By Stephen Breen

Government is preparing to speak to other developers interested in taking over the Club Med resort if the Malaysian business group given first preference does not sign a deal soon, Tourism Minister David Allen said yesterday.

Last December, Government gave Aman Capital an exclusivity deal which expired in February to come up with a plan for the closed St. George's resort.

Government has given the company, which is based in Kuala Lumpur, several extensions, but it has still not signed a deal to take over the site.

Mr. Allen told The Royal Gazette yesterday that several other developers on the Island and overseas had expressed an interest in Club Med, and Government may soon begin speaking to them about their ideas.

"We continue to be corresponding with Aman Capital and the Hotel Concessions Act committee is meeting later this month and we will assess the situation," he said.

"It has not been an easy road and it is a matter of what flexibility we are prepared to give them. We are looking after our interests and the interests of the people of St. George's and we are being very patient and still talking with them.

"Because they were potential partners we decided to give them maximum flexibility, but it can't go on forever. We've said to them that we have to some some sense of where we are going sooner rather than later.

"There are some others that are interested and it will come to a point when different things can happen.

"We can continue the exclusivity deal with Aman and talk to others at the same time. At some time, we have to see that we are using our time productively because we are concerned to get something going.

"Because of the agreement with Aman, we haven't gone in deeply to the other proposals."