The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Bimini businesses are hoping the re-opening of the island's major resort in time for "one of the three busiest weekends of the year" will provide a post-lockdown boost.

Neal Watson, owner of Neal Watson's Bimini Scuba Centre, told Tribune Business of Resorts World Bimini's July 2 re-opening: "People can get back to work and start a little towards recouping some of the losses. I'm kind of excited about it."

"I think this is going to be great for Bimini, not just the Resorts World opening, but Bimini and West End is lucky like that because all of the boaters from Florida, the weekend boaters and the guys that don't have many yachts, they can come over and they can get a hotel room and eat in a restaurant. So it really impacts the local economy quite good."

Voicing optimism ahead of the July 4 American Independence Day celebrations, Mr Watson added: "That's traditionally one of the three busiest weekends in all of Bimini for the whole season. The weather is good, it's opening time for that, and it's going to be a much-needed boost and injection into the economy.

"Everybody is supposed to have been tested, but we still obviously have to practice all of the social distancing requirements and it's a good run to see what everything would be like."

Mr Watson said he has "no complaints", but wished that the reopening could have happened one week ahead of the American Independence celebrations so that the island can practice the new COVID-19 health protocols on social distancing and sanitisation.

"He added: "I'm sure there will be a bit of confusion at first, but we have all been practicing so far and we have all got our masks and six-feet markers set out. We have redesigned our building to make sure everyone checks-in outside. We have gone over all of the rules about tour operations and how we have to run at 50 percent occupancy on our boats."

Despite the circumstances, Mr Watson said this gives his workers an opportunity to return to work and enjoy more business. The 50 percent occupancy restriction means his business will have to run more boats, and more persons will need to be hired as a result.

He said, "As a business we may not be making as much money, and even if we are not as busy we have to employ twice as many people. It should be good for everybody, I hope." He added that he has "quite a few" group bookings, and none have complained about having to take the COVID-19 swab test.

Sarahlee Pinder, owner of Poppin' Fresh Pizza, said of the Bimini World Resorts reopening: "I think the reopening should have more of an impact than what it is now. I have a few friends I know some time ago that used to come to the End of the World that still patronise me, so we are looking forward.

"I have a lot of friends that come over who knew me from a while ago, and who remember me from my time at the End of the World, and they stop by and get pizza from me whenever they come. I also have my Bimini people that get pizza from me, too."

Ms Pinder said she used to operate her pizzeria from the End of the World Saloon Sandbar, but following the 2008 financial collapse she was forced to change locations.

"When it opens you would have a lot of Bahamians coming back to work, and even though Resorts World has their own pizza place, they still come to spend money with me," she added.

However, Marie Robins, general manager of Man S liquors, warned against re-opening the Bahamian economy to tourism now given the surge in US infections. "Right now, with so many [COVID] cases in Miami, I think it would be a mistake," she argued.

"If I say that I am not afraid I would be lying. Miami cases are over 28,000 right now, and they would be the same people that are probably gracing our shores. I think we need to be very careful. We need tourism business, but we need to live, too.

"Right now COVID-19 is the boss. The Ministry of Tourism's plan is second base. Right now this is about concentrating on the virus. The Ministry of Tourism is doing the best they could, but I am afraid."