As it moves full swing in developing the 235-acre Ritz-Carlton Rose Island, the luxury resort chain is “very enthusiastic” about other sites in The Bahamas for future development.
But while government officials continue to point to a partnership between Ritz-Carlton and Peter DeSavary to make his $200 million Winding Bay Resort in Abaco another Ritz-Carlton property, a company official claimed this week that there is no agreement in place.
“At this time we don’t have any signed contracts for a new project to be built in Abaco,” said Vivian Deuschl, corporate vice president of public relations for Ritz-Carlton.
“Unless a contract is signed for us, it is not a final deal. Right now, we are just looking at a number of possibilities in the region.”
But when he visited Abaco last week, Minister of Health and National Insurance Senator Dr. Bernard Nottage indicated that the partnership was essentially a done deal.
“The success of the Abaco Club on Winding Bay, which was opened at the end of last year, has led to this government’s approval of a Ritz-Carlton being built in the southern part of the island, providing more employment and economic prosperity for [that] island,” Dr. Nottage said.
During the signing of a heads of agreement last month for the Rose Island development, Prime Minister Perry Christie also announced the partnership that Mr. DeSavary was entering with Ritz-Carlton.
He said the hotel chain’s presence in The Bahamas said a lot about the stability of the country and its tourism product.
“[This presence] clearly demonstrates your confidence in the government and people of The Bahamas,” he said at the time. “As you are aware tourism is our main industry. This is so not only because of our geographical and physical features, but also because of the warmth of our people.”
Ms. Dueschl also said Ritz-Carlton was aware of the environmental concerns raised after the signing of the heads of agreement.
Lynn Holowesko, former chairman of The Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission (BEST), in a letter to the editor raised concerns over whether BEST had conduced proper environmental studies in and around Rose Island.
In her letter, Mrs. Holowesko accused the government of allowing a development on the last viable offshore picnic grounds, which are surrounded by snorkeling waters frequently used by Bahamians.
“How indeed will the necessary excavation and construction take place without damaging and polluting the precious marine environment in the area? And further what provisions will be made for disposal of the daily sewerage emanating from the development?” she asked.
Ms. Dueschl assured that the company was committed to putting in place all necessary and acceptable environmental safeguards.
“We are very mindful of [the concerns] and we will certainly work with our partners to make sure that the project meets as many expectations as possible and we are certainly aware of the concerns about [preserving] the beauty of Rose Island,” she said.
“We have every intention of doing that with this project.”
By: Royanne Forbes Darville, The Bahama Journal
