By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday said the Government and Bay Street property owners are “ready and willing” to move forward with plans for a boardwalk along Nassau’s harbourfront, describing the British Colonial Hilton’s expansion as the “catalyst” for the project.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for China Construction America’s (CCA) Pointe development adjacent to the existing resort, Mr Christie said: “In part this company will do it from Woodes Rodgers Walk to their destination at the Hilton, but the Government of the Bahamas and stakeholders who go from the Kellys straight through to the Symonettes and beyond, are ready and willing to move with a boardwalk up the entire front of the city of Nassau.”
Turning to the Pointe development, Mr Christie said: “This is a catalyst for that [boardwalk] to happen, and in doing so you’re talking about opening up the City of Nassau to a greater experience. It’s going to be spectacular in its concept and spectacular in its execution.”
Mr Christie added that in talks with the Chinese president, he had expressed the Government’s desire for greater Bahamian involvement in Chinese-led projects in this nation.
It was as a result of that mutual understanding that he expects there to be a majority Bahamian workforce on the project. The Pointe is expected to create 250 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs.
China Construction America’s (CCA) senior vice-president, and president of the Pointe, Daniel Lui, described the project as a world-class lifestyle and residential development.
“The Pointe will serve as a local hub for culture, entertainment, shopping and fine dining,” he added.
“A nearly 1,000 car garage building will provide much needed parking space in downtown.”
The Pointe will include a 200-room entertainment hotel, a yacht club and 80-slip marina, selection of restaurants, a roof-top night club, multi-functioning meeting rooms, offices suites, a full feature bowling alley and a movie theatre. The Pointe is scheduled to open in 2017.
The British Colonial Hilton sale to CCA last year is the first resort acquisition in the Caribbean by the company, and is part of a long-term investment strategy for the Bahamas.
CCA is a subsidiary of China State Construction and Engineering Company (CSCEC), which is the largest construction company in the world with 2013 sales of $116 billion.
It is also the main contractor for Baha Mar, and is one of the parties embroiled in the ongoing $3.5 billion dispute.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 7 months ago
The British Colonial Hilton sale to CCA last year is the first resort acquisition in the Caribbean by the company, and is part of a long-term investment strategy for the Bahamas.
What will be left when they're done.
asiseeit 8 years, 7 months ago
Symonettes beat them to the punch when they put in their concrete boardwalk at their marina by BASRA. By the way, itg would be interesting to know how long it took Mr. Symonette to get his permits to build that Marina and boardwalk. I would guess years instead of months. Bahamians first, my foot!
asiseeit 8 years, 7 months ago
http://www.thepointenassau.com/hotel-...">http://www.thepointenassau.com/hotel-... Looks like these guys are building INTO the Harbour. Interesting.
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 7 months ago
We don't need a harbour anymore.....all of the cruise ships will now being going to Cuban ports instead! The U.S. government and its financial agencies have begun operation "Yellow Bird", a covert operation directed at making the Bahamas the most undesirable place on the planet for the Chinese to set up shop. In the course of rendering all Chinese investments in our country worthless, operation "Yellow Bird" will also leave the Bahamas government and Bahamians living in the Bahamas poor and destitute while Cuba becomes the re-born jewel of our region. Emperor Christie and his new found oriental friends are going to take us down for the final count, with little to no likelihood of us ever getting back up again. Allowing the 'yellow bird' to land on America's door step was about the dumbest thing Christie and his cohorts could ever have done. As the adage goes, "You reap what you sow!"
asiseeit 8 years, 7 months ago
I bet they NEVER had any reports done, nor where they required to produce any in order to receive the building permits. If you look at the plans they are going to Build into the Harbour, have they done any reports on how this will change the tide flow? Do they have any reports to show if the PUBLIC beaches will be impacted? It also looks like they are building their marina in FRONT of Long Warf beach, now known as Junkanoo beach. Remember the noise and ruckus the PLP made about the redevelopment of Saunders beach, where is that concern now? Where are the reports, how could the permits be granted in less than 6 months? Why can a foreign company come in and get the royal treatment while Bahamians can not even get a meeting? Bahamians first, my foot. Next thing you will see them run the Bahamian vendors off Junkanoo beach (whats left of it), watch!
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