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KEVA LIGHTBOURNE,GUARDIAN STAFF REPORTER
After overcoming a
number of environmental hurdles and substantially
scaling back on its original development, an amended
five-year agreement for the Bimini Bay project was
signed on Wednesday. It heralds a new chapter in the
future economic growth of the island.
The construction of
the upscale resort and second home community by RAV
Bahamas Ltd., headed by Gerado Capo, is expected to
help restore Bimini's image as the "big game
fishing capital of the world," attracting
visitors in search of thrilling sport adventures.
And according to
Prime Minister Perry Christie, the scaled-back
700-acre development, which has been deemed
"economically viable and environmentally
sustainable," is in keeping with the government's
commitment to protecting the island's environs and
natural resources.
Mr Christie said
the new agreement represents a significant improvement
on certain provisions of the previous contract, which
was signed under the Free National Movement
Administration in July 1997.
"It was of
critical importance to me and my government that
whatever took place on Bimini -- the same reasons why
Earnest Hemmingway, Adam Clayton Powell, Martin Luther
King and all the other great ones who frequented
Bimini -- the same reasons why they were attracted to
Bimini must exist as a part of the development.
"We were happy
to discover once we began discussions with Mr Capo
that he shared that vision, and that notwithstanding
his legal position, he was prepared to join us in what
I would regard as a substantial compromise of the
original agreement," the prime minister said.
The original
agreement provided for 930 hotel rooms, 3,500 condos
and 611 single-family homes. The revised numbers are:
410 hotel rooms, 1,080 condos and 440 sinle-family
homes. And the government has agreed to add 200
timeshare interval ownership facilities.
In the original
agreement, the units amounted to 5,041, under the
revised agreement that number has dropped to 2,130, or
more than a 50 per cent reduction.
"This is a
wonderful testimony to the good faith that has been
established between this developer and my government.
Ensuring that we have a Bimini that would be second to
no destination in the Commonwealth of The
Bahamas," Mr Christie said.
RAV Bahamas Limited
has committed to investing $70 million during the
project's first phase, and it is projected that upon
completion well over $100 million would have been
pumped into the development.
The resort will
feature a 410-room luxury hotel, to include a small
casino, restaurants, fitness center and other
amenities. There will also be an 18-hole Links golf
course and a first class marina capable of
accommodating 150 pleasure vessels and other yachts.
The development's
construction will require 100 workers, with 300 people
being hired to operate the resort.
In his address, Mr
Capo said Bimini would not only represent the
"gateway" to The Bahamas, but the project
could represent a possible blueprint for other
developments in the country.
"Bimini could
become a Bahamian adventure," he said.
Mr Capo said it is
his intention to not only create something in Bimini
that is going to be his legacy, but also to do things
for the island and its residents.
"I think that
we the developer and the people of Bimini have to
marry into a relationship in which both parties will
have to work hand-in-hand. We have to create the
future and permanent employment not only for Biminites,
but for other Bahamians that lived in Bimini and left
for whatever economic condition. We also need to be
able to have opportunities for other Bahamians that
will want to come to Bimini, and most of all, we need
to create opportunities for the younger generation of
Biminites," he said.
Mr Capo has pledged
to construct a primary school to accommodate 250
students, as well as committing to purchase a fire
truck and ancillary equipment. He indicated that he
will provide environmental impact study updates and
other environmental data as the project progresses.
During a tour of
the site in March, Mr Capo disclosed that he will be
requiring residents and tenants of the resort to
contribute to a fund to benefit the island.
Already, residents
of North Bimini have begun to benefit from the water
production capabilities of RAV Bahamas, which joint
ventured with Aqua Design (Bahamas) Limited to provide
potable water for the island. At a cost of $500,000,
the reverse osmosis plant is capable of providing
125,000 gallons of water per day.
Also on hand for
the signing were Minister of Tourism and MP for West
End and Bimini Obie Wilchcombe; Minister of Public
Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts and Minister of
Financial Services and Investment Allyson
Maynard-Gibson.
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