The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Royal Caribbean was yesterday said to be "comfortable" all environmental concerns surrounding its Paradise Island project have been addressed after activists pronounced themselves satisfied with its wastewater treatment solution.

Philip Simon, the Royal Beach Club's president, asserted that the cruise line "went above and beyond" in answering all questions posed to it. He added that environmental advocates themselves said they were content with its Paradise Island wastewater plans after viewing the technology that will be deployed at Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at Coco Cay destination in the Berry Islands.

Speaking at a workshop held for the Royal Beach Club's potential food and beverage, retail and artisan partners, he added: “We feel comfortable with our responses. Every question that was put to us was answered, whether it was environmental, social, economic. Every single question that was asked, we responded to. We went above and beyond.

“Yesterday, we were in Coco Cay with persons who requested to see our wastewater treatment plant. [They] came back satisfied that we are more than capable. And we have the latest standards and technologies. So yeah, I'm comfortable with what we've been able to accomplish thus far and very, very confident that we will meet the goals.”

Mr Simon added that Royal Caribbean's next step will be to seek approval for its Royal Beach Club Environmental Management Plan (EMP). Key elements of that plan involve the demolition of derelict buildings on the 13 privately-owned acres it acquired on Paradise Island's western end, site clean-up and preparations for construction.

“We’re still in the environmental process, so what you would have seen come from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) was a non-objection to our terms for the Environmental Management Plan, which is the next step in the environmental process. Once we would have gotten the approval of the environmental management plan, the next step would be getting a certificate of environmental clearance from the DEPP," Mr Simon said.

“So we've got those two next steps in the environmental process that would then allow us to now go to the various government ministries and departments for the additional approvals for phase one, which includes obviously site clean-up, demolition and site prep. You know, first steps before we move into construction.”

Mr Simon said Royal Caribbean is still on schedule to open its Paradise Island project in summer 2025. "We're pretty much still on schedule," he added.

Once the environmental approvals are secured, Royal Caribbean will then begin to fill positions at the Royal Beach Club. Mr Simon added that the "goal" is still to fill all positions with Bahamian labour, and said: “We've started with the president of Royal Beach Club.. and so all of the other positions are still a work in progress. We are looking to really advance it more towards the end of the year. There will be some hirings in some of those positions, of course.

“Matriculating the environmental processes, you know, we hope to have that concluded in the next couple of weeks, and then the human resources structure built out. So we fully expect all of those positions to be filled by Bahamians. That is the goal. That's the target. That's why I'm here. So we'll learn more about that in weeks to come.”

Royal Caribbean also said there are around 200 jobs available at Coco Cay in more than categories. A spokesperson said: ”We're trying to hire at least a couple hundred more people. I'm not sure of the exact number of jobs available but it's somewhere in the range of 200, and everything from lifeguards and beach attendants right up to financial experts and analysts.

"So there are about 15 categories of jobs available in Coco Cay right now. Many are shift jobs so it’s great for people who are looking for a job as well as the entrepreneurs who want to be part of Royal Beach Club.”