The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net 

DURING yesterday’s lavish ceremony marking the inaugural arrival of a cruise ship to Bimini’s newly constructed port, Prime Minister Perry Christie touted the economic boom and modernisation he expects the island to experience as a result of Resorts World Bimini.  

He was flanked by Cabinet members and top law enforcement officials as hundreds of travel professionals from South Florida disembarked from the Bimini

SuperFast cruise ship. 

“Good and great things continue to take place in the further development of the exotic island of Bimini,” he said. 

Reminiscing about the inaugural nighttime flight he took to Bimini four months ago, he portrayed recent and continuing developments on the island as symbols of Bimini’s modernisation which the Genting Group is spearheading.

He then looked ahead to the Malaysian company’s expected contributions to “infrastructure, health, education and other social and public services, sports and recreational facilities, housing, public accommodations and public safety.” 

The Genting Group’s efforts to modernise the island exemplifies what private/public arrangements should be, he said. 

“I have previously commended the developers for the public/private partnership arrangements, with respect to the airport expansion, other infrastructural and community projects. It is particularly noteworthy that this multi-million dollar deep water pier is being funded and operated entirely at the expense of the developer, for the benefit of both the resort and the people of Bimini.

“In this regard I wish to call on more developers in the community to follow suit, rather than looking to the government to fund such projects.”

The island has experienced an economic boom already because of the resort, he said.

“Some 480 persons have been involved in construction and to date 488 persons are employed at the resort. When the new hotel opens some 800 persons will be employed permanently at the resort. Moreover, to ensure world-class service standards and high level of guest satisfaction, extensive customer service training will be started by Resorts World in October for all employees, both new and old.”

Mr Christie acknowledged the turbulent journey Resorts World Bimini experienced while constructing its pier, having faced stiff opposition to its actions from environmentalists earlier this year.

The environmental stewards feared the construction of the pier would negatively impact the nearby marine life and environment.

Mr Christie was not critical of the development’s naysayers, however. 

Instead, he pledged to ensure that safeguards are always implemented to prevent environmental degradation from occurring on Bimini. And in cases where degradation does occur, he promised to have it reversed.

The Bimini SuperFast brought more than 400 travel agents, tour operators and hotel concierges from Fort Lauderdale.

In addition to cruises from Miami on Fridays to Sundays, Bimini SuperFast will cruise from Fort Lauderdale on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting October 14.