In the Caribbean, the iconic "K Club" favoured by
the late Princess Diana is the centre of a legal battle against Hollywood Actor
and lease owner Robert De Niro and the island's locals. The Caribbean island of
Barbuda disagrees only with the expansion of the K-Club and not it's
re-opening.
The Princess' declaration that "K Club" is her
favorite resort had sent many to enjoy the holiday destination during winter.
The resort had closed down 12 years ago after being bankrupt. Eager to preserve
its legacy and history, actor Robert De Niro and business partner James Packer
bought the lease of the land's remainder to re-develop the club and extend it.
The legal challenge is being heard in the Privy Council in
London, the Barbuda island's court of appeal. De Niro and Packer want to own at
least 300 extra acres around the area. De Niro has been named a "special
economic envoy" of the island and was hailed as a "visionary"
for his hotel development work.
Barbuda local Mackenzie Frank stresses that charging De Niro
for only $6.2 million of the land is only a cent per square foot annually. He
said it was one of the biggest giveaways for land ever. Given that Barbudan law
states that its people own all 62 square miles of the island in common, the
majority's decision faces a challenge from Frank and others.
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