JUMEIRAH IN ST THOMAS 14 lime January - March 2009 LIMELITE DID YOU KNOW? LiMENEWS A brief look at what's going on in and around the Islands... PETER DAVID, THE NEWLY appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism for Grenada, plans to face the challenges of tourism for the island by capitalising on the " pristine, untouched nature" of Grenada. " We will not be pursuing mass tourism," he told LiME, " But will be focussing on our small size, natural beauty and friendly atmosphere." A Four Seasons resort is planned for the south of the island but, elsewhere, small boutique hotels Dubai- based luxury hotel fi rm Jumeirah Group is poised to enter the Caribbean market as the management company for the Botany Bay Resort on the west coast of St Thomas. Formerly known as The Preserve at Botany Bay, the new complex is scheduled to open in 2011. The 400- acre resort will include 84 hotel rooms, 30 timeshares, 30 privately- owned villas and 20 estate homes. Jumeirah has seven luxury hotels and restaurants in London, New York and Dubai, including the world- famous sail-shaped Burj Al Arab in Dubai. The capital of Tobago is named after Scarborough, the northern English seaside town. St Lucia sees surge in property sales Despite the gloomy global economic conditions, St Lucia has had a buoyant year for property sales. The rental market for buy- to- let owners is year round, and average capital appreciation is anywhere from eight to 20 per cent. The island has also recently been placed in the top 30 countries to invest in by the World Bank, ahead of Barbados and Antigua. Oliver Gobat, sales director at The Landings, a private yacht development near Rodney Bay, said: " St Lucia is proving a popular place for property investors since the UK and US real estate markets have weakened. " The Caribbean, in particular St Lucia, has the ideal conditions in which to invest. Property is still relatively well priced… and prices are expected to continue to increase strongly over the next fi ve to 10 years." abound. " We ask all developers to sit down with us to address our concerns for the environment," said David. Elsewhere on the island, Camper & Nicholsons' iconic new marina within the Port Louis development is set to widen the island's yachting appeal. David added that he wants Grenada to become known as the dive capital of the region as the island enhances its diving and prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the sinking of its world famous wreck, The Bianca C, in 2011. The 200m- long cruise ship sank off Grenada on 24 October 1961. MARGIE POLITZER / GETTY IMAGES CARIPASS TO EASE TRAVEL Caribbean Community ( Caricom) nationals should fi nd less hassle at ports of entry later this year with the implementation of the Caricom Travel Card, or CARIPASS. The travel card is a voluntary scheme that will allow eligible Caricom nationals and legal residents to clear immigration using designated electronic gates. SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL FOR GRENADA

October - December 2008 lime 03 US- BASED KIAWAH DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS has just revealed the hotly anticipated 18- hole championship golf course in St Kitts. It will form a cornerstone of a new 2500- acre lavish resort called Christophe Harbour, which will include a mega- yacht harbour, marina village, restaurants, shops, boutiques, luxury hotels, oceanfront and hillside properties. Created by Tom Fazio, an infl uential golf course designer, it is envisaged that Christophe Harbour will benefi t the local economy by driving the future of tourism for St Kitts. The island's prime minister, Dr Denzil Douglas, said: " Christophe Harbour will be among the fi nest in the world, and part of a massive resort development that will make St Kitts and Nevis one of the most desirable destinations in the Caribbean." Set to be open for play in 2011, it will be built atop a volcanic ridge and along a natural inland cove. Planned over 250 acres, the par- 72 course will be 7250 yards from the back tees. Careful environmental preservation has been fundamental to the course's design: steps have been taken to curb erosion and sustain the environment, to include water fi ltrations through reverse osmosis and planned wetland treatments including groups of saltwater mangroves to treat runoff water. GOLF COURSE FOR ST KITTS CTO GOES FRENCH THE CARIBBEAN Tourism Organisation ( CTO) is expanding the region's reach by launching a new French website, www. caraibes- tourisme. fr. " The French Antilles and the Dominican Republic both do well out of France, however there is a real lack of knowledge about the rest of the Caribbean," says Julia Hendry, the CTO's director of marketing for UK/ Europe. The site will ensure both trade organisations and consumers have up- to-date information on the Caribbean. SANDALS REINVESTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES The all- inclusive chain Sandals, which has resorts across the Caribbean region including Antigua, St Lucia and the Dominican Republic, has launched the Sandals Foundation, which aims to address life-impacting issues in locations where Sandals operates. As well as supporting local education and community projects, Sandals will invest in protecting the environment by pursuing the use of wind and tidal movement power generation, photovoltaic cells and recycling. DID YOU KNOW? Barbados imported camels as a beast of burden in the 17th century, but they proved unsuitable for the terrain. DR replenishes forests on Haiti border THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC is donating trees, seedlings and planting crews for a much- needed reforestation project along the border with impoverished Haiti. The DR has approximately 33 per cent of forest coverage at the border compared with Haiti's three per cent. Residents in Haiti continue to chop trees for wood and charcoal despite vigorous attempts to stop them, but sometimes it is their only source of income. The lack of forestation has resulted in massive mudslides and serious fl ooding – the hurricanes and tropical storms of last year left hundreds dead, with many people unaccounted for. Offi cials on both sides of the border are trying to raise awareness of the area's dwindling natural resources and are pleading for international aid. January - March 2009 15