliberations that are taking place and I look forward with your support to go forward with the St. George?s vision and the plan that the town sees for itself.?

He reiterated the positives that were gained for the town by the Corporation working closely with the Government, being briefed on developments and sharing information.