DRIGGS HILL, South Andros — The former Emerald Bay Resort here is being transformed into a five-star bonefishing getaway for high-end customers. Now known as the Ritz Beach Resort, it boasts a refurbished clubhouse and 22 newly-constructed cottages and villas spreading over 10 acres of a coconut palm grove. Situated along five miles of white coral sand, the former public-owned resort is slated to reopen during the first week of February, 2003.
"South Andros offers seclusion, and is the ultimate destination in The Bahamas for soft adventure and nature lovers," says developer and owner Arne Peterson. Mr. Peterson purchased the then-rundown property for $500,000 two years ago, and has since pumped more than $4 million into creating an idyllic island-style setting. Architect Kristian Geertsen says he got his inspiration from studying the way houses were built in the Family Islands
Prime Minister the Hon. Perry G. Christie, Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe and Minister of Financial Services and Investments the Hon. Allyson Maynard-Gibson inspected the progress of the works on 14th November. The Prime Minister encouraged Androsians to continue the development of native souvenirs, a sample of which he and his team received.
"In The Bahamas (the souvenir) industry is a very significant one," said Prime Minister Christie. "Tourists who come to The Bahamas spend between $160 million and $200 million a year on souvenirs and handicrafts.
"If we are able to get our people who have the talent to do this to do it in sufficient numbers and at the right quality, then we most certainly would be able to assure them of a market for their product. And clearly it seems to me that these are exotic items that can be sold.
"Mr. Peterson, your resort ought clearly to be opening new doors and new windows of opportunity for Androsians," he said.
Minister Maynard-Gibson, whose portfolio includes investments, said she is "very, very excited about the project." She said, "I love the style of construction. Itﾴs what is truly meant by sustainable development. It is environmentally friendly, and it is a project that can definitely be a model for replication in many of the Family Islands ."
The potential for Andros , the largest island of The Bahamas and often described as the sleeping giant," is immense, she noted. "It requires the will of the people to take the risk to invest," she said, "and it takes the determination of ministries such as mine and that of Leslie Miller (Trade and Industry) and others to assist not only in terms of ideas, but also in terms of capital.
"There is immense opportunity here not just to own a hotel property, but also to own businesses that complement the hotel property and businesses that are required when you have significant development in any community."
Veteran hotelier Brendan Foulkes is the managing consultant. He joins full time in December to recruit staff and train them. E T Smith is the manager. "We are trying to do a four-star/five-star high-end product," said Mr. Foulkes. "A major task of mine will be to come in and bring the hotel experience to South Andros."
This development was good news for the people of South Andros and Androsians in New Providence who might want to return home.
"We have got to find ways of encouraging the population in Nassau to return to our Family Islands , where there is good development," said Mr. Foulkes. "I want to find Androsians who are employed in the hotel industry in Nassau — they have experience — and bring them home," he said. "They can come to this lovely island, where there is clearly a better way of life compared to the city."
Andros is known for bonefishing, deep-sea fishing, bird-watching, snorkelling, scuba-diving, kayaking, creek safaris, and blue-hole-hiking. "The bonefishing market on the high-end side is very, very popular for these out islands," said Mr. Foulkes. "Those people donﾴt like to be in the mix of everybody. They are willing to bring their private jets or seaplanes and land here. That market exists today, and it will continue to exist."
Reception from Androsians has been "fantastic. People have been very warm," he said. "Some people will not get the full realization until they see the thing moving.
"But I think Androsians understand what it takes for people like Mr. Peterson to take more than $4 million and pump it into a remote location like this."
By Bahamas Information Services
