Govt plan to build luxury home for star By SHAVAUGHN MOSS,NG Sports ReporterOlympic and World Champion Tonique Williams-Darling will be given a house worth up to $1 million by the government in recognition of her sporting achievements, it was revealed yesterday.

Golden Girl Williams-Darling has already been told she will receive land in an upscale district on the western side of the island with the promise that the Ministry of Housing will build a luxury home, a government source admitted.

The 29-year-old track star created history in Finland last month when she won the 400 metres crown at the World Championships. She won an Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004.

"She is the first Bahamian in history to win an Olympic gold medal and is a World Champion at the same time; that is a rarity," said the government source.

The government is keen to honour Williams-Darling – even though property on the western side of the island is expensive.

Geoffrey Brown of Brown, Morley and Smith Real Estate, who develops property in the Westridge area pointed out: "You can't find nothing under $250,000, but the properties are huge. The smallest are 100 x 200 feet."

By the time a Westridge house is built it could be worth anywhere from $800,000 to well over $1m, another real estate agent added.

While the value of Williams-Darling's proposed home has not been released, according to the government source, the gift will not come as a surprise to her.

The palatial home is likely to be just one of the presents in a lucrative government package. And it will certainly overshadow what was handed out to the 2000 Olympic gold medal 4 x 100 metres relay squad of Pauline Davis-Thompson, Sevatheda Fynes, Chandra Sturrup, Debbie Ferguson and Eldece Clarke-Lewis.

The fabulous five won gold at the 1999 World Championships and repeated that feat at the 2000 Sydney Olympics before being rewarded with a 1/2 acre of property on West Bay Street and $40,000 each by the Hubert Ingraham government.

News of Williams-Darling's gift is likely to be announced next week when she will be honoured in official celebrations for The Bahamas' World Championship squad. The 19-strong Bahamian team returned home with one gold and a silver medal for the men's 4 x 400 metres relay team.

Next week's celebrations have been dubbed 'Bahamas on Top of the World'. They will kick off with Harrold Road being renamed the Tonique Williams-Darling Highway on Monday at 4:00 p.m. Other events include a motorcade, an autograph session, a national rally, island trips and a boat cruise.