ecieci
4th July 2009, 09:09 AM
CHARITY BUILD CASINO
New People Organisation, one of the largest charity group in the country with members span from firms, institutions, highly affluent families and general public, had decided to invest a portion of their fund in real estate by developing a resort complex in the East Coast. The resort will consist of mega hotel, casino and theatres. The investment is estimated at $2 billion.
The project generated plenty of criticism from members of public. "How could a charity organisation build casino? It's a hypocrisy." Said Ms Ann, who regularly donated $10 of her salary every month to the organization.
"I wouldn't mind if the money is used for something else. There are surely other investment opportunities than casinos." sounded Mr Tan. "I think I will stop donating to that organisation."
A recent Gallup poll showed 56% of the public disapproved of the organisation's real estate investment decision. 30% feel that the organisation did not make right decision. 10% are indifferent. Only 4% approved of the project.
The project will be designed by Lee & Matthews, the architects firm who recently did similar project in Macau. Grant Matthews himself will be the lead designer of the project. He will be supported by a group of consultants and designers spanning from Hong Kong, USA, UK to Australia. Hunter Marshall, the project management firm, will represent New People in day-to-day management of the project.
New People Organisation was not available for comment.
***
Adrian
The first time I met her was when she walked into the meeting room on cloudy April day. It was busy time, we are preparing a tender for the main works of the project, and there was another public bashing on the newspaper this morning. Everyone in the room was edgy. She, with her beautiful looks and big round eyes, was like a fresh spring in my long dry summer.
"This is Clara, she will be assisting me in overall design of the project." Grant announced. I read her name card. Hmm, senior designer. She didn't seem to be past 30 years old. Young, pretty and accomplished. What more a man could ask for.
We carried on with the meeting. Lee Beng, the senior project manager, led the meeting throughout. It was regular consultants meeting held weekly to monitor the progress of the project. The lead consultant was the architect, Lee & Matthews, represented by Grant Matthews himself and now this little pretty lady Clara, structural consultant, mechanical and electrical consultant, image consultant, entertainment consultant, theatre consultant, and so on and so forth. Some of the consultants who were based overseas joined the meeting via tele-conference. On the project manager's side, there were Lee Beng, the 50 year old veteran in construction industry, having been around contractor's firm, architectural firm and now project manager firm, and 4 other project managers who assisted him, Mark, Kevin, Sonya and me. Representatives from New People were Amadeus and Tony, both were architects by training. They were there to ensure that all New People's needs were met.
"We planned to have the tender called by mid May." said Lee Beng. "Grant, how's the preparations of the tender drawings?"
Grant in turn looked at Clara and the pretty girl whispered something to her big boss. "We are issuing 100% TD next week." he then replied. TD was tender drawing. Consultants loved abbreviating things.
"Matt," Lee Beng turned to an Australian, Matt, the structural engineer. "Has the issue on shifting of columns been resolved?"
"Not yet, we are still resolving it."
"Is the one week target still feasible then?"
"It depends on the architect final schemes on the width of passageways."
"Grant, you have to resolve this issue before we issue tender drawings."
"We can always call addendum later." replied Grant.
Addendum was the additional information given to tenderers after tender was called. It was usually ground for extension of tender time. Extension meant longer waiting time for the Employer to get the tender prices. Not something we like, but projects this size couldn't help but to have a few.
"Minimise the addendums as much as possible." said Amadeus. "We want to see the tender prices ASAP."
"But Amadeus, a few issues were not resolved and your marketing side has not come up with their answers either. We can't proceed without their decision." snapped Grant.
The atmosphere in the room got edgier.
After the meeting, Lee Beng whispered to me discreetly. "Adrian, can you please keep tight control on the architects. They are getting uncooperative. We can't proceed working with them at this rate."
"Sure."
And that marked the beginning of an unprecedented affair.
-------
New People Organisation, one of the largest charity group in the country with members span from firms, institutions, highly affluent families and general public, had decided to invest a portion of their fund in real estate by developing a resort complex in the East Coast. The resort will consist of mega hotel, casino and theatres. The investment is estimated at $2 billion.
The project generated plenty of criticism from members of public. "How could a charity organisation build casino? It's a hypocrisy." Said Ms Ann, who regularly donated $10 of her salary every month to the organization.
"I wouldn't mind if the money is used for something else. There are surely other investment opportunities than casinos." sounded Mr Tan. "I think I will stop donating to that organisation."
A recent Gallup poll showed 56% of the public disapproved of the organisation's real estate investment decision. 30% feel that the organisation did not make right decision. 10% are indifferent. Only 4% approved of the project.
The project will be designed by Lee & Matthews, the architects firm who recently did similar project in Macau. Grant Matthews himself will be the lead designer of the project. He will be supported by a group of consultants and designers spanning from Hong Kong, USA, UK to Australia. Hunter Marshall, the project management firm, will represent New People in day-to-day management of the project.
New People Organisation was not available for comment.
***
Adrian
The first time I met her was when she walked into the meeting room on cloudy April day. It was busy time, we are preparing a tender for the main works of the project, and there was another public bashing on the newspaper this morning. Everyone in the room was edgy. She, with her beautiful looks and big round eyes, was like a fresh spring in my long dry summer.
"This is Clara, she will be assisting me in overall design of the project." Grant announced. I read her name card. Hmm, senior designer. She didn't seem to be past 30 years old. Young, pretty and accomplished. What more a man could ask for.
We carried on with the meeting. Lee Beng, the senior project manager, led the meeting throughout. It was regular consultants meeting held weekly to monitor the progress of the project. The lead consultant was the architect, Lee & Matthews, represented by Grant Matthews himself and now this little pretty lady Clara, structural consultant, mechanical and electrical consultant, image consultant, entertainment consultant, theatre consultant, and so on and so forth. Some of the consultants who were based overseas joined the meeting via tele-conference. On the project manager's side, there were Lee Beng, the 50 year old veteran in construction industry, having been around contractor's firm, architectural firm and now project manager firm, and 4 other project managers who assisted him, Mark, Kevin, Sonya and me. Representatives from New People were Amadeus and Tony, both were architects by training. They were there to ensure that all New People's needs were met.
"We planned to have the tender called by mid May." said Lee Beng. "Grant, how's the preparations of the tender drawings?"
Grant in turn looked at Clara and the pretty girl whispered something to her big boss. "We are issuing 100% TD next week." he then replied. TD was tender drawing. Consultants loved abbreviating things.
"Matt," Lee Beng turned to an Australian, Matt, the structural engineer. "Has the issue on shifting of columns been resolved?"
"Not yet, we are still resolving it."
"Is the one week target still feasible then?"
"It depends on the architect final schemes on the width of passageways."
"Grant, you have to resolve this issue before we issue tender drawings."
"We can always call addendum later." replied Grant.
Addendum was the additional information given to tenderers after tender was called. It was usually ground for extension of tender time. Extension meant longer waiting time for the Employer to get the tender prices. Not something we like, but projects this size couldn't help but to have a few.
"Minimise the addendums as much as possible." said Amadeus. "We want to see the tender prices ASAP."
"But Amadeus, a few issues were not resolved and your marketing side has not come up with their answers either. We can't proceed without their decision." snapped Grant.
The atmosphere in the room got edgier.
After the meeting, Lee Beng whispered to me discreetly. "Adrian, can you please keep tight control on the architects. They are getting uncooperative. We can't proceed working with them at this rate."
"Sure."
And that marked the beginning of an unprecedented affair.
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