The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A $40 million private island resort project targeting the Exuma Cays believes it will create around 200 construction, and 50 full-time, jobs, having dropped the management company initially tapped to operate the property.

David Harris, head of Associated Island Developers, told Tribune Business that he had “terminated communications” with Driftwood Hospitality over managing his Escape Cay-based Macana Resort after learning about its past history in the Bahamas with the Royal Oasis.

Driftwood was the operator in charge when the Freeport resort closed in 2004, with the loss of 1,200 jobs, and Mr Harris said: “I, too, learned about the history of Driftwood Hospitality in Grand Bahama, and have terminated further communications with them going forward.

“We are currently in the market for a new hospitality management group that has a proven track record in the Bahamas, and with the level of service that we require.”

With Driftwood now behind him, Mr Harris said that following receipt of the necessary project approvals from the Cabinet’s National Economic Council (NEC), he was now working to obtain a sign-off from the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Commission, on the ‘terms of reference’ for its environmental studies.

Confirming that he hoped to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and submit this to BEST by year-end, the US developer also disclosed to Tribune Business he had “temporarily taken off” his resort plan 12 ‘overwater’ bungalows to wait until the Government had monitored their impact at a nearby development on Leaf Cay.

“Once all the ‘ts’ are crossed and ‘is’ dotted, and we receive the green light to begin construction, we will mobilise and start with the infrastructure development,” Mr Harris told this newspaper.

“This process is scheduled to take six months. Once the infrastructure development is complete, we will start clearing the areas for the homes. Phase one will consist of 18 homes being built in clusters of six.”

He added: “We anticipate once home construction begins in Phase one, it will take 18 months to complete. Phase two will be the commercial portion of the development, which will consist of a boutique resort and the supporting structures.

“This process should take roughly two years to complete, with the largest portion of the work, and employment, based around this phase.

“The final 18 homes will be phase three and will most likely take an additional 18 months to complete. While there is no defined start date, we are anxious to get started when all the requirements have been met with local and governmental agencies.

“The first set of homes should be inhabitable in 12-18 months from the time we begin construction, and the entire property operational after 60-72 months of construction.”

Mr Harris said Associated Island Developers has, following completion of its feasibility studies, “conservatively estimated” that the project will create 200 construction jobs and 50 full-time jobs when fully operational.

Asked how much of the workforce would be drawn locally from Exuma, he replied via e-mail: “This is hard to say at this point.

“We would like all of the construction and operational workforce to come from Exuma. There is a need for jobs in this area, and we are honoured to partner with such good people and trades.”

He added: “We have already met with over 30 local companies that can contribute to the project, and have planned to announce a job fair at the upcoming community town hall meeting we are holding in the middle of November.

“Once we hold the job fair and see what trades, and skills, are available directly in Exuma, we will be able to make a determination on what, if any outside sources are needed.”

The developers are projecting that they will invest $40 million on Escape Cay “over the life of the project”.

Detailing the various components to the project, Mr Harris revealed to Tribune Business: “The overwater bungalows have been temporarily taken off the plan until the Government has had time to monitor Leaf Cay and the impact those structures will cause on the environment.

Once that data has been collected and proper regulatory codes and conditions are available, we will bring these structures back to the table.”

He then added: “The island will consist of 36 private vacation homes. They will be 2,650 square feet with four bedrooms, and four-and-a-half baths.

“All of the floor plans will be the same to maintain serviceability and a cohesive landscape. The size of the boutique resort is currently being assessed by another feasibility study that will begin next year.

“The indications show that we will limit the size to 12 units. Other support structures that we have planned are a restaurant, recreation centre, club house, pavilions, bar areas, outdoor amphitheatre, nature walks, park areas, and floating docks and piers.”