MONTEGO Bay, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding ordered Riu Hotels to halt construction on its 701-room Riu Montego Bay, citing a breach of building regulations. The hotel was scheduled to open Aug. 29.
The stop order stated that Riu had breached the law by constructing an unapproved fourth floor, which violated the three-floor building permit originally issued by the Parish Council of St. James, the parish were Riu is located.
The 65-acre Riu site is adjacent to Sandals Royal Resort & Private Island and three miles east of Sangster Airport. The three-floor limit applies to hotels in that area because they are within the flight path of aircraft landings and takeoffs.
Riu agreed to cooperate with Jamaican authorities in their investigation of the breaches of the building permit. At the same time, Riu launched its own internal investigation of the matter. (Source: Travel Weekly.com 5/20/08)
