Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRIDGETOWN1410
2007-11-08 19:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:
ST. KITTS ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS GALORE
how-toVZCZCXRO1929 PP RUEHGR DE RUEHWN #1410/01 3121949 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081949Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5740 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUMIAAA/USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 001410
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR ALAIN NORMAN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
L/CID FOR MARGUERITE WALTER
WHA/EPSC FOR LISA KUBISKE
EEB/ESC/IEC FOR MATT MCMANUS
EEB/IFD/OIA FOR HEATHER GOETHERT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ECON EINV PGOV PREL CVIS XL
SUBJECT: ST. KITTS ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS GALORE
REF: A. A) BRIDGETOWN 615
B. B) BRIDGETOWN 1256
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 001410
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR ALAIN NORMAN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
L/CID FOR MARGUERITE WALTER
WHA/EPSC FOR LISA KUBISKE
EEB/ESC/IEC FOR MATT MCMANUS
EEB/IFD/OIA FOR HEATHER GOETHERT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ECON EINV PGOV PREL CVIS XL
SUBJECT: ST. KITTS ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS GALORE
REF: A. A) BRIDGETOWN 615
B. B) BRIDGETOWN 1256
Summary
--------------
1. (U) During a recent visit to New York, St. Christopher
(Kitts) and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas reiterated
his nation's commitment to foreign investment and announced
plans for additional high-end resorts to invest in St. Kitts.
The government's apparent success in attracting well-known
investors in its plan to develop Christophe Harbour has
garnered headlines and left St. Kitts and Nevis optimistic
about its potential for economic growth. End summary.
Big Names Jumping on Board
--------------
2. (U) During a recent trip to New York, St. Kitts and Nevis
Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and Minister of State for
Tourism Richard "Ricky" Skerritt announced several agreements
with several US companies to invest in the country's
Christophe Harbour project. Christophe Harbour is located on
the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts and includes 2,500 acres
and six beaches. Douglas and Skerritt announced that Kiawah
Development Partners (KDP),Auberge Resorts, Mandarin
Oriental Hotel Group, sales and marketing company IMI, and
Applied Technology & Management have all committed to
developing the Harbour. Plans call for two luxury five-star
hotels (operated by Auberge and Mandarin Oriental),a Tom
Fazio golf course, homes and villas, and a luxury marina. In
addition to the developments at Christophe Harbour, the
government has also signed an agreement to expand the
Marriott Vacation Club International, estimated to cost $400
million USD.
The Angelus Shadow Remains
--------------
3. (SBU) Despite these encouraging announcements, the GOSKN's
expropriation of land owned by several Amcits puts a damper
on this increased American investment in St. Kitts real
estate (Ref A). Since the Ambassador last raised the issue
with PM Douglas in mid-September, the Ambassador sent him a
follow-up letter asking what compensation arrangements are
being made for the Amcits owners of the Angelus resort and
asking the GOSKN to confirm the list of names of American
claimants in the case.
4. (SBU) Although there has been no response to this letter,
some of the Amcit claimants report that they have received
letters from the government asking them to turn in their keys
and inviting them to contact the Attorney General (AG) for
more information. Only one Amcit has been able to reach the
AG to date, but was only able to ascertain that the
government is either "about to sell" the property or was
already sold it, and that they will receive "fair market"
value for their property. The property is presumably being
purchased by Marriott for use in its $400 million expansion
project. Embassy Bridgetown will continue to raise the issue
of compensation with the AG and the PM's office.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) After taking a gamble in bringing in the Marriott,
St. Kitts seems to be reaping large rewards in the form of
large-scale hotel and resort investments. The amount of
(mostly American) private investment pouring into St. Kitts
is approaching staggering amounts, and should provide
concrete results in the form of increased employment and even
more high-end tourist dollars. The abundance of investment
activity in St. Kitts is in sharp contrast to the struggles
facing investors in nearby St. Vincent and the Grenadines
(septel). There is no doubt that the Douglas administration
has decided to devote most of its energy to attracting such
high-end investment, and PM Douglas is known to be personally
involved in the forming of the SKN Investment Promotion
Authority, set to open in December. By the same token, the
government has been slow and unresponsive in dealing with the
Angelus resort dispute, and clearly has its eyes on the
larger prize of large-scale investment. End comment.
BRIDGETOWN 00001410 002 OF 002
HOWARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR ALAIN NORMAN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
L/CID FOR MARGUERITE WALTER
WHA/EPSC FOR LISA KUBISKE
EEB/ESC/IEC FOR MATT MCMANUS
EEB/IFD/OIA FOR HEATHER GOETHERT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ECON EINV PGOV PREL CVIS XL
SUBJECT: ST. KITTS ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS GALORE
REF: A. A) BRIDGETOWN 615
B. B) BRIDGETOWN 1256
Summary
--------------
1. (U) During a recent visit to New York, St. Christopher
(Kitts) and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas reiterated
his nation's commitment to foreign investment and announced
plans for additional high-end resorts to invest in St. Kitts.
The government's apparent success in attracting well-known
investors in its plan to develop Christophe Harbour has
garnered headlines and left St. Kitts and Nevis optimistic
about its potential for economic growth. End summary.
Big Names Jumping on Board
--------------
2. (U) During a recent trip to New York, St. Kitts and Nevis
Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and Minister of State for
Tourism Richard "Ricky" Skerritt announced several agreements
with several US companies to invest in the country's
Christophe Harbour project. Christophe Harbour is located on
the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts and includes 2,500 acres
and six beaches. Douglas and Skerritt announced that Kiawah
Development Partners (KDP),Auberge Resorts, Mandarin
Oriental Hotel Group, sales and marketing company IMI, and
Applied Technology & Management have all committed to
developing the Harbour. Plans call for two luxury five-star
hotels (operated by Auberge and Mandarin Oriental),a Tom
Fazio golf course, homes and villas, and a luxury marina. In
addition to the developments at Christophe Harbour, the
government has also signed an agreement to expand the
Marriott Vacation Club International, estimated to cost $400
million USD.
The Angelus Shadow Remains
--------------
3. (SBU) Despite these encouraging announcements, the GOSKN's
expropriation of land owned by several Amcits puts a damper
on this increased American investment in St. Kitts real
estate (Ref A). Since the Ambassador last raised the issue
with PM Douglas in mid-September, the Ambassador sent him a
follow-up letter asking what compensation arrangements are
being made for the Amcits owners of the Angelus resort and
asking the GOSKN to confirm the list of names of American
claimants in the case.
4. (SBU) Although there has been no response to this letter,
some of the Amcit claimants report that they have received
letters from the government asking them to turn in their keys
and inviting them to contact the Attorney General (AG) for
more information. Only one Amcit has been able to reach the
AG to date, but was only able to ascertain that the
government is either "about to sell" the property or was
already sold it, and that they will receive "fair market"
value for their property. The property is presumably being
purchased by Marriott for use in its $400 million expansion
project. Embassy Bridgetown will continue to raise the issue
of compensation with the AG and the PM's office.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) After taking a gamble in bringing in the Marriott,
St. Kitts seems to be reaping large rewards in the form of
large-scale hotel and resort investments. The amount of
(mostly American) private investment pouring into St. Kitts
is approaching staggering amounts, and should provide
concrete results in the form of increased employment and even
more high-end tourist dollars. The abundance of investment
activity in St. Kitts is in sharp contrast to the struggles
facing investors in nearby St. Vincent and the Grenadines
(septel). There is no doubt that the Douglas administration
has decided to devote most of its energy to attracting such
high-end investment, and PM Douglas is known to be personally
involved in the forming of the SKN Investment Promotion
Authority, set to open in December. By the same token, the
government has been slow and unresponsive in dealing with the
Angelus resort dispute, and clearly has its eyes on the
larger prize of large-scale investment. End comment.
BRIDGETOWN 00001410 002 OF 002
HOWARD