The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A $168m expansion of the Deep Water Cay resort has been approved by the government, Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville has revealed, adding that there are other multi-million projects underway on the island.

At the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s (GBCC) installation banquet on Saturday, Dr Darville announced the call for a five-star mixed-use resort operated by Six Senses at Deep Water Cay in East Grand Bahama.

He said the development will be phased over seven years, employing more than 120 people per annum and will include 68 hotel units, including 56 hotel “keys” and 65 custom-built residences.

Amenities will include a 7,000 sq ft, two-storey spa facility and fitness centre, five eateries including a full-service restaurant, a cooking school for guests and a 2,500 sq ft space for meetings and events.

Dr Darville also reported significant investments by Hutchison Port Group Holdings in the Grand Bahama tourism sector, involving $5.5m in renovations to transform the Lighthouse Pointe into an all-inclusive property.

He told the GBCC president Kevin Seymour, who is serving his second consecutive term, that the Prime Minister has expressed his commitment to influence planning and policy in a direction that will stimulate new investment in Freeport in a way that would revitalise the city and lead to a path of long-term sustainability for the economy of Grand Bahama.

Dr Darville said the government is working diligently to conclude an agreement with Hutchison for a waiver of exclusivity on cruise port operations in the Freeport area, which will pave the way for the establishment of a cruise port by Carnival Cruise Lines in East Grand Bahama.

“This project is critical to the stability and continued viability of Grand Bahama’s cruise business, especially in light of plans by three cruise operators, Hain-mark, Celestyal and Carnival, which commence cruises to Cuba beginning this year,” he said.

The minister reported that Freeport’s overall hotel performance was positive in 2015, largely as a result of expanded airlift by Sunwing’s operations in Canada and the United States and from new gateways in Cincinnati, Newark, Dallas and Baltimore.

Even though Memories Resort, operated by Sunwing, achieved a 90.4 per cent occupancy level last year and contributing to Grand Bahama as a whole experiencing a 30 per cent increase in international arrivals, he noted that the island is still not performing to the level of other less developed islands in The Bahamas.

In the industrial sector, however, he indicated that major upgrades of $17m are happening at Freeport Harbour.  

Dr Darville said that other major upgrades are also underway at Bahama Rock, which has commenced a $9.3m phased expansion, as well as by other small to medium businesses such as Caribbean Bottling, Bahamian Brewery and Island Bedding.

Government projects underway include a state-of-the-art fire station and the storage facility at the C A Smith Complex.

“Many of you will recall the ground-breaking ceremony which took place in December, 2015, for the $6m causeway, replacing the Fishing Hole Road, which is being undertaken in a public-private partnership with local stakeholders and the government of The Bahamas,” he added. 

The Ministry of Housing has started the construction of 36 homes in the Bahamia subdivision and, there are planned upgrades for the Rand Memorial Hospital and West End Clinic.

“There have been successful strides in the growth and development of new industries, such as medical tourism, and in the ensuing months we hope to see further growth and development in the air and sea logistics sector,” Dr Darville said. 

According to Dr Darville, a $280m Phase V investment in the Container Port expansion by Mediterranean Shipping Company, in partnership with Hutchison Ports, will result in a 40 per cent increase in capacity and output to two million containers per annum, which will have a significant impact on production and employment at the Container Port.

Additionally, he stated that Mediterranean Shipping plans to open a maritime academy in Freeport to train and recruit 240 Bahamians over a two-year period for crewing on MSC vessels.

Dr Darville said that the Hawksbill Creek Agreement Review Committee has submitted its recommendations to the Cabinet sub-committee; however, there is still more input required before a decision is taken on the extension of the HCA exemptions that expired on August 4, 2015.