By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Bimini businesses say “everything” concerning the island's economic fate is tied to the Resorts World (RWB) property's re-opening from December 26.

Neal Watson, owner of Neal Watson's Bimini Scuba Centre, told Tribune Business “everything is tied into that resort". He added that airlift to the island had dried up as a result of its closure, and added: “If Resorts World is closed then that means the ferry is closed.

"It used to be that the ferry used to come to the government dock, but now it goes to Resorts World. So if Resorts World is closed then they are closed. The seaplanes land at Resorts World, so if Resorts World is closed the seaplanes don’t come.

"It used to be things came out of the Government dock based out of Alice Town, but now the base is up there. Everything's up there, the jobs and everything you know. It's that anchor project resort idea for the island.”

Resorts World Bimini, in a statement, confirmed the resort will open on December 26. Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East, said: “Resorts World Bimini couldn’t be happier to be opening its doors once again and welcoming back our guests. Our team members have done everything under the sun to make guests’ experiences here clean, safe and fun.”

Resorts World Bimini had announced their second temporary closure back in July, just two weeks after they had reopened following the COVID-19 lockdown in March. The resort has given no indication of how many staff they intend to bring back or how much of the resort will be allowed to reopen.

Nathan Hanna, owner/operator of Nate's Variety of Bimini Bread & Catering, said: “Everything is tied into that resort.” He suggested its opening will increase economic activity on that island by up to 95 percent.

Edith Romer, owner/operator of Edith’s Pizza, added: “We need that boost because nothing is happening here right now. Everything is dead, nobody is working. I’m not making anything in my restaurant. It’s really slow.”

Warning that residents may have a tendency to become “slack” on the health protocols, Ms Romer said: “The economy is like bad and everything is tied into that resort because we rely mostly on tourists in Bimini. The money on the island can only circulate so far and for a certain time.”

She added that while unemployment assistance benefits were good, they could “only go so far”. “People are hurting,” she said.