BVI Reconstruction: On Bringing Back Bitter End
Mar 26, 2020
By BEYC
During these unsettling times, much comfort can be had from thinking of one’s happy place – we know for many of you that place is Bitter End. We also remind ourselves that life’s storms prove the strength of our anchors. The Bitter End family has been through a lot over the last fifty years; as a community, we will come out of this moment in our collective history stronger and more resilient. With that in mind, we spent a few minutes this morning talking to Patrick Brizio, BEYC’s General Manager who is overseeing our redevelopment.
This project is a lot like rebuilding a small village. Each day presents new opportunities on the construction project and the long term redevelopment of our spectacular 64 acres. My wife Victoria and I have appreciated the warm welcome of the local community and our children have enjoyed visiting us in the Caribbean—where they spent many formative years growing up in St. Lucia.
I have spent the lion’s share of my professional career working on remote island development projects. My past experience as both a General Manager and a Development Director has taught me how to find creative solutions and get challenging things done in far-flung places. (editor’s note: Brizio has managed and developed properties in St. Lucia, Lyford Cay, the Seychelles, Asia, and the Maldives.)
Having been in the Navy for close to twenty years, being around boats is second nature to me. I love playing around on the water, but if I had to pick one activity, it would be Scuba Diving. I really look forward to spending more time with the awesome team here at Bitter End-based Sunchaser Scuba and exploring the beauty of the underwater world in the BVI.
I am always looking for ways to mitigate a project’s environmental footprint. Rebuilding Bitter End has presented many amazing opportunities for us to do just that. In the aftermath of Irma, we rescued 45,000 feet of timber in addition to tons of concrete, pavers and stone—all to be upcycled and utilized in earthworks, retaining walls and other architectural features. As a result, there will be lots of familiar feelings and materials incorporated into Bitter End 2.0.
My family and I have been extraordinarily fortunate to be part of the Caribbean community throughout our lives. Being a part of Bitter End’s next chapter is an awesome opportunity for our team. We all look forward to bringing back Bitter End to her former glory…and then some.
