Albany, a luxury resort community in western New Providence handed over $1 million cheque to Urban Renewal yesterday.

The donation is just the first of the company’s commitments to community development pledges outlined in the recently signed amended Heads of Agreement (HOA).

Managing Partner at Albany Christopher Anand said the company is fixed on giving back to The Bahamas, in more ways than one.

According to Algernon Allen Co-Chair for the Urban Renewal Commission, the donation is the largest ever made to the immediate social good of the country.

“You will see this money being used, not only in the Urban Renewal Band, but in things like the Urban Renewal Sporting League, which we are seeking to move very quickly now with,” he said.

“You will see it being used in the Boys and Girls Club of The Bahamas. We are going to seek the guidance of our great neighbour to the north as we structure and drive the Boys and Girls Clubs of The Bahamas.”

Mr. Anand said he has a vision of making Albany the “Monaco of the Caribbean,” and added that the resort is 90 per cent complete.

The resort’s managers are currently in the process of constructing three new phases, the first of which will be complete within the next three weeks.

One of the phases being most focused on is the medical centre.

“There’s a doctor who’s committed to building a hospital here,” he said.

“He’s a very qualified cardiac surgeon and this hospital’s going to be a place where people can deal with emergency care. Anybody in the area will be able to use that. I mean it’s great because it’s in the area, on land that we’ve donated. It’s also going to have other service providers. Stem cell research is just one, and The Bahamas has embraced that. Can we attract people that are going to come here and do cutting edge medical things are elective in nature and put them in this centre? We want to have a world class dentist and be a place where you can get some cosmetic surgery and things like that.

They can also recover in Albany, if that’s what they choose to do.”

He said the medical centre will make Albany a unique offering, unparalleled to anywhere else in the world.
Prime Minister Perry Christie was on hand for the ceremony and said he is impressed with the progress and vision of Albany executives.

He also praised them for their commitment to Bahamian employment as 98 per cent of the staff is locals.

“They’ve agreed to vie for the enhancement of the Adelaide Village Community,” Mr. Christie said.

“The clearing, landscaping and transfer to the government of a two-acre parcel of land, situated within Adelaide Village, valued at approximately a quarter of a million dollars for the establishment of a recreational park, a communal area, a green space are just a few of the ways they plan on giving back. So for me again, that is a wonderful intervention where people of Adelaide or people who drive to Adelaide will be able to go and enjoy this particular experience that will be created as a result of our agreement with Albany.”

Albany is now the official sponsor of Category A Junkanoo Group ‘One Family’, who placed second in the recent Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade.