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To reach our full potential, it is about maximising the
use of land and that is where the innovation comes in.
CULTIVATING THE ISLAND was going on and the lack of response. My friend called and
Local horseman Winston Trim and China Horse Club asked if I would meet with Teo, so I did. He explained to me
Founder Teo Ah Khing had met with some opposition what his concept is. He left and I did my own background
when they presented plans to construct St Lucia’s f irst check.”
racetrack, which would be the centrepiece of an integrated
development project known as the Pearl of the Caribbean. He continued: “To reach our full potential, it is about
maximising the use of land and that is where the innovation
In addition to a world-class racetrack, the project also comes in. I’ve passed the land Teo selected thousands of
includes hotels, a casino, shopping, an cruise liner terminal, time in my life and I never saw it. I pride myself on being
waterfront villas and much more. It will develop a mostly someone who can see opportunity. That is what excited
untouched portion of land in the southern part of the island, me the most about this project. This man was taking land
known as Vieux Fort, and would help lower St Lucia’s high that would otherwise be completely dormant. It got my
unemployment rate by providing both jobs and training in attention.”
new industries.
Chastanet was very thorough in his screening process before
Being a man of vision and innovation, Chastanet instantly approving the project. In addition to his background check
saw what this could mean to his homeland and did not take on Teo, Chastanet took a trip to Ordos to attend the China
long to move forward on the project. A man of imposing Equine Cultural Festival.
physical stature, the native St Lucian is very approachable
and friendly, a true man of the people. He spoke with “When I did my background checks on Teo, he clearly
eloquence, passion and confidence when describing the had an amazing record and what he did in Dubai gave him
process that led to the approval and current progress of the the credibility for this project,” Chastanet said. “When I
Pearl of the Caribbean. followed up with him, he invited me to Inner Mongolia
to their event out there. I got to meet his friends from
“I got my first call from Teo through a mutual friend about Australia, England, Kentucky and around the world.
three days after I won the election,” Chastanet recalled just There is a part of Teo’s personality that I really like, which
after finishing breakfast with Teo and his team at St Lucia’s is humbleness. After coming back from that trip, I was
new Royalton resort. “He was actually looking to move completely convinced. I met with my cabinet and we signed
away from St Lucia because he was frustrated with what the agreements with Teo to develop the land.”
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