It is the four hundred acres of prime land valued at about $60 million on Norman’s Cay, Exuma, which is at the centre of the dispute.
Negotiations with attorney James Cole, chief of Cole Company in Exuma over the land has spanned two governments and, when the former administration left office. Mr Cole, according to former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, was to attract investors to establish a “first class” hotel, the Aman Resort.
Resort’s other locations
With locations in Indonesia, Morocco, the Philippines, the United States, Mexico, India, Thailand and Cambodia, the Aman resort is set to open another chain in the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan next month. Featuring villas and spas, each resort features a unique location and architectural design.
Each Aman Resort is supposed to enjoy a unique location, its architecture and design in complete harmony with the landscape and cultural milieu. It is supposed to be a special relationship with the land and its people, which enables Aman guests to enjoy genuine, close-up experiences of the best each area has to offer, be it, cultural, geographic or historic.
History of the deal
At the time the Free National Movement left office, Mr Ingraham explained that it had come to terms with a developer for a substantial part of the land, which the government acquired as a result of drug trafficker Joe Lehder’s company being “struck” from the Registrar. This, he said, is in writing and signed.
Mr Lehder’s operations were aired out in a Commission of Inquiry into drug trafficking in The Bahamas in the 1980’s. He is presently serving a sentence between the United States and South America. The land, which includes four and five units and one two and three units (which amounts to 400 acres) was vested in the Treasurer.
The National Economic Council approved a conditional purchase agreement to enable the developers to put an Aman Resort on Norman’s Cay.
Comparisons to Emerald Bay Four Seasons Resort
Comparing it to multi-million dollar Emerald Bay Four Seasons Resort in Farmer’s Hill Exuma, Mr Ingraham said, “We thought that the developers going to Norman’s Cay were first class people, who would have done a wonderful development for The Bahamas and I would hope that they could be attracted to pursue their development in The Bahamas. It would be wonderful to attract them to The Bahamas.”
Present government to honour agreement
The Minister of Financial Services and Investments Allyson Maynard-Gibson noted in a recent interview that even though administration change, subsequent administrations do not “trifle” lightly with contracts made with previous administrations, as they are bind by legal obligations. Therefore, “we intend to honour that agreement.”
And, with the change of administrations, Mrs Maynard-Gibson said the investors would proceed with their proposal.
About the Aman resorts, she said, “An Aman Resort in The Bahamas on any of our islands would be accredited to The Bahamas. It is a five star, one of the top of the line five star resorts.”
Smith’s views
Stressing that he is “not anti-Cole or development,” but rather “pro-preservation of land,” Mr Smith said he wants to see Exuma “advance.”
“Anyone who wants to see Exuma advance would want a hotel that is accredited to tourism in The Bahamas and so, if Cole and his partners can attract Aman to either manage or operate a hotel that is a plus for The Bahamas,” he said.
However, Mr Smith said it is not necessary for the Cole Company to access all of the 400 acres. He, therefore, suggested that a portion of the property by given to the developers, leaving the remaining for Bahamian entrepreneurs, who may also want to benefit from the economic and tourism boost there.
In response, Mrs Maynard-Gibson said, “I don’t conduct negotiations with developers in the public forum.”
Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
