The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Cotton Bay Estates developers expect to have a hotel and golf course constructed by next April according to Prime Minister Perry Christie who noted that $90 million had been invested in the development to date.

Speaking at the 2nd Annual Eleuthera Business Outlook, Mr Christie said that Eleuthera Properties chairman Franklyn Wilson was in meetings on the island yesterday to relaunch the development’s real estate phase.

“With 75 per cent of phase I of the project completed, the developers have already invested 90 million to date,” said Mr Christie. “The resort aims to re-establish the legacy of the jet setting families of the 50s, 60s and 70s that frequented the communities making them homes away from home. Cotton Bay will feature a world class golf course that will attract golf enthusiasts from the world over. It will offer luxury amenities including two ocean front hotel sites managed by Noble House Hotel and Resorts,” said Mr Christie.

Acknowledging that the developers were finally seeing the “light at the end of the tunnel”, Mr Christie added: “The developers are hoping to have a golf course and hotel in existence by this time next year. That will be managed by Noble House. Meetings are being held today to relaunch the real estate stage.”

The development is said to be following the model pioneered by Lyford Cay developer E. P. Taylor and has experienced some setbacks in the aftermath of signing a 2004 Heads of Agreement with the Government. In an effort to continue to enhance the island’s tourism product and support the Cotton Bay development Mr Christie said that “particular attention” would be given to airlift into South Eleuthera.