The project will comprise two hotels, a 60-room resort to be known as the Rum Cay Club and Villas; a separate 190-room hotel and casino; a 75-slip marina; 100 condo units and private villas; roads, waterways, and a garbage disposal system, and will create 300 permanent jobs when completed.
Seventy-five jobs will be created during construction.
Speaking at the signing of a Heads of Agreement for the development, Prime Minister Christie said the project is expected to create significant economic activity on Rum Cay and neighbouring Family Islands.
The agreement, between the Bahamas Government and Montana Holdings Ltd., was signed at the Cabinet Office Wednesday afternoon.
Elaborating on government’s plans to establish an anchor investment on every island, Mr. Christie noted an emerging pattern of development.
“We were first the destination of Nassau and Paradise Island, we were joined then by Grand Bahama with specific emphasis on one resort – the Jack Tarr all-inclusive resort – but now we have one of the most, what I call, significant paradigm shifts in tourism in the region,” said Mr. Christie.
“That is that the investors are now focusing on operating special destinations in our Family Islands.”
Noting the benefits of a policy of encouraging investors to include residential communities in their developments, Prime Minister Christie pointed out that following the September 11th terror attacks in the United States, such facilities have proven to be successful in limiting the falloff in tourist business as a result of natural or man-made disasters.
Mr. Christie attributed that resilience to many visitors likening travel to their Bahamian residence as “going home”.
Disclosing plans to re-locate to The Bahamas, along with his family, in order to facilitate greater involvement with the project, UK-based investor, John Mittens, noted the natural beauty and historic value of Rum Cay.
A telecommunications executive by profession, Mr. Mittens has established and operated businesses in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia.
“We think Rum Cay is a unique island, we are going to be very sensitive to its environment, we will build with harmony and balance, we will use indigenous materials and systems, and we are very grateful for the opportunity to do our first project in such a beautiful spot in The Bahamas,” said Mr. Mittens.
The 870-acre resort will utilise approximately 10 percent of the total land area of Rum Cay.
By Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
