The Heads of Agreement signed yesterday for the $90 million Montana Holdings resort development on Rum Cay represented a further step towards fulfilling the Government’s strategy for an “anchor project” on each island, The Tribune was told, giving tourists a wider “menu” of vacation spots to choose from.
One source, who requested anonymity, said: “What they are building is a menu of quality resorts – places to enjoy a vacation in the Bahamas. The airlift is there, and an obvious attraction for boaters is the marina side. It just adds to the quality of international vacation spots in the Bahamas for the international community.”
The development, which will include a ‘Rum Cay Club’, will cover 870 acres on the island, which covers in total some 30 square miles, meaning that the project “will be pretty huge” in relation to is scope. The source questioned whether the Montana Holdings plan might be too large in scope for Rum Cay, and said the resort, which is expected to provide 300 permanent jobs when completed in 2011, plus 75 jobs in construction, would have to import labour from other islands as the local population was too small.
The source, though, said the Montana Holdings development was “very positive”, renewing interest in Rum Cay and the southern Bahamas, and providing a “bright light” in terms of job creation. Montana Holdings, though, said the development would cover just 10 per cent of the island.
It will comprise two hotels with a total of 250 rooms, a marina with 75 slips, 100 residential lots and 100 condominium units.
There also will be a small casino, restaurant, bar, shops, and accommodation for employees. The first phase of construction is expected to be completed by 2006, and the entire project will be completed by 2011.
Neil Hartnell, The Tribune
