Company director responds to allegations

In a response to the allegation of discriminating against black locals, Mr. Fabio Arduini, the Director for Elizabeth Beach Resort, Ltd and Wyndham Lambert Resort said Mr Pemberton’s original post on The Real BVI Community Board was the result of a clear misunderstanding.

Pemberton had claimed on Facebook that on visiting the resort, “I pull up to the buzzer. Rang the buzzer and I was told sorry sir. We are closed to locals. Funny thing is my white friends got in and they've been living here for more than 15 years so yeah. Closed to black locals,” he wrote.

Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reported that the resort responded via a Facebook comment and said, ‘Lambert Beach Resort is open to serve everyone no matter what colour you are, the people that buzz before said they are going to the restaurant, you buzz and said you are going to the pool."

The response further said, "To use the pool you have to either dine in the restaurant or be a guest in one of the hotel rooms.”

However, Mr. Arduino in an invited comment from VINO, has provided some more context on what led to the scenario and misunderstanding in the first place.

Mr Pemberton wanted to ‘go to the pool’ – Director

“Last Sunday when Mr. Pemberton buzzed at the entrance gate, two things occurred. The car before him, which he described as occupied by friends, was asked the nature of their visit and the driver replied they desired to go to the restaurant, and they were buzzed through,” he said in a statement.

“When Mr. Pemberton buzzed, he replied his intent was he wanted to ‘go to the pool.’ The reply given was that ‘it is closed to locals,’ meaning it is closed to the PUBLIC at large. Pool access is granted to only hotel guests, restaurant guests, and residents of the Resort (being either owners or tenants of the numerous condo units),” the Director said.

“Let it be clear, our gate entrance only has a speaker system, not a video camera. The staff member who responded was responding solely on the nature of the request. Had Mr Pemberton inquired further or asked to talk to management, he would have been treated graciously as all our guests at Lambert are and given a further explanation.”

Resort proud to serve all residents – Director

As such the resort group said the discrimination label attributed its business was not only an inaccurate allegation, but it does not reflect the policy of the organization and the training given to predominantly BVIslander staff.

“We are proud to serve the residents of the BVI as well as welcome visitors from nations all over the world regardless of nationality, race or creed,” the statement went on to say.

Mr Arduini related further, that when Pemberton’s visit, the Resort was also in preparation for closing the month of September.

“The staff that usually supervises the grounds, including the pool, were busy preparing for yearly maintenance operations planned for September. The restaurant, also closing for September, was understaffed and could not provide any pool service,” the Director said.

Pemberton invited to experience true hospitality @ resort

While ‘Masa Pasa’ had removed his original post and released a follow-up statement assuring that the issue has been resolved by the resort’s management, the Director further extended the olive branch to Mr Pemberton for him to return in October.

“We look forward to having Mr. Pemberton back in October for Wyndham Lambert Beach Resort reopening, so we can show him our brand of hospitality, as he enjoys our specialty dishes at the restaurant along with the refreshing experience of our beautiful pool,” Mr Arduini said.

The Wyndham Tortola BVI Lambert Beach Resort has been accused of racist discrimination against some locals in the VI, where non-white persons are being denied access to the facility.

Due to the misunderstanding, Mr Ramoamasagana Pemberton had claimed in Facebook post that on visiting the resort with a 'white friends' he was discriminated against and denied entry into the resort because of his race.

The accusation came via a shocking review posted in the Real BVI community Board by Ramoamasagana ‘Masa’ Pemberton on Sunday, August 29, 2021, about the alleged treatment at the facility.

The resort in a statement on the accusation said the patron allegedly wanted to use the pool, hence they were denied access.

Meanwhile, the initial Facebook post by 'Masa Pasa' was subsequently removed on August 30, 2021, and replaced with an explanation.