PM Douglas (L), Tom Fazio (C), Buddy Darby (R)
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
November 13, 2008 (CUOPM)
Construction of the Tom Fazio”“designed, which is part of a massive tourism development project that includes a world-class Mandarin hotel, a classy marina village capable of accommodating the most luxurious and expansive yachts, top notch restaurants and a range of five star resort facilities will transform St. Kitts and Nevis and help to bring a better quality of life to the people of the Federation.
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minster Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for the golf course on Wednesday afternoon, noted that the start of construction takes place in the face of global challenges caused by a meltdown in the world financial markets.
“This is no small achievement. Even as we stand here today, people in advanced economies are being thrown out of their homes because of their failure to meet mortgage obligations; banks and insurance companies of global scope and dimensions, which have been symbols of financial strength and stability, are now reeling under liquidity pressures and are reaching out to their respective Governments for help; workers are being forced into the ranks of the unemployed as their employers seek to restructure and downsize their operations to secure their survival; investors are helplessly watching their wealth dwindle as capital markets gyrate and asset values plunge; and ongoing hotel projects throughout the Caribbean region and the world are being disrupted or abandoned as the global credit crunch bring a dramatic halt to the flow of funds that is so critical to the survival and continuation of such projects,” said Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, before joining Chairman and CEO of Kiawah Development Partners, Mr. Buddy Darby and world renowned golf course designer, Mr. Tom Fazio in turning the sod at Priddies Plateau, 500 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Prime Minister Douglas said the start of construction for the 250-acre golf course comes against the current global economic environment which is characterized by financial crises, economic malaise, and outright fear among investors and workers alike; among rich and poor; and among small island economies and large advanced economies.
“Indeed, no country on the face of the globe can feel completely secure in the face of unprecedented turbulence in the global economy,” said Dr. Douglas.
“Yet here we are this afternoon in tranquil St. Kitts and Nevis, fighting against the odds with the commencement of construction work in respect of a Tom Fazio golf course that will be among the finest in the world, and would become the centrepiece of a massive resort development project that will make St. Kitts and Nevis, one of the most desirable tourist destination in the Caribbean, and indeed, in the entire world,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He lauded the commitment of the Chairman and CEO of Kiawah Development Partners, Mr. Buddy Darby, who has already pumped a vast amount of resources to bring the project to the stage where it is today and who will commit hundreds of millions of dollars to the continued development of this outstanding and luxurious hotel resort project on the Southeast Peninsula.
“This is because of his optimism and faith in the future of St. Kitts and Nevis, and his confidence that the investment in this project will bring significant returns to his investors and will, at the same time, help to bring a better quality of life to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said that Tom Fazio, who has designed more than 200 golf courses around the world, many of them ranked among the top 100 in the USA, will make the golf course at Christophe Harbour his finest.