Govt signs heads of agreement for $250m Long Island development

Friday, October 7, 2022

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration signed a heads of agreement yesterday with Azul Destinations Ltd and Calypso Cove Destinations Ltd for the development of an upscale resort and cruise port for South Long Island, estimated to cost some $250m.

Speaking during a signing ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said the multimillion-dollar project will consist of a 200-bedroom hotel, mega yacht marina facilities, interior pools, casinos, a cruise port, cruise pier and 18-hole golf course, among other amenities.

Mr Cooper also expressed optimism that the project will attract more investments to the island, serving as a major economic boost.

“We are pleased to say that the project will employ thousands of Bahamians and independent Bahamian firms so this is good for employment, but also good for entrepreneurship and the empowerment of Bahamians,” he added.

Carlos Torres de Navarra, principle of Azul Destinations, explained how officials brainstormed the development which they waited for eight months to be approved.

“We all had an idea for a destination within a very close proximity of what is the cruise capital of the world, and that’s the state of Florida and when we saw this property, we did our assessment, we noticed that from an environmental perspective, which was the most important thing to us that there was no roadblocks and we started the process of validating the site,” he said.

However, Mr Navarra said it wasn’t the site of development he fell in love with but rather the island itself and its people.

“I think I speak for all of us from the developer standpoint, we believe that we will have an amazing opportunity for Long Islanders in terms of employment, in terms of economic development for the entire island as well as neighbouring islands,” he said.

“And more importantly, The Bahamas product will be something that will be I think accentuated and I think that from our perspective, our focus will be to sell and to promote a Bahamian product.”

Some 300 people are set to be employed during the project’s construction phase which will take place over a two-year period.

Officials are also hoping to break ground by the end of next year.

In the meantime, Mr Cooper said his ministry will continue to work on plans for the expansion of the Long Island airport which he said will be a key requirement for the development.

“Later this year or early next year, we will have the request for proposals in relation to the airport. Suffice to say, we have many investors who are interested in participating in this process,” he said.

“It is essential for the development of Long Island. The government is committed that it happens in the shortest time frame.”

Since assuming office last year, the Davis administration has already approved some $5bn in investment projects for The Bahamas.

“There’s more to come,” the tourism, investments and aviation minister said. “There’s no stopping, no slowing down. We see a consistent demand for new developments and new investments in The Bahamas and I am very excited that this is happening for Long Island.”

Comments

Baha10 says...

I thought this was one of the few remaining Grouper Spawning Sites?!?

Posted 7 October 2022, 7:10 a.m. Suggest removal

Dawes says...

Environmental issues are only a concern when we think we can make money from the richer nations. We don't actually care about these things

Posted 7 October 2022, 8:40 a.m. Suggest removal

Maximilianotto says...

Yes it is but apparently some palms must have been greased - poor groupers.

Posted 11 October 2022, 9:26 p.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

Here we go again. Another toothless HOA to facilitate another crown land grab!

Posted 7 October 2022, 9:16 a.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

If the PLP Government is going to use the old Diamond Crystal Salt site, they should say so.

If they are using Crown Land near Mortimers to extend to Cape Verde, they should say so.

At this point, the site is as vague as the HOA .......... another gimmick to try and oust the MP.

Meanwhile the PLP government placed a stop, review and cancel order on the Deadman's Cay Airport that was already approved and ready to start prior to the September 2021 election. This just goes to show how vindictive the PLP is. They mean Long Island NO good.

Posted 7 October 2022, 10:01 a.m. Suggest removal

BMW says...

They treat Grand Bahama the same! We need an airport in the shortest time frame!

Posted 9 October 2022, 4:33 p.m. Suggest removal

FYI - The Southern End of Long Island known as “Cape Verde” comprises 500 acres of Crown Land, which is every bit as beautiful, if not more so, as “Lighthouse Point” on Eleuthera.

Posted 7 October 2022, 10:45 a.m. Suggest removal

No argument here.

Yet, Long Island remains as the one major island without a BNT land/marine protected park .............. Can anyone answer that?????

Posted 7 October 2022, 11:28 a.m. Suggest removal

Twocent says...

The clans want their own territory, not foreign “elite” parks for people of privilege.

Posted 7 October 2022, 6:18 p.m. Suggest removal

realfreethinker says...

They are "hoping" to get started by the end of next year. Why go public now?

Posted 7 October 2022, 5:09 p.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

The foreign vultures are swooping down on a bankrupt Bahamas to take the best of what is left of the heritage of the Bahamian people with the corrupt and incompetent Davis-led PLP administration granting them every conceivable concession resulting in little or no economic benefit for our nation. Sadly, we are destined to be a very cheap source of slave labour for all the foreign vultures now hovering over our country's dead corpse.

Posted 7 October 2022, 5:27 p.m. Suggest removal

Just another Port St George SCAM! The project speaks for itself in its impossibilities. Just a scam to embezzle investors or South American scammers looking to legitimize laundered money. With a failed project and money in their pockets what deal you think gov did with them for their “commission”? Its planning shows it’s an environmental disaster at best ROL.

Posted 7 October 2022, 6:16 p.m. Suggest removal

This comment summarizes all!

Posted 10 October 2022, 4:06 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

Wait for more information perhaps sheep runner can go back home smile sheep runner I love my Long Island people
We are Bahamians what is good for the Bahamas is good for all of us God has blessed us

Posted 7 October 2022, 7:59 p.m. Suggest removal

The failed social and economic policies of the corrupt, cruel and incompetent Davis-led administration is slaughtering all the poor helpless lambs (young people) and also way too many of the poor and helpless sheep (older people). Even the corrupt ruling political elite whom you love so much may not survive the current useless puppet government controlled by representatives of the Chinese Communist Party in The Bahamas like Vomit Christie.

Posted 8 October 2022, 9:47 a.m. Suggest removal

Can we trust the investors, lawyers & politicians who orchestrated this deal? At NO time did these ppl held town meetings or focus group chats on LI. So that is why most of LI ppl are not excited about this news.

We gave our input on the DC airport. We saw the plans and the signing ceremony. This "resort" is like a hologram.

Pie in the sky ........

Posted 8 October 2022, 12:57 p.m. Suggest removal

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-d…

“private landowner”?

So Crown land has been given away on the cheap to some cronies and these then sublease to Azul?

Time for a statement from DPM?

Posted 10 October 2022, 4:38 p.m. Suggest removal