The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie on Friday admitted that while his optimism over the stalled Baha Mar project may be “worn out”, he sees a prosperous completion of the property on the horizon.

Mr Christie, on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony for a $20m, multi-unit townhouse development in Venice Bay, New Providence, said Baha Mar will be moving “fast and furious” towards full development in the coming months.

The Centreville MP vowed that through public presentations and utterances he will provide full affirmation and confirmation on his expressions of confidence with respect to Baha Mar.

“It is for me to say that Baha Mar will be moving fast and furious towards full development and thousands of persons to be employed,” Mr Christie said.

“All through the Bahamas, just this morning I confirmed that Exuma is poised in the next year for a great jump forward. And so you are going to find that there are going to be Bahamians who are going to be able to invest in these properties not just as an investment. Not just as home accommodations for themselves, but as a good investment to be able to.”

Mr Christie called the development a sign that economic progress and vitality was once again on the horizon for the Bahamas.

As he commended Roosevelt Whyms, the president and CEO of Kamillers Builders Ltd, for his continued effort and unrelenting vision, Mr Christie said the housing plan signalled the certain expansion of the country’s middle class community.

Mr Christie, drawing parallels between his upbringing and that of the developer, said he was proud to see the vision take another step forward, claiming that many have attempted to do the same but have faltered and failed.

“It is immense pride for someone like myself, who has been in public life for over 42 years, who has seen the entry into business of many Bahamians trying their hand at property development,” he said. “For someone like yourself, who had a humble beginning and who kept on growing, who never allowed himself to be daunted by the obstacles that appear in life, but always having a determination to overcome, not withstanding the odds.

“To take on property development of this magnitude and to stay with it, it is an immense accomplishment for a Bahamian corporate group. It should give you a sense of great pride to give your wife, your family a sense of great pride and to see as you are doing it, you just didn’t stay with making money, but you are trying to empower yourself spiritually.”

Mr Whyms is 35-year veteran in the construction field with a resume that features several prominent local developments.

Developers on Friday broke ground on the first phase of the development in southwestern New Providence, with a completion date of February, 2017.

The development will bring several hundred units along the 1.5 mile canal system, with the townhouses in the first phase of the development consisting of two- and three-bedroom, two-storey units.

The structures will be built with quality, equipped to withstand extreme weather and outfitted with amenities allowing purchasers the ability to move in immediately with its turnkey concept. The community will feature a full access swimming pool, tennis court, a completed park along with a planned community clubhouse and jogging trail spanning the perimeter of the development.

Each unit carries a price-tag of $315,000 and appraised value of $600,000. The community of Venice Bay was commissioned in 1999.