The most talked about name in the Cayman Islands today is that of Kenneth Dart (the billionaire heir to a U.S. foam cup fortune), whose development company is poised to proceed with a billion dollar project along the West Bay peninsula, which could sustain this country's hope of economic growth for at least the next five years. A very private individual from Sarasota, Florida and generous benefactor, a rare photograph of Mr. Dart appeared recently along with another near 2000 applicants for the grant of Caymanian Status (citizenship). Not much is known locally of the international business connections and family of this individual, whose benevolent foundation is developing five parks on Grand Cayman to the tune of one million dollars and has made a slew of cash donations to community organizations. A search for Dart's name on the Internet reveals that he has become something of a poster child for the advocates of offshore living. Kenneth Dart paid heed to the benefits of living offshore in 1994, giving up his U.S. citizenship, moving to a small $5.3 million private resort on the Cayman Islands and becoming a joint citizen of Ireland and the Caribbean nation of Belize. Before settling on the Cayman Islands, Dart reportedly considered living full time on his luxury yacht, which he had specially armored to be able to resist torpedo attack. Dart's expatriation story, if it ended there, would be no different than that of the dozens of other super-rich individuals who leave the United States each year to avoid paying taxes. In Dart's case, however, it just keeps getting more interesting. Soon after he became a citizen of Belize, the country's government officially applied to the U.S. State Department to open a consulate in - surprise, surprise - Sarasota, Florida. U.S. Ambassador to Belize George Bruno, in a cable to his bosses at the State Department, said Dart would live at this new consulate and would have "special responsibilities in the area of trade and finance." "At a later date," Bruno wrote, "Dart would help Belize finance the establishment of a consulate in New York City," where he would "possibly serve also as a consular officer ... or special trade rep for Belize." Of course, as a representative of the government of Belize, Dart would automatically be exempt from U.S. taxes. The State Department denied the request, pointing out that Belize already had a consulate in Miami. Dart earned a "Chutzpah Award" from the late American humorist Art Buchwald for this exploit.
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