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| Profile |
Almost Paradise
Elizabeth Harris
06/01/2007
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In the late 1960s, Jeremiah became an advocate for Anguillan
independence from British colonial rule, and he served as the island’s UN
ambassador during the Anguillan revolution of 1967 to 1969. During the freedom
movement, the hotel became a hub for organizing the resistance. In 1967,
Jeremiah represented Anguillans opposing a British plan to create an associated
state (St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla) aligned with Britain. The population widely
supported independence, but Britain acknowledged neither Jeremiah’s leadership
of the secessionist campaign nor popular opinion. Ultimately, a UN subcommittee
on colonialism allowed Jeremiah’s petition to be heard. "After 300 years of
neglect as a British colony, the people feel they are able to take care of their
own affairs," he explained. In 1980, Anguilla became a self-governing British
dependent; today it has a population of 13,500.
Jeremiah helped found the Anguilla Improvement Association to
raise money to fund hurricane relief, support the hospital and establish a
library and secondary education on the island. Lydia, who had been vice
president of the New Jersey PTA and a member of the state hospital board,
designed the original Anguillan flag, with its three dolphins, and served in
more than a dozen local groups, including as founder and president of the
Anguilla Mental Health Association.
Rendez-New
The family’s history in Anguilla helps facilitate their plans
for redeveloping the resort without outside investors. Clyde, whom his siblings
chose to manage the project, finds himself in the position his parents occupied
nearly 50 years ago. On an island where the highway is named for Jeremiah and
where local politicians are encouraging Anguillans to develop their homeland in
the stead of foreign profiteers, the Gumbs have avoided bureaucratic red tape so
far. Materials that typically take a week to pass through customs often arrive
at the Rendezvous Bay in two days, Clyde says. This streamlines an ambitious
project that Clyde plans to complete by December 2009.
The initial stages of the new Rendezvous call for a spa and 180
villas and residences ranging in size from one to four bedrooms, designed by
architect Peter Marino. The Gumbs intend to sell the four- and five-bedroom
villas on the beach starting at $15 million. One-bedroom suites will open at $2
million. The family will retain a percentage of the lodging for rentals. The
Gumbs are selecting an operator to manage the resort and rental property, which
will still lack amenities such as golf and yacht moorings. Guests can golf
elsewhere on the island, the family says, and they hope to preserve the bay’s
openness, rather than build docks.
Clyde estimates the project will cost several hundred million
dollars. Financing will flow from the sale of property that will first become
available this summer. Prospective buyers can put down a deposit ranging from
$10,000 to $100,000 for a property to ensure priority when they go on the
market. "It’s our place—it’s our legacy," Gumbs says. "What we have at stake is
more than just money."
Elizabeth Harris is a staff writer for Worth.
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