The government signed a Heads of Agreement with CB Commander Limited and CH Amiral Limited for a $200 million eco-friendly high end luxury resort on two cays in Exuma.
Children’s Bay Cay and Williams Cay will be the new home of a low-rise, low-density, environmentally sensitive boutique resort which is expected to open in late 2019.
This resort opening is supposedly providing 250 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs for Bahamians who will r4cieve extensive training in the field of hospitality.
At his office on Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Perry Christie signed the agreement along with resort owner Donna Bertarelli.
He said the resort will be a good way to help the economy in Exuma.
“The resort will add to the economic and social development of the Exumas and will certainly be another bright spot in The Bahamas archipelago of Islands,” he said.
“Among its benefits is the high-end branding affiliated with a prominent European family; and diversification of the tourism industry in the form of a 5-star experience for high net worth individuals. The direct impact of the development will result in a significant increase in business activities for Bahamians in the areas of small aircraft services, boat and ferry services, food, beverage, hardware, material suppliers, fuel suppliers, security services, brokerage, freight and logistics businesses, maintenance, waste and refuse disposal services, construction industry wide contractors and intra-island transportation.”
The prime minister also mentioned employment opportunities for Bahamians.
“The developer, in partnership with the BAMSI, will train and support local Exumian farmers for the supply of fruits and vegetables to the resort,” he said. “Employment prospects for the residents of Exumians will be increased significantly as the project intends to employ 350 – 400 Bahamians for construction works over a 5-year period. The projection of the number of employees required for resort management and operations within the first two years is 223 persons and within 3 years to 8 years there will be 312 persons employed. The Developer in collaboration with the National Training Academy and BTVI will set up a training programme for prospective employees to train them to provide highest international standards of service.”
Mrs. Bertarelli, a native of Switzerland, said she is honoured to have her resort in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
She spoke of her plans to provide more opportunities for the Bahamian people.
“Mr. Prime Minister, we share an ambition for the project to bring benefits to Bahamians for many years to come including in the construction phase, but also providing jobs at the completed resort as well as opportunities for providers of the many services that new visitors will desire,” he said.
“There is a dedicated and talented local workforce that we know will be committed to making a success of our plans and in turn we are committed to enhancing their skills and careers. We will provide extensive training programs, giving the opportunity to learn from those with world-class experience in hospitality.”
Children’s Bay Cay will be developed into an exclusive five-star ultra-luxurious resort and golf club and will feature a boutique 50-pavilion room hotel; five over the water pavilions; five estate homes; a club house comprising a restaurant boutique library, screening room, bar and lounges; a beach club; spa, gym and Pilates centre; a marina village with restaurants and small cinema complex; a nature and environment centre; a managed marine park; and a 20-slip marina that will accommodate vessels up to 120 feet.
A nature park is planned for the uninhabitable Windsock Cay which lies about ¼ of a mile off Children’s Bay Cay. Williams Cay will be a private section of the resort and will contain an ecological oriented 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Fazio.
The Cay will have 15-20 villas; three over the water pavilions; a welcome centre; a villa owner club house; nature trails; biking and jogging trails; and seaplane and helipad facilities.
A bridge will link Children’s Bay Cay and Williams Cay.
