The $200m Rosewood Exuma project was yesterday said to have drawn both support and opposition for the development targeted at Sampson Cay.

M’wale Rahming, president of Public Domain, the opinion surveying firm, said the phone poll of 1,000 Bahamians found 68 percent of Exuma residents supported the development.

“These results suggest that Bahamians, and particularly those living in Exuma, who are aware of the project believe that it has the potential to generate economic opportunity, foster job growth and provide new avenues for entrepreneurship,” said Mr Rahming.

“More broadly, when we asked Bahamians what issues are most important when it comes to approving development projects generally - job creation, long-term economic benefit and opportunities for Bahamian businesses and entrepreneurs ranked highest.”

The poll was conducted nationwide between May 10-27 using a weighted sample of 1,000 Bahamian residents. According to the survey, 63 percent of Exuma residents that are aware of the development strongly support it, while only 15 percent said they strongly or somewhat oppose the development.

Survey respondents identified the top reasons for supporting the project as job creation, cited by 63 percent; an economic boost to Exuma, noted by 43 percent; and opportunities for Bahamian businesses, mentioned by 36 percent.

Speaking to Tribune Business, Mr Rahming confirmed the survey was commissioned by clients and conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviewing which randomly generates phone numbers for the pollsters to contact. He added that questions related to the environmental impact of the project were not included in the survey.

“There wouldn’t be specific questions about the environment, because if I call you and say ‘Oh, are you worried about the environment?’ you wouldn’t know what that means, right? We didn’t ask about dredging or deforestation or anything like that,” said Mr Rahming

“We asked the main concerns about any development, and those are the top three answers, so environment was not one of the main concerns.”

Yntegra Group’s Rosewood Exuma project has received backlash from neighbouring businesses and residents who have launched a petition due to the environmental concerns it has raised.

Save Exuma Alliance (SEA), an alliance of businesses, neighbouring islands and residents, have launched a petition urging the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) to halt approvals for the project and requested further analysis of the environmental impact of the seabed dredging.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Miami-based Yntegra Group, produced by Bahamas-based consultant Bron Ltd, revealed plans to dredge almost 240,000 cubic yards of fill to create two marinas for a development set to cover most of the island’s 124 acres when completed in 2031.

Eric Carey, environmental consultant for the neighbouring Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, said support for the petition, which currently has over 3,500 signatures, demonstrates that residents are opposed to permanently damaging the seabed to benefit a “wealthy few”.

“More than 3,500 concerned citizens have signed a petition begging their government to act responsibly. Any government that would ignore such an outcry would be saying ‘Your voices don’t matter’ and I personally believe that this is a government that listens to the people,” said Mr Carey

“And the people are clearly and loudly saying ‘Save Exuma. Don’t dredge, don’t destroy our precious marine resources in the name of catering to a wealthy few’ because that is what this fight really amounts to; the protest against a project that is too dense, too big in size for a small cay in the Central Exumas, and too great a risk for the environment, the economy and personal safety.”

Bob Coughlin, owner of Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, also located on Sampson Cay, has been outspoken in his call to resolve the environmental concerns surrounding the neighbouring resort.

Mr Coughlin said that although he has already invested $17m of the $25m first phase he is prepared to stop his $75m project if the nearby mega luxury resort is allowed to significantly alter the environment shared with his sustainable eco-property.

He said his project can co-exist with Rosewood Exuma if the project is scaled down to an appropriate size for the island and does not include dredging to build a supply dock in the North Bay of the island.

Amongst SEA’s members are Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Makers Air, Embrace Resorts, Hattie Cay, Over Yonder Cay, Little Major’s Spot, Staniel Cay Adventures, Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, Wild Tamarind Cay, Bahama Boyzz Adventurezz, and Flying Pig Cafe.