BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-TWO well known developers who visited St. Kitts this week have stated that they believe the long stagnant lands under the White Gate Development Project “could be made into a very high end resort community”.
Sir Charles Williams and Gerald ‘Jerry’ Barton are best known for their world-class resorts and golf courses that have hosted PGA tour events, various golf championships and a Ryder Cup.
Their most recent development is being constructed in Barbados under the name of the Apes Hill Club.
SKNVibes met with Barton, who is Chief Executive Officer for the Landmark Land Company, yesterday (Jan. 29) for an exclusive interview after he toured the White Gate Development, and learnt that as a developer he found the lands to be very fitting for a potential residential resort.
“I was very impressed with what we saw. I thought it was very pretty and had a lot of diversity. I was afraid it was going to be too flat, but it has a lot of drama to it.”
Barton stated that his team found the conditions of La Valle, Kittitian Hill and Beaumont Park to be optimal, and it is likely he and partner, Sir Charles, would carry out surveys of the land’s topography in the near future.
“Normally, our studies…would take 90 to 120 days. I think with the opportunity here we would certainly try and do it faster because a lot of work has been done already.”
He did note, however, that a study does not guarantee they would begin developing the land that has stood relatively void of progress since announced in 2001 that it would be home to three hotels, several golf courses, a marina and a horse racing track.
“We certainly don’t have a plan, commitment or timetable right now, but I do think we will be studying it. We are serious in studying it, but you never know where a study will take you,” he said.
The current Christophe Harbour Project being undertaken on the Southeast Peninsula by Barton’s former partners at Kiawah, Buddy Darby and Leonard Long, gave him hope that St. Kitts would soon be catapulting forward in the global tourism market.
“It would be a smaller and different development [than Christophe Harbour], but we are more encouraged that they are coming here, not less. We are trying to attract people from the world, and the more magnets you have attracting people to St. Kitts, the better it is for everyone.”
SKNVibes inquired if the current global economic slowdown was going to be a concern for Sir Charles, Barton and their potential financers.
“Today, the whole world is upside down, but we don’t have anything to sell today. So, it doesn’t really matter what it is today. What it will be in 2012 matters a lot to us, and that will be what we are analysing,” Barton explained.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Denzil Douglas; Minister of State with responsibility for Tourism, Hon. Richard ‘Ricky’ Skerritt; and the Chief Executive Officer for the St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency, Shawna Brisbane, visited the Apes Hill Club in Barbados on Wednesday (Jan. 28).
“What is happening at Apes Hill is in fact smack in the middle of what was a sugar cane estate. It reminds me so much of our own vision here in St. Kitts and Nevis. When I looked at the spectacular views that presented themselves at Apes Hill it reminded me so vividly of our own vision for the White Gate development area,” Douglas said upon his return to the Federation.
He added that both of the visiting parties would now “exchange notes” and begin negotiation talks “to see how we can continue that vision of development for St. Kitts”.
