By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis discussed numerous Family Island tourism projects during his national address last night, hoping the developments will further dent the unemployment rate on those islands. The recent labour force survey showed the unemployment rate declined in Grand Bahama and Abaco.

Dr Minnis revealed a proposed “Tyrsoz family” project that will see $580 million invested in South Abaco for the “development of a five-star residential resort and marina which will involve the upgrade and expansion of the Sandy Point airstrip, the development of Sandy Point ferry dock as a cargo transshipment port and construction area, and the extension of Queen’s Highway in South Abaco.”

He said the government has approved a “joint venture partnership arrangement for the development of the Blue Hole Marina and Lodge in Fresh Creek which will consist of a 12-room lodge and an 80-slip marina including a bulk fuel facility.”

In Long Island, there will be a Pinder’s Bay $5 million 28-bungalow community development project at Lower Harbour, he said, adding the project will hire about 30 Bahamians during construction and nine Bahamians to operate and maintain the residential community. In the works on the island is a five-star eco-resort by Start Resort that will have 515 luxury residences, he also said.

Dr Minnis highlighted investments for Eleuthera, including: “The Philautia boutique resort hotel project in Governor’s Harbour; Disney Cruise Lines’ low-density cruise port destination at the Lighthouse Beach in Bannerman Town; Windermere Island North Community Resort; Jack’s Bay Community Resort and Davis Harbour Marine south of Rock Sound and the $4 million Harbour Island Marina and Community Resort.”

He said: “The latter two projects were recently approved for expansion developments that were approved previously and are currently underway.”

The prime minister said his administration is exploring establishing a transshipment port in Mayaguana in southern Bahamas.

He said: “The owners of the highly successful Bahamas Stripping Group of Companies, which got its start through incentives by a previous FNM administration, will develop poultry farms and processing plants on North Andros and Eleuthera and through a distribution centre on New Providence. We will promote Family Island and rural development with the same intensity and focus that have been historically applied to New Providence and Grand Bahama.

“This year we will roll out several key agriculture investment projects in this sector on several islands especially Andros, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama. We will invest in strengthening agricultural infrastructure inclusive of farm feed roads, and facilitating access to power and water in farming areas. We are equally committed to developing an integrated agriculture eco-system where farmers will have access to insurance, and access to cost-effective inter-island transportation inclusive of refrigeration.

“As a matter of urgency, we will increase access to credit and additional funding to Bahamians in this sector while increasing the access of producers to local and international markets.”