A ?signature? golf course designed by Bermuda resident Nick Faldo, high-class niche shops, and a marina-style waterfront in St. George?s are part of the vision for the redevelopment of the former Club Med resort.

A grand design has yet to be drawn up, but if things progress as hoped the monolithic hotel building that dominates the East End skyline could be demolished by the end of this year and work started in 2007 to create a ?five to seven star? resort.

However, the people of St. George?s must feel a part of the project and that it belongs to them. The success of the hotel and the future welfare of the local community are inextricably linked, according to Jack Avedikian who is Government?s current favoured choice to redevelop the Club Med resort.

He has broken his silence to speak to and apologised to those he has unintentionally ?trod on the toes? of, recognising he has caused upset to some officials and residents in Bermuda by breaking normal protocols expected of developers on the Island.

But the Armenian-American entrepreneur claimed yesterday he has learned quickly the nuances of doing business in Bermuda and has given a small glimpse of the vision his company KJA Developments has for the former resort site that has lain unused for most of the past two decades.

Conceptual designs have not been drawn up, nor will they be, until all the initial reports and studies have been completed.

?The Government and KJA are finalising everything. KJA is taking the risks up front and the Government is doing its job by protecting the people?s land and ensuring they do not have the problems they?ve had with previous developers,? explained Mr. Avedikian.

When KJA was announced as the new favoured developer in February it was noticeable that no one from the company was present at the big announcement made by Deputy Premier Ewart Brown at the former Club Med.

And Mr. Avedikian has remained out of sight since.

He said his decision to go public now, albeit for only a brief interview, was partly to offer his apologies to those he had upset by not following normal protocol and or doing things the Bermudian way.

Mr. Avedikian said: ?There have been some mis-steps on my behalf. I?m not here with an ego or a chip on my shoulder and I want to set the record straight and show I?m here. Sometimes I have stepped on toes for which I regret and apologise. I have not done the proper protocols but now understand how things are done in Bermuda.

?I was not at the press conference and I am a very quiet man. I did not mean any disrespect by not being there.?

He said he was not a showman developer like Donald Trump: ?A true developer does not need the advertising, we are here to get something done. Pure developers like to live their lives comfortably and achieve our goals. We are not ones for bragging. I?m not a showman or a movie star.?

He has spent a couple of days on the Island and said an advisory committee is being set up in St. George?s to coordinate and advise how the proposed project can best fit in with the local community to the mutual benefit of the hotel and the town and parish.

A rough agreement on the proposal has now been put before Government and progress depends on ?the formal dotting of the i?s and crossing of the t?s.?

If the plan is approved KJA could have its team on the ground within two weeks of a decision. Personally Mr. Avedikian would like to see the old hotel demolished before the end of the year with building work started early in 2007.

He praised the work of Government for the way it had worked to advance the project while at the same time acting as responsible custodians of Bermuda?s land.

Mr. Avedikian believes the hotel, which will have fractional and residential elements, will only work if the local community and Bermudians feel a part of the project and a level of ?ownership? and investment in the resort?s fortunes.

?The town is the selling point because of its beauty and ambience. I?m talking about adding the final brush strokes with a five to seven star hotel. We are in talks with several hotel operators,? he explained.

Former golf star Nick Faldo is part of the team put together by KJA and he is ?jazzed? about the idea of putting together an 18-hole signature golf course at the resort, incorporating the surrounding forts. There is a wish to develop the jetty so that visitors can sail by boat from the hotel to the town.

A waterfront and marina development scheme for the town unveiled late last year also fits in with the KJA vision, as it would allow well-heeled visitors the chance to moor up yachts while visiting the resort. And the establishment of niche shops in St. George?s to cater to the hotel?s guests would complete the picture.

But most of all Mr. Avedikian wishes to see the needs of the people of St. George?s taken into consideration, and for the local community to be part of the success of the venture.

?If the people of St. George?s believe in it they will sell it to the people when they come. The town will feel it is their baby. The people of St. George should feel it is a joint venture.?

Answering previous concerns about his involvement in two bankruptcy rulings in the US in 1997 and 2000, Mr. Avedikian said they related to a family matter involving his father, who was ailing and then passed away during those years. He said the court rulings have not affected his ability to pursue his career as a developer.