Donald Trump eyes St Lucia for investment

CASTRIES — The internationally famous American billionarie, Donald Trump, is eyeing St Lucia for possible investment following a meeting a week ago with Prime Minister Kenny Anthony.

Also at that meeting, held at the American property magnate’s office on the 90th floor of the famous Trump Towers in Manhattan, New York, were high-profile Jamaican entrepreneur Gordon “Butch” Stewart and the chairman of St Lucia’s National Development Corporation (NDC), Michael Chastanet.

A report on the meeting of Anthony, Chastanet and Stewart — head of the Sandals hotel chain and Air Jamaica — was published in the Weekend Star of St Lucia.

The newspaper said that following the meeting with Trump, it was likely that the government may adjust its policy that any hotel applying for a gambling casino licence must have in excess of 200 rooms and also ensure that its gaming facilities were used solely by its own guests.

It also quoted “Butch” Stewart, who plans on acquiring the Hyatt Hotel of St Lucia, saying that what he has in mind for the country (where there is also a Sandals Resort), was an all-inclusive casino open to all visitors to St Lucia rather than one exclusive to the licensed hotel.

The meeting with Trump was organised by Allen Chastanet, vice-president of Air Jamaica, who is also the son of NDC’s chairman, Michael Chastanet. He is known to be in close contact with the Trump Group which recently signed an agreement to operate and manage the US$300-million Carenage Hotel on the Grenadine island of Canouan.

Businessman’s son is T&T’s 11th kidnap victim

PORT-OF-SPAIN — The police were yesterday on the hunt for the latest of 11 kidnapped victims in Trinidad and Tobago — the 34 year-old son of one the country’s wealthiest businessmen.

Baliram Maharaj of Malabar reported to the police that his son, Ishwar, was abducted by two armed gunmen around 10:30 pm on Saturday while having a drink with a friend at Destini Sports Bar, a well-known ‘lyming’ spot.

A ransom of TT$3 million (TT$6=US$1) has since been made for his release. He was bundled in a heavily-tinted B-Sentra car and driven away by his abductors.

His father has called for the removal of the national security minister, Howard Chin Lee, and also repeated a demand earlier by other businessmen for them to be issued with licensed firearms to protect themselves against the kidnappers.