The Coco Reef Resort will be opening a Caribbean fine arts gallery this year in the former Triminghams store on South Road in Paget.

Coco Reef, which is owned by John Jefferis, applied in July last year to change the space from commercial to tourism/commercial art gallery use.

The resort was given the approval letter from the Development Applications Board on December 19 last year.

Last night Mr. Jefferis was unavailable for comment as he was off the Island, however a representative for the hotel was able to tell this paper the gallery was expected to be completed in November this year.

The gallery, the application states, is because: "The hotel wants to sell art to tourists who are staying at the hotel', and will be housed in the Triminghams store which went out of business in July 2005 after more than 160 years.

According to the application, as well as a gallery the site will include an artist in residence available for visitors to watch working and the ability to serve drinks and tapas.

At least three objections were filed mostly centering on the parking problems at the former department store and the resort conceded by moving it to the rental cycle area on their property.

Mr. Jefferis and the Coco Reef Resort have been the centre of attention recently when the Premier shut-down debate last month when the Opposition alleged corruption in the tendering of the resort's lease.

Controversy has dogged the resort since former Elbow Beach managing director Mr. Jefferis was given a 50-year lease by Government in 2003 to operate and manage the Paget property.

In January this year he was granted an SDO by Environment Minister El James to build 66 holiday apartments on woodland.

Government stated it was important for the Island's tourism product, even though tourists will only occupy the Coco Villas for six months of the year.

The new concessions order, which was shortly debated in the House last month, entitles the hotel developer exemption from land tax of up to $9,800 a year, for up to five years; exemption of $130,700 in hotel occupancy tax for three years; exemption of hotel occupancy tax of a further $18,750 for five years and five years of exemptions from the employer's share of the payroll tax of up to $7,300. In addition the developer is also entitled to a reduction of a third on the landholding charge.

While the controversy raged in the House of Assembly, Mr. Jefferis was recognised for his work in the hospitality world with a lifetime achievement award last month.

He was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award in Tourism and Travel" from the Caribbean World magazine, the only quarterly magazine dedicated to the Caribbean and was presented the award at the famous Dorchester Hotel in London.

A second application for the Triminghams' property to include an office and bathroom, however, were refused earlier this year.