Packer & De Niro want to build island casino resort

James Packer and Robert de Niro and teaming up to convert a once luxurious destination now in disrepair back to its former glory. The K-Club luxury beach resort in Barbuda was once home to the rich and famous along with royalty but those days are long gone however the Australian billionaire along with his Hollywood friend want to bring a new resort to the island.

Following a vote by the islands government to approve incentives for a development of the once luxury resort along with a 25 year tax break has now brought the two together to develop a resort worth $225 million.

In the agreement drawn up by the government agreement the offer comprises of a five-star boutique hotel, a ‘high-end eco-lodge’, a marina with jetties for super-yachts, licences for a casino and air service, and a new airport for executive jets.

But many are alarmed by the scale of De Niro’s ambitions for a 198-year lease to include nearly 400 acres of the low-lying natural paradise, noted for its frigate bird sanctuary, for a mere US$ 6.2 million.

However many locals are not happy with the plans which will be decided at a local meeting on Monday 30^th November as they will possibly impact on the local wildlife. But business leaders on the island point to the fact that at present there is a derelict resort that needs to be brought back to life and in the process will create hundreds of jobs for local people.

“I can’t understand why they don’t see the obvious benefits,” one island businessman told the Sunday Telegraph. “Truly? This is a no-brainer.”

So Monday will see if the dream of de Niro and Packer will become a reality and work on the new resort can start as early as next year.