The Invocation by the Reverend Dr. H. Clifton Niles, Superintendent Minister of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit, set the tone for the ground-breaking ceremony for the Viceroy Project on the island on Tuesday afternoon this week, November 14.

Chief Minister, Hon Osbourne Fleming (left) and Alex Samek

“We believe that this project is for the good of your people, and so we thank you for the vision you have given them [the developers] and we pray that the vision of development and good may ever remain before them, … and their dreams and hopes may be fulfilled and that your will may be done,” the Anguillian Methodist Minister prayed. “Guide and direct all who have to do with this project so that your people may benefit and your name may be glorified. We pray for the protection of the workers…Build a hedge around them so that there be no calamity, no distress, no accidents and that at the end of the project we may all give you the praise and the glory for your guiding and protecting hand.”

Onlookers applauding at Ground Breaking

The short and well-attended ceremony was chaired by Alex Samek, KOR’s Director of Acquisitions & Development. “I now like to welcome everyone to the site of the next great resort in the Caribbean – Viceroy, Anguilla,” he said, attracting much applause. “Anguilla has long been a standard bearer for low volume, high value, upscale tourism – first with the opening of Malliouhana, Cap Juluca and CuinsinArt. Anguilla has established itself as one of the premier destinations not only in the Caribbean, but in the world. Viceroy Anguilla plans to build on the foundation established by the predecessors and to raise the bar of five-star luxury development in the Caribbean.”

Mr. Samek’s remarks were followed by the breaking of the ground by him and Anguilla’s Chief Minister, the Honourable Osbourne Fleming. Mr. Randy Printz, Senior Vice President, Design and Construction with the KOR Group, the Los Angeles-based tourism development company then spoke.

Rev. Dr. Niles, Mr. Samek, Mr. Printz and others

Mr. Printz said that when he first came to Anguilla he fell in love with the island immediately. He stated that there were many places around the world with incredible beaches that rivalled those of Anguilla “but few places exude the warmth and hospitality expressed by the people of Anguilla and that is what makes this place so special.”

The top KOR official continued: “This ground-breaking is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work by a lot of people. I would first like to thank the Government of Anguilla for giving us the opportunity to invest in Anguilla. Although we may not see eye to eye on certain issues, we are continuing to foster an atmosphere of true long-term partnership. I would also like to thank the many local people who have been involved in this project one way or another for without you we would not be where we are today.

Section of the invited guests

“Last, I would like to thank the Viceroy team. The have worked hard and tirelessly towards overcoming great hurdles to move this project forward by maintaining a high standard of excellence.

“KOR prides itself in partnering with the communities in which it is doing business and strives to maintain a culture in which being a good corporate citizen is highly valued. As we have worked to integrate ourselves in the local community, it has become apparent that there is a lack of educational funding to ensure the success of future generations of Anguillians.

Company and Government personnel and others at the Ground Breaking Ceremony

“To that end, I am delighted to announce that KOR has made a commitment to the Government and people of Anguilla to provide two new school buses and two US million dollars to help improve local schools (applause). This commitment is over and above our community obligations outlined in the Viceroy MOA and we are confident it will put to good use.

“We also realise that the Government has to first benefit the people of Anguilla. Toward that end, the company is committed towards continuing to provide opportunities for Anguillians to participate in all phases of the development and the operation of the resort (applause).”

Company and Government personnel and others at the Ground Breaking Ceremony

Chief Minister Fleming prefaced his remarks by acknowledging the presence of one of the first pioneer developers in Anguilla “who started the ball rolling – Leon Roydon of Malliouhana Hotel & Spa.”

He noted that there were ground-breaking ceremonies in the area before by other investors, but the Government was now convinced that the KOR project would be a reality. “We agreed to this project because we believe we have an obligation to find the wherewithal for all Anguillians to find something to do,” Mr. Fleming explained. “We will prepare the country for the youth of tomorrow and this is why we went ahead to agree for this project.

The Chief Minister was grateful to the people of West End for providing the land for the project and said the Government had exercised caution in granting the licence for the development.

Referring to the foreign workers, particularly the Indians brought in by the company and given work permits by the Government, Mr. Fleming said there was a need to have the project completed quickly. “The Government of Anguilla is committed to ensuring that this project is finished. It is no use waiting to have it being built in the next six or seven years. When it is built, we will know that we have somewhere to send our children to work.”

He offered his good wishes to all at the project and said he was looking forward to its assistance to the Government and people of Anguilla.

The Viceroy project is expected to open in 2008. It replaces Coccoloba another development which existed on a substantial portion of the area but which was purchased and demolished by the KOR Group. The new developers have also acquired additional land for the Viceroy project. In total, the company is developing almost forty acres fronting Barnes Bay and Meads Bay.

The planned five-star luxury resort will comprise 35 villas, 6 town homes and 133 resort residences, all of which will have their own plunge pools.

Additional amenities will include a 20,000 square-foot spa, a sunset lounge, 4 additional restaurants, meeting rooms, kids’ club tennis courts, pools and aquatic sports centre.

According to information supplied by Viceroy, the company has sold almost $250M to date, setting a record for the Caribbean. There are only 35 units remaining for sale in the entire project. The statement added that “the project is fully financed after the closing of a $236m loan from Citigroup in June of this year.”

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