The developer adjacent to a newly-announced $100 million resort project believes they will together make Cotton Bay “the Caribbean’s premier destination”, as he blasted former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham for decisions that caused South Eleuthera’s “demise”.
Franklyn Wilson, whose Eleuthera Properties development is immediately ‘next door’ to the site that will be developed by Colombian billionaire, Dr Luis Carlos Sarmiento, said the two projects would combine to produce a “humungous” economic impact for south Eleuthera.
The well-known Bahamian businessman said his group had sold the Rock Sound property to Dr Sarmiento in 1995, and the two sides had already reached an agreement on co-operation moving forward.
The Colombian’s Cotton Bay development has effectively been ‘on the drawing board’ for two decades, and gone through several ‘false starts’ under successive FNM and PLP administrations prior to last Friday’s Heads of Agreement signing.
Several observers have privately questioned to Tribune Business what has made Dr Sarmiento decide to proceed now, and what Prime Minister Perry Christie and his government may be giving away in terms of investment incentives/tax breaks to induce him to move.
When Tribune Business put this question to Mr Wilson yesterday, he effectively blamed Mr Ingraham for delaying the Sarmiento project as a result of his then-government’s policies.
Refusing to be drawn on specifics, despite repeated requests by Tribune Business for him to do so, Mr Wilson said: “I honestly believe, and I don’t want to be controversial, but former Prime Minister Ingraham would do himself a great favour if he could explain why he made certain policy decisions that he did with respect to south Eleuthera in the early 1990s.
“Why did he do what he did? On the surface, it speaks very, very poorly of him as a leader of the country, and he would do well to explain to the country why he did what he did. It’s not good for his legacy.
“Please explain why he did so many things he did, because on the surface it appears he may be responsible for the economic demise of south Eleuthera for the last 20 years. I know things, but I want to give him a chance to explain why he did what he did.”
Meanwhile, several cynics have suggested that the Sarmiento Heads of Agreement signing may have been rushed forward to keep south Eleuthera MP, Damien Gomez, happy given that groundbreaking is supposed to happen at an unspecified date later in the year.
Mr Gomez has twice threatened to resign from the Government in recent months, and wrote to the Prime Minister just prior to Christmas 2014, setting out his concerns over high unemployment and a lack of economic activity in his south Eleuthera constituency.
Mr Wilson skirted this issue when it was raised by Tribune Business, saying: “You don’t have to be an MP to know south Eleuthera has been in a very, very depressed state for a long time...
“The need was so apparent. I can’t imagine any one person objecting when this happens.”
Still, there is little doubt that Dr Sarmiento, reputedly Colombia’s wealthiest man, has the means to pull-off the project that he has promised.
Mr Wilson yesterday told Tribune Business that the Inter-American Development (IDB) Bank’s president, Luis Alberto Moreno, a former Sarmiento employee, had “lobbied the Government of the Bahamas to conclude the deal” with his ex-boss.
The Bahamian businessman said his investor group, and Dr Sarmiento’s team, had already agreed to co-operate for the benefit of their projects and Eleuthera’s wider economy.
“The destination of Cotton Bay will end up having two projects, and when you put them together it becomes very interesting,” Mr Wilson told Tribune Business.
“We’re very excited by the Sarmiento development, and have every reason to believe this is transformational for south Eleuthera.
“I just don’t see how, in a few years, south Eleuthera will not be the premier destination in the Caribbean. I find it very difficult to see how south Eleuthera will not be the premier destination in the Caribbean.”
Mr Wilson said the Sarmiento project will be different from the likes of Albany and Baker’s Bay, as it will be branded by a world-class hotel operator in the shape of Four Seasons.
The Eleuthera Properties chairman said Four Seasons’ involvement dispelled the suggestion that the brand’s departure from the Bahamas several years ago, as the Emerald Bay Resort fell into bankruptcy, showed its leaving was not “an adverse comment” on the Bahamas.
“To say you are the premier country for tourism in the Caribbean, and you do not have Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton, how can you be so far ahead if you do not have Four Seasons?” Mr Wilson asked.
Describing Dr Sarmiento as “a very influential man”, he added: “It’s not another project for Sarmiento. He’s passionate about doing this project. It’s fantastic news.
“We sold him the land 20 years ago. He got to know the country, the people, and his passion for the country has deepened. How much more fantastic news can we get? Clearly we have a man who can so what he says he’s going to do.”
Mr Wilson said the Sarmiento project’s start date would likely depend on the pace of architectural and engineering studies, and government approvals.
He declined to give specific timelines and goals for Eleuthera Properties’ development.
The Sarmiento project will feature in its first phase a $100 million development of a five star, 115-room resort hotel and private residential subdivision with 40 lots, a renovated 18-hole Robert Trent Jones designed golf course, spa and recreational facilities, several restaurants and bars, a commercial shopping centre and employee housing situated on 320 acres.
There will be 200 construction jobs, and 300 permanent ones.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 7 months ago
More PLP rumors......
So tired of their bull. They continuously accuse Hubert Ingraham of everything under the sun but they never, ever, for any reason back up their accusations. They know all they have to do is say it and their sheep followers will eat it up.
Sad, pathetic excuse for a party......
White_Massa 9 years, 7 months ago
THIS IS YOUR TYPICAL NEGRO SLAVE, THE WHITE MAN HAS HIM TRAINED WELL. HE FEELS HIS PLACE IS IN THE FIELD PICKING COTTON WITH THE OTHER SLAVES, AND THIS DUMB NEGRO HAS BEEN TAUGHT TO ATTACK OTHER NEGROS WHEN THEY SHOW THE FIRST SIGN OF COMMON SENSE, THAT IS HOW THE FNM AND PLP HAVE BRED THIS POOR NEGRO. RISE UP NEGRO, YOU CAN BE FREE TOO.
Alltoomuch 9 years, 7 months ago
And so Mr Wilson did have plans for Eleuthera way back - and he's only just now remembering the fact!! Strange bedfellows!
John 9 years, 7 months ago
This man has to be the most chronic and fanatical liar in the history of Bahamaian politics. Everyone knows the demise of not only South Eleuthera, but the entire island of Eleuthera came under the PLP government under the leadership of L O Pindling. They bought out the Hatchet Bay farms that used to supply the entire country with milk, eggs and icecream and closed it down. and they forced many of the investors and second home owners on Eleuthera,South Eleuthera especially,to leave the country. Those were the days when Pindling and the PLP would plant lamp poles and run miles and miles of electrical wire promising the people electricity. Then when they didn't get the votes they would refuse to connect the supply. They did the same thing with water pipes and telephone lines. This was done not just in Eleuthera but a number of Family Islands It was Hubert Ingraham who eventually electrified the family islands. Pindling use to send heavy equipment to some islands making the people believe the roads were going to be fixed just before elections. But as soon as the votes were in the equipment would be packed up and brought back to Nassau. Franky Wilson cannot rewrite history with his lies. Everyone in South Eleuthera knows about Pindling and the PLP curse on that island. Eleuthera people teach their children history. Even when Perry Christie was prime minister the last time he did nothing for South Eleuthera. And Franky Wilson knows that his welcome to that island is not a warm ones do his shameless lies does not make him any more welcome.
Tommy77 9 years, 7 months ago
Well said.
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Clamshell 9 years, 7 months ago
Bravo. Well said. I have no idea how this newspaper could publish an interview with this lying guttersnake -- especially when he flat out refuses to answer a single question about his own failed South Eleuthera project.
ohdrap4 9 years, 7 months ago
he looks a little bit like Petyr Baelish, Lord Littlefinger of game of thronres.
Islandgirl 9 years, 7 months ago
Thank you for relaying the actual history that these people try their best to ignore, re-write, or in some cases, never knew.
Hogfish 9 years, 7 months ago
our governments love selling us out as a bunch of bar tenders and room cleaners.
asiseeit 9 years, 7 months ago
As much as these PLP's would like to rewrite history there are those that know better and will tell the TRUTH. SLOP was the original destroyer when it comes to Eleuthera, no amount of story's or lie's will ever change that FACT. The other legacy that SLOP left the Bahamas is corruption and drug smuggling, the world knows this and no matter what it will ALWAYS be known. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline…
duppyVAT 9 years, 7 months ago
Now go and look up Cotton Bay and Hawks Nest ................... etc
Alltoomuch 9 years, 7 months ago
WOW!! - History as it was written.....
duppyVAT 9 years, 7 months ago
Follow the history of Cotton Bay Estate/resort and its money trail ......................... nothing good
Stapedius 9 years, 7 months ago
What an effing loser. Why don't these types just go away into the mist? It's so easy to point fingers and we seem to politicize everything. Any PM will carry blame so it's stupid to go down that road.
Cobalt 9 years, 7 months ago
More finger pointing????
Listen..... I understand that finger pointing is a popular tactic used in politics. But it's usually only used during the campaigning process...... and as we can all tell....... we are far removed from the last general election campaign.
The PLP is now in power and has been for three years! And since then they have done absolutley nothing but point fingers at the previous government while attempting to dodge their own scandals! What happened to all those promises Perry and his PLP made to the Bahamian people??? Why aren't they being addressed??? Why isn't Frankie Wilson talking about them???
We all know that the electorate were fed up with the FNM government and voted them out! That's old news! The PLP is now in the drivers seat and its past time for them to offer the Bahamian public more than just excuses and finger pointing! Get on with the business of governing the country and fulfilling all the empty promises you made!! Stop diverting the attention away from your own incompetence and failures by blaming the FNM!!
Alltoomuch 9 years, 7 months ago
And the reason for Frankie Wilson not getting his project off the ground was...........?
Zakary 9 years, 7 months ago
John 9 years, 7 months ago
There is a lot more to be told about South Eleuthera and what happened to it under the PLP and even before Hubert Ingraham became leader of the FNM if Franky Wilson needs to be reminded: Did you know that South Eleuthera had the largest, fastest growing and most advanced economies of any Family Island, with the exception of Grand Bahama prior to the PLP's interferance and them intentionally killing it? Did you know that Bahamasair, under the chairmanship of Phillip Bethel was used to provide employment to PLP supporters of Eleuthera? It is alleged that employee numbers more than doubled under Bethell's chairmanship. The question of double voting arose because of Bahamasair's employment because even though these Eleuthera natives were stationed in New Providence or other parts of the Bahamas, they were jetted back to Eleuthera on election day to vote. The PLP caused family feuds on the island by providing jobs and services to their supporters but not to other members of the same family, some who chose to remain loyal to the developers of that island. The government was forced to buy the Rock Sound airport after the developers of South Eleuthera left or became inactive. Cattle from a nearby (abandoned) farm started to wander onto the runway and hat to be contained. There was a military base in Eleuthera that provided employment for locals that also closed during this time of hardship.
The developers of South Eleuthera did not wait for government to put in infrastructure. They put in roads and South Eleuthera was the only island in the Bahamas that had storm drains, with the exception of New Providence as far back as the 1960's. Whenever there was a disasater like a hurricane the developers, assisted by locals, would clear the roads and render assistance to residents even before government workers could get to the island There was no defence force boats back then..This spirit still exists in Eleuthera today. There was over employment in South Eleuthera, meaning many people had more than one job. There was Cotton Bay, winding Bay, Cape, The Rock Sound Club and many people who had vacation homes that provided jobs. This was forcefully brought to an end under the Pindling led PLP.
So when all is said and done, the PLP owes the people of South Eleuthera and the entire island of Eleuthera more than forty years of economic growth and prosperiety it killed dead out of spite and victimization. Franky needs to stop talking fool and get to work. Is it payback time yet?
duppyVAT 9 years, 7 months ago
Thats what am talking about ............... and if you go to each island, a similar story can be written in the period 1960-1990 .......... the PLP wreaked havoc with their warped sense of Bahamianization and ruined many of the islands ........... their substitution was drug trafficking
Hogfish 9 years, 7 months ago
the name frank wilson is the same as finlayson. = dog shit on the road.
All people, including over-the-hill, know they are just rich, but what they say has no credibility.
asiseeit 9 years, 7 months ago
The saddest part of this whole story is you have those that will eat up this man's words and praise him for his hogwash. Sadly we have many persons that are sheep to the slaughter. They do not question nor do they study or investigate, they just believe (no pun intended). These are the ones that also are more than likely to be part of the crony/friend/lovers system of governance. They are spineless, self serving, lecherous, and would wither and die if not for political patronage. These are the true traitors of the Nation.
duppyVAT 9 years, 7 months ago
Amen to that
John 9 years, 7 months ago
The popular slogan in South Eleuthera back then was, "Don't be stupid, vote George Baker, if you don't wann cry when the well runs dry," Go read for yourself and send the chronic liar (Wilson) a copy: http://www.eleutheranews.com/permalink/…. my case is closed (for now).
John 9 years, 7 months ago
Ok one more quote to confirm that the demise of Eleuthera happened before Ingraham's time as PM : "The island was quite prosperous in the period from 1950 to 1980, attracting several prominent American industrialists such as Arthur Vining Davis, Henry J. Kaiser, and Juan Trippe. Frequent visitors included movie stars like Robert De Niro as well as the Prince of Wales and a pregnant Princess of Wales. Due to changes in foreign-ownership policy, with the Bahamas becoming independent in 1973, all (how many?) of the large resorts and agricultural businesses were abandoned or compelled to be sold to government-favored Bahamian interests.(who were they sold to?) Because of the strain of a newly forming country, and unfavorable changes in US tax law, some businesses failed during the period from 1980 to 1985.
asiseeit 9 years, 7 months ago
That was a favorite scheme by the Government when we gained independence, sell your business to this or that PLP supporter for whatever they offer you or we will close you down and you will get nothing. This is how certain family's got very rich very quickly. Glad to say that for some of the family's the chickens are coming home to roost now that they do not have their benefactor to prop them up. This government is trying to help some of these people but it is not so easy to be blatantly corrupt these days. Let me also add that this corrupt practice was used on Bahamians as well as foreign interests.
Alltoomuch 9 years, 7 months ago
What an unbelievably sad situation!!!
asiseeit 9 years, 7 months ago
The truth of this nation after independence is a very sad story and the lead character was a criminal mastermind who did more harm than good to the nation. The full truth will come out and Bahamians will have to rethink their pride in the man. History and the truth all will have their day, these politicians should remember that!
duppyVAT 9 years, 7 months ago
Who is this man?????????????????..................... BOL
Alltoomuch 9 years, 7 months ago
Sadly we may not be here when the truth is finally revealed!
FNM_Retards 9 years, 7 months ago
FNM and PLP say they believe in Bahamians
the list goes on.
Foreign companies are laughing all the way to the bank. They say the Bahamas is a country of IDIOTS that cant do anything themselves. Except ofcourse run around a field and clean hotel rooms.
A country of slaves. WTF??? Maybe its time to WAKE UP BAHAMAS.
STOP VOTING FOR FNM AND PLP AS THEY THINK YOU ARE DUMB STUPID ANIMALS. THEY THINK YOU ARE NOT WORTH SHIT COMPARED TO A FOREIGNER. THEY THINK THIS COUNTRY IS FULL OF TOTAL IDIOTS WITHOUT ENOUGH BRAINS TO DO THE MOST BASIC THINGS. VOTE FOR ANYTHING BUT FNM AND PLP, JUST SAY NO TO FNM AND PLP, TELL FNM AND PLP ABOUT THEY STINK BACKSIDE. TELL THEM YOU HAD ENOUGH. SHOW THEM YOU HAD ENOUGH.
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