Indigo Dive, Buccament Bay Resort part ways

After four years of maintaining a business relationship, Indigo Watersports Ltd is parting ways with the Buccament Bay Resort.

In a press release, owner Kay Wilson (Indigo Watersports) stated that despite many assurances from chairman Dave Ames and his various local representatives, {{more}}payments owed to the dive/watersports company have “not been forthcoming”.

“The primary cause for withdrawing from Buccament Bay Resort is the inability of the resort to meet its financial obligations,” she stated.

Wilson further added that although she has ended the partnership “with deep regret,” she has been compelled to do so because the “situation has reached a point where it has become impossible to continue providing watersports services… due to the financial constraints imposed by lack of income.”

However, whilst confirming the split, a representative from the Buccament Bay Resort stated that Wilson’s laying of blame solely at the resort’s feet is “patently wrong”.

“There are two sides to every story and… Harlequin will publicly defend any claim through the court system in St. Vincent,” insisted the representative.

“In this particular case, there were serious problems with the contractual position to the extent that maintaining Indigo Dive’s services was not commercially viable. After it became apparent that financial and practical disagreements (including clashes of personality) could not be resolved, it was accepted that the Resort and Indigo Dive should part company.”

The representative maintained that Indigo Watersports’ owner is “ill-equipped to speculate on the financial standing of the Resort, particularly given that bookings for our multi-award-winning hotel are up by approximately 20% in 2014 and we have just finished a hugely successful summer period at full capacity.”

“The Resort did its best to part on amicable terms and was engaged in agreeing terms with Mrs Wilson as recently as Sunday; however the Resort does wish Indigo Dive and Mrs Wilson all the best in their future endeavours.”

The representative, who described the parting of ways as a “breakdown of a complex four-year relationship”, said that ordinarily, the resort prefers to keep its disputes private but has chosen to respond to Wilson’s accusation because she has “sought to harm the Resort with scathing public comments that lack foundation”.

Buccament Bay Resort, which is the flagship property of Harlequin Hotel and Resorts, took the opportunity to announce that it has now formed an association with a new “highly experienced” PADI diving provider.

According to a release from Wilson, during the four years of Indigo Watersports’ operations at the Buccament Bay Resort, Indigo Watersports gained its Professional Association of Dive Instructors 5-Star Resort Status; won PADI Education Center of the Month (March 2013); and has provided Emergency First Response Training for over 100 members of staff at the resort.

Additionally, the company has aided in the certification of 12 Vincentian dive professional – including eight PADI Dive Masters and four PADI Dive Instructors. It has also hosted the U.S based Kids’ Sea Camp (with over 60 participants) for over two consecutive years – which represents the largest dive group to have visited St. Vincent & the Grenadines to date, the release said.

Wilson further stated: “Indigo Dive looks forward to providing world class dive training and excursion to residents and visitors to our beautiful island nation for years to come.(JSV)