However, on Tuesday, owner-developer Geraldo Capo, speaking from his Florida office, described the project as “a success”, saying that Bahamians comprised 30 of an estimated 50 workers on the site.
Mr Capo’s $100 million, 700-acre Bimini Bay Development project was approved by the Free National Movement Government in July 1997.
The terms of a five-year Heads of Agreement specified: Construction of a hotel of not less than 200 rooms; a residential subdivision; a marina capable of handling more than 150 boats; an 18-hole golf course; a commercial centre; gourmet restaurants; a boutique; a health spa; a marine shop; tennis courts; children’s play area, and a 10,000 square-foot casino.
Scaled down project…
However, as residents and environmentalists expressed sustained reservations over possible degradation to Bimini’s ecology, it was announced that the scale of the project had been significantly reduced.
The Guardian has also been advised that a prospective operator for the proposed hotel and casino is due to visit Bimini before the end of January.
‘Progressing well’
Valentines Grimes, lawyer for Mr Capo, told the Guardian Tuesday that, “There has been very good response to the product, and we are looking forward to participating in the overall economic development of Bimini.”
The project was said to be “progressing well”, and with 70 housing units presently under construction, continuing to attract the attention of “interested parties.”
Also, according to Mr Capo – so far real estate up to a total of $25 million had been sold.
Environmentalists ‘pacified’
Mr Capo said all environmental concerns had been resolved in close consultation with the Bahamas Environmental Science and Technology Commission, to which it had provided numerous environmental reports.
The Guardian was also told that the developers had entered into an arrangement with BEST with respect to the resort’s management from an environmental standpoint.
“We are very happy that we are doing as well as we are doing. It has not been easy, it has been a very difficult battle but I have a lot of trust in the Bahamian Government and the Bahamian people,” he said.
Residents’ concerns eased
Also on Tuesday, island resident and Chief Councillor Tasha Rolle, explaining residents’ change of heart, said, “I think there was great concern to the initial project because it was going to be on a much wider scale, which included a grand casino and houses. But the project has been down-sized and is more acceptable to the community.”
“Right now we are happy to see that over the past year the BEST Commission has been monitoring what is going on very closely, and so we are more comfortable and that eases our concern,” she said.
Claiming that less than 20 Bahamians were employed at the site, and outnumbered two-to-one by foreigners, she said, “As far as the District Council is concerned, we have had countless meetings with Valentines Grimes and some of Mr. Capo’s legal people from Florida.
“We have met and he knows our concerns. Right now we are looking forward to him completing the project seeing that a number of our people are gainfully employed,” she said.
Phased construction
Mr. Grimes, who said he visited the site on Friday, advised that at that time over 30 persons from a well-established promotional firm were on the island, and were were “very happy with what they saw and would be very happy to push the resort and the product.”
He said that Phase I of the development was divided into three stages, A, B, and C, that would include the construction of: Homes; condominiums; marina slips; electricity supply; a commercial centre; a water desalination plant; a sewage treatment plant; landscaping, paving, and drainage.
He said that Phase I (A) would include the building of 23 houses, 46 condos, 60 marinas, and a 1.5 mile long, 15-feet deep and 120-feet wide channel.
Asked when he expected Phase I to be completed, Mr. Grimes said he preferred not to specify precise times.
“If I recall correctly,” he said, “they are working on a five-year programme right now, and it is anticipated that the entire Phase I A, B, and C, will be completed within that five-year period.”
By Keva Lightbourne, the Nassau Guardian
