The Tribune

By CHESTER ROBARDS

Tribune Senior Reporter

crobards@tribunemedia.net

ELEUTHERA is primed for a significant economic boost from four multi-million dollar projects, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday, insisting that the island has “endured hardship and neglect for so long”.

Mr Christie, who attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the $12 million French Leave Resort and Marina in Governor’s Harbour yesterday, said hundreds of new construction jobs and permanent jobs will soon be available on Eleuthera.

Lance Shaner, whose company, Shaner Hotels, is the chief shareholder in the French Leave development, said his project could create 20 to 30 construction jobs during the first phase build-out, and 20 to 30 permanent jobs when the first phase opens. Mr Shaner said the first phase has already started in earnest.

French Leave’s first phase will consist of 21 hotel cottages, a bar and restaurant and a restored dock. The project’s contractor, Jason Thompson is an Eleuthera native.
“We want to do the right thing,” he said. “We will be very good neighbours (to Eleutherans).”

Another French leave principal, Eddie Lauth, said their transition between the Free National Movement government and the Progressive Liberal Party government was “seamless” and he said their Governor’s Harbour property is the “single best” place to build a resort “bar none.”
Mr Christie said the next resort project that will bring capital and employment to Eleuthera is the expansion of Cocodimama from a 12-room resort to a 72-room resort.
Former Deputy Prime Minister, Brent Symonette, who is one of the principals of the Cocodimama project, took Mr Christie and several cabinet ministers on a short tour of the property following the ground breaking.

The other project that Mr Christie said will help to boost Eleuthera’s economy is the development of a new hospital in Palmetto Point at a cost of $10 - $15 million. He said the ground-breaking ceremony for the hospital will be announced very soon.

“It will not only serve the medical needs of Eleutherans but also prove to be a boost to the growth of tourism and second home owners,” said Mr Christie.
And Mr Christie recently visited the redeveloped Cove property in Gregory Town, which underwent a $30 million upgrade and is slated to create almost 200 jobs.

He also mentioned the development of a golf course being spearheaded by well-known developer Franklyn Wilson. Mr Lauth described Mr Wilson’s development as a “world class” golf course.

“When you have Bahamians showing the confidence and Bahamians putting their money where their mouth is, what you are going to find therefore is there will be more Shaner’s and Eddie Lauths coming in in the form of direct investment in the island,” said Mr Christie.