Touting his government’s success in attracting new investments to The Bahamas, Prime Minister Perry Christie last night announced a new $240 million resort development for the Exumas, while pointing out that over the past three weeks, his government has signed Heads of Agreement for projects valued in excess of $1 billion.
“This kind of investment comes at the right time,” said Prime Minister Perry Christie, who made the announcement at the Cabinet Office in the presence of North Carolina developer, Pete Murphy, who along with his wife, Lynn, flew in for a few hours for the announcement.
Financial Services and Investments Minister Allyson Maynard-Gibson said the government is in the business of transforming each Bahamian island at this time and the new investment on Crab Cay – which has about 200 acres of land about a mile from George Town – is expected to help do just that.
The development will include 54 upscale market residences to be constructed on waterfront lots; a 20 room villa-style 5-star hotel; a marina with a minimum of 50 slips; restaurant; bar; swimming pool; cabanas; tennis courts; marina clubhouse; shops and utility services; a reverse osmosis desalination plant and other amenities.
Mr. Christie said such investments will boost economic activities and help the government meet its obligations, like the commitment to pay civil servants the salary adjustments.
According to Mr. Christie, the government is moving ahead with an infrastructure development plan for Exuma to support the resurgence of Exumians and other Bahamians returning or moving to Exuma.
“So clearly, this is an integral part of the overall development, [the] commitment we have made to ensure that there are…sufficient jobs for Bahamians…[and] so that we may be in a position to meet commitment of salaries, for example to public officers,” the prime minister said.
Mr. Murphy, who has been visiting The Bahamas for more than 30 years, announced that he intends to create 300 jobs during construction of the project and 600 permanent jobs.
The prime minister said the developers are committed to assisting in the training of Bahamians to ensure that there are enough skilled workers available for the project.
Mr. Murphy said, meanwhile, that his company is also committed to carrying out its investment in an environmentally friendly manner.
“No one wants to spend $10 million or $3 million and have the waters be less than they are now or the islands or anything else,” he said. “So we’re accustomed in our industry of leading the way. We know how to do that.”
He said he plans to begin construction as early as the next three weeks.
Mr. Murphy added, “We’re looking forward to being your partner in more ways than one.”
Minister Gibson said that Phase II of the resort will be completed over a period of two years and will include an expansion of the hotel by 119 rooms, 30 additional villas, additional restaurants, swimming pools, tennis courts and a marina village.
She said the developers are also committed to meeting the requirements of the Antiquities Monuments and Museum Corporation for the preservation of ruins which are of historical value on Crab Cay.
The developers are also obligated to preserving the natural vegetation, fauna, animals and bird life on the Cay, the prime minister noted.
By Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
