The Passing of Alfred "Freddie" Lam
~~Adz:Left~~When Alfred "Freddie" Lam opened the Fairview Inn, St. Kitts tourism wasn't even in its infancy - his initiative was what gave birth to the infant that was to become the nation's leading industry. Mr. Lam, a pioneer of Eastern Caribbean tourism and one of the founders of the St. Kitts and Nevis Hotel and Tourism Association, died earlier this week. He had been in failing health for several years.
A Trinidian who had worked for many years in that nation's oil industry, he moved to St. Kitts in the Sixties, and bought an historic but rundown French great house in the lush foothills of the island's central mountain range. At the time, the fledgling Caribbean tourism industry was dominated by Jamaica and Barbados, and tiny Eastern Caribbean islands like St. Kitts had only a smattering of guest houses to offer accommodation for the few visitors who took the time and trouble to seek them out.
The changes that were to lead to today's thriving tourism industry started when Mr. Lam, having completely renovated and refurbished the dilapidated great house and built a handful of self contained guest cottages in its sprawling grounds, opened the Fairview Inn. For years, the Fairview was the place to stay in St. Kitts, and among the guests in its early years was Britain's Prince Charles. Despite the demands of running the property, Mr. Lam also found time to help found the HTA in 1972. He was its first president, and occupied that position for much of the Seventies, as well as serving on the board of the Caribbean Hotel Association and playing a prominent role in the Eastern Caribbean Tourism Association.
Under his management, the Fairview Inn also became the place for Kittitians to bring in the New Year, and the Fairview's fetes, featuring top local bands like the GIs Brass, are legendary. Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Lam devoted countless hours to the St. Kitts Rotary Club, and their weekly meetings were held for many years at the Fairview.
His public service and tourism achievements were honoured by the awarding of an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the Nineties. Mr. Lam is survived by his widow, Beatrice 'Betty" Lam, his children Adrian and Sandra, his grand children, and many other relatives.
Alfred "Freddie" Lam, who died earlier this week, was one of the pioneers of the St. Kitts tourism industry and one of the founders of the St. Kitts and Nevis Hotel and Tourism Association.
