Rihanna to get Apes Hill land OK

by ALBERT BRANDFORD BARBADIAN international pop star Rihanna is being given a plot of land by Government at the upscale Apes Hill Development in St James.A resolution to vest the 2 635 square-metre parcel of land in the superstar, under her given name – Robyn Rihanna Fenty – is expected to be taken to the House of Assembly today at 10 a.m. by Minister of Housing and Lands Michael Lashley.Apes Hill Club is a partnership between  Sir Charles Williams, owner of the island’s largest construction company, and Landmark Land Company, one of the most prestigious community, golf and resort developers in the world.Set among 470 acres of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery Barbados has to offer, Apes Hill golf and polo community has panoramic views of both the famous west coast and dramatically rugged  east coast.According to the addendum of the resolution, on February 18, 2010, Cabinet agreed to donate the land, which had been acquired by private treaty between Apes Hill Development SRL and the Crown on June 30, 2009,  to Rihanna.It will be subject to the easements, restrictive covenants and conditions contained in the conveyance and Deed  of Covenant between  the Apes Hill Club  Owners Association  and the Crown,  dated June 30, 2009.Among the provisions of the grant are that the payment of all legal costs relating to this transaction will be met by the Crown; and in the event of the resale of the land within 15 years, Rihanna shall reimburse the Crown the price paid for the land.There is another resolution to compulsorily acquire two parcels of land, totalling 7 230.4 square metres, owned respectively by Forbes International Moving & Storage Co. Ltd (3 688.8 square metres), and Eric Hassell & Son Ltd (3 541.6 square metres), both at Deacons Road, St Michael, for housing development. (AB)