The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemeida.net

Prime Minister Perry Christie said he last week met with investors looking to develop a $100 million athlete recovery facility in the Berry Islands, and revealed the Government has also received an application to purchase Chub Cay.

Speaking upon his return Friday from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka, and a trip to the Vatican, Mr Christie said: “We have an application for the purchase of Chub Cay. We have to deal with that because, somewhere along the line, the National Trust said you can’t fish in the area.

“We have to deal with it because the owner of it is now probably 90, and a group wants to buy it. There has to be some kind of understanding of what we are dealing with.”

The 845-acre cay, home to the Chub Cay Club fishing resort and marina, which includes waterfront condominiums, a restaurant and marina village, went into receivership in 2009. Chub Cay is listed by Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty with price upon request.

“The island is developed as a private club and fishing resort with a two-storey, 20,000 square foot, manor style clubhouse (incomplete) with an infinity pool and tiki bar. A marina village resembling a loyalist Bahamian settlement with 22 improved lots available. In addition to the marina village lots, there are 28 beachfront lots offering a unique waterfront experience. There is a new state-of-the-art marina and fuel facility complete with 110 concrete floating docks, 43 available slips ranging in size from 40 feet to 70 feet,” the listing details state.

“The channel and marina is 12 feet at low tide. There has been substantial infrastructure put in place that includes a 5,000 foot paved runway with on-site customs and Immigration. The island has electrical, water and sewage treatment plants to support its present operation.

“Service buildings include restaurant and bar, administration and reception building, ship store, storage, laundry, smalls boat storage, warehouse and workshop plus 35 staff houses. There is approximately 160 acres for future development and 600 acres of nature reserve.”

Briefly referencing other developments, Mr Christie added: “We know that we now have tangible offers for the South Ocean property that we are dealing with. We know that we have a tangible offer for the Hilton Hotel, and with the plan to expand.

“On Rose Island, a Bahamian has developed a hotel there, and another non-Bahamian hotel group is about to develop a hotel there.”

Mr Christie added: “I was presented with a letter of interest for a large agricultural development on Andros that would work in concert with the agricultural institute we have just commissioned, and be used to grow multiple staple foods.

“It would also serve as a training ground for new technologies, and produce products both for local consumption and export.”