The owner of Fort Recovery Hotel, Christian Cottoy, passed away suddenly overnight, BVI News Online has confirmed.
Christian Cottoy, a native of St Vincent and the Grenadines, has called the BVI his home for decades. He was a Belonger in the territory.
Cotty was born in the village of Park Hill and later move to Bellevue where he grew up with family members.
Residents initially claimed that the vehicle he was driving crashed into a wall, but persons close to the late hotelier have denied that claim.
“He passed away, but it wasn’t an accident or anything like that,” said an apparently shaken member of the Fort Recovery staff.
“He was on the road, but he pulled on the side of the road [before he died].”
The staff member added that “everybody is shaken” by the news.
Andrew Fahie, the representative of the First Electoral District where Cottoy operated his hotel, said the late businessman has left an indelible mark on the constituency and the entire BVI.
“He was a humble man; he was a community-minded man; he was a gentleman who you could always depend on to give you a very intellectual and inspiring word when he meets you; he was a friendly man; and he was one of the anchors in the business community not only in the First District but in the entire Virgin Islands.
He was always there to sponsor events in the community that were positive. He was definitely a man who loved the Virgin Islands; who definitely loved the people of the Virgin Islands.”
Fahie also expressed condolences to Cottoy’s family and staff.
“He will be greatly missed. May his soul rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife – the entire family at this time, and even the staff at Fort Recovery because we know that he really got along with his staff and respected them.”
Article and photo provided by BVI NEWS
