MOF-BUDGET Jun. 2016 | Page 24

THE EXUMAS JMMC/GREAT EXUMA ADVENTURE RESORT JMMC Bahamas Ltd, a USA-based company, recently received approval to develop the multi-faceted Great Exuma Adventure Resort at a cost of $311 million on 275 acres at Hooper’s Bay Estates, Great Exuma. The development would include a 115 unit condo-hotel, marina, adventure theme park, equestrian centre, spa, farm, 45-unit bonefish lodge, event pavilion & restaurant and retail stores. The developers estimate that they will provide construction employment for 250 and on completion of build out, full employment for 155 persons. SANDALS EMERALD BAY [24] 2016/2017 DRAFT ESTIMATES OF REVENUE & EXPENDITURE Sandals Emerald Bay last year spent $35 million in property-wide renovations and its sustained above-average occupancies supp ort the contention that Sandals continues to be an economic catalyst in Exuma. Future projects include $6 million in expenditure on food and beverage outlets, a new beach bar and room renovations. Sandals continues to reinvest in employees with supervisory programmes aimed at increasing inward promotion, and support of six schools in Exuma, along with and annual offering of paid summer apprenticeship programmes for 25 high school graduates of LN Coakley High School on the island of Exuma. CHILDREN’S BAY CAY AND WILLIAMS CAY The Heads of Agreement between the Government of The Bahamas and affiliate companies CB Commander Limited and CH Amiral Limited, executed on 1st February, 2016, for development a $185 million residential community resort, marina and golf course on Children’s Bay Cay and Williams Cay, Exuma, coupled with other devel- opments taking place both in Georgetown and surrounding islands, will in all likelihood transform the landscape and continue to elevate the profile of The Exumas within the chain of islands of The Bahamas. The sheer size and scope of the project will require tremendous human resources both in construction and operation of the facilities, thus providing a rationale for the return home of many Exumians, and solid future employment prospects for those currently in school there. This exclusive resort will exemplify an environmentally sound development and management model and will comprise a fifty (50) pavilion room hotel; five (5) over the water pavilions; five (5) estate lots; numerous amenities including a marina village, nature and environment centre and a managed marine park. The existing marina will be expanded to twenty (20) berths and four (4) slips and will accommodate vessels up to 120 feet. The Williams Cay development will comprise an 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Fazio; fifteen to twenty (15-20) villas; three (3) over the water pavilions; a welcome center, a villa owner club house; nature trails; biking and jogging trails, a bridge linking Children’s Bay Cay and Williams Cay and a helipad. The developer will contribute to the repair of the Government dock, and construct a police station and medical clinic for the benefit of the Barratarre Settlement and surrounding populations. The targeted date to complete project build out is December 2020, however, the majority components of the Children’s Bay Cay resort and Williams Cay golf course will be completed by December 2018 with Phase I utilities and road infrastructure works slated to begin in October 2017. FEBRUARY POINT The National Economic Council, on 1st October, 2013, approved a $40 million undertaking by FP Associates Limited and FB Parcel (815) Limited for re-development of the February Point Resort Estates on Great Exuma Island and the developer is currently in talks with three potential brands for resort operations. On its completion the upscale development will comprise a hilltop, boutique 5-star resort hotel, twenty (20) condo units and estate homes. Work has already begun on an expanded marina and a new marina and marina village on the pond at February Point and construction will commence in 30 days on build out of twenty condo units. Development is nearing completion on a state-of-the-art Welcome Centre, Restaurant, Bistro Bar and Spa. Construction will begin shortly on 4 single family homes, each having an estimated value of $3.5 $5 million per home. Also on the drawing board are six (6) over the water bungalows, each with a value of $4 million to $8 million per unit, and construction on these will commence as soon as the final permits are granted. Construction will begin on a 100-unit condo hotel by the 4th quarter 2016. Presently, there are 102 Bahamians employed on a part time and full time basis and the company is looking to double its staff within the next 60-90 days. February Point has committed to the donation of a minimum 150 acres of land in Flamingo Bay to the Government for housing and other projects and will contribute $250,000.00 for a joint venture project with Government for the transformation of Georgetown into a mini city centre with a state-of-the-art Government Administrative Complex, a primary and a high school, an Industrial Park, Community Sports and Recreational Centres, a hydrophonic botanical farm, residential subdivi-