Despite taking criticism in recent months, American actor Robert De Niro’s planned luxury resort on the island of Barbuda is still “very much on track,” according to Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Asot Michael.
The $250 million project, which was announced in late 2014, is the brainchild of Mr. De Niro and Australian billionaire James Packer, who both frequent Antigua and Barbuda, the Caribbean Journal reported last Thursday.
The project would rebuild and expand on the site of the former K Club, an exclusive resort that was frequented by celebrities from around the world before it closed in 2004.
Amenities would include more than 40 upmarket cottages, each with a private pool, the United Kingdom Guardian has reported.
Divisive bill
Antigua and Barbuda legislators approved the project in November by passing a law known as the Paradise Found Bill — which was named after the resort project — but the approval brought dissent from opposition members and others in the community.
One of the major criticisms is that the bill, which has not yet received assent from the jurisdiction’s governor-general, would strip the Barbuda Council of its power to “consider and approve” large-scale property deals on the island, according to the Guardian.
Critics also say the bill would “strip the population’s shared ownership of its land” by granting a 99-year lease on 140 acres of government property along with the 251-acre K Club site, the Guardian reported.
“A very bad precedent has been set. Every other investor could legitimately claim the wish to have some parliamentary force to give them whatever they desire,” Opposition Leader Harold Lovell said in November. “We are being asked to trample on an act that enshrines the rights of the people of Barbuda to hold land in common and have a say in terms of any major developments.”
The bill has not yet been signed by Governor-General Rodney Williams, and an organisation opposing the project, the Barbuda People’s Movement, has filed a lawsuit against the pending legislation.
Work to start soon
Despite those hurdles, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said in his Jan. 1 State of the Nation Address that construction on the project is expected to begin this year.
“The stakeholders in Paradise Found have already paid $1.5 million as a prepayment of the lease and they will pay a further $5 million to start construction of the new airport runway,” he said. “Employment that will be created on Barbuda by the Paradise Found project at an investment of $250 million over 10 years will result in almost full employment for residents of Barbuda in the construction period, and up to 500 permanent jobs at completion.”
Mr. Michael reiterated Mr. Browne’s position, according to the Caribbean Journal article from last Thursday.
“In spite of the delays and roadblocks presented by the naysayers, the project continues,” Mr. Michael said.
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