The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration signed an amended Heads of Agreement yesterday with developers behind the Briland Club Residences & Marina development that will allow for the expansion of the Harbour Island-based project, set to cost some $150m.

Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis said he was delighted by the stronger investor confidence the development represents and was looking forward to the economic benefits it would bring to the island.

He also thanked 4M Harbour Island Ltd for their “bold and ambitious” investment in The Bahamas.

“What began as a boutique resort and marina has evolved to encompass an impressive retail component comprising 93 estate homes, cottages and villas, building on $112m already invested into the commercial ecosystem of Harbour Island,” he said at the Office of the Prime Minister.

 “This residential development represents a further capital investment of $150m for North Eleuthera. Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted by the strong investor confidence this expansion represents and I look forward to the benefits it will bring to that island.

“As the footprint of this project expands, so will the result in benefits for the residents of Harbour Island and North Eleuthera.”

 He also spoke about some of the development’s features, which include a resort village and retail shops.

 He added: “A resort village with retail shops means novel opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurs to take a stake in one of the most vigorous markets in the country.

 “New culinary destinations mean greater employment prospects for professionals in the food and beverage industry, while a more diverse housing market promises to upset the trend toward depopulation that is so prevalent across our family of islands.

“I’m sure that the attorney general and the minister of family island affairs will agree with me when I say that this investment is just one of the many exciting developments slated for our Family Islands.”

 According to developer Michael Wiener, work has already started on the project and is expected to be completed over a five-year period.

 The contractors engaged for the project are all Bahamian, he added.

 “We’ve completed the marina and we’ve started construction on eight residential units, four of which are completed and four of which will be completed hopefully in the next 30 to 45 days. “We’ve completed installation of all the utilities underground,” Mr Wiener added.

 “We’ve completed the graving of lots and we’ve completed construction of a facility at the back of house and we are near completion of four courts.”

 Mr Wiener said he and his family appreciated the government’s support as they continue to invest resources into the country.

 “I have said this to every Bahamian I have spoken to. I love your country. My family loves your country,” he said.

 “We are grateful for the opportunity to do business in The Bahamas. We feel privileged to have received your confidence.”

 Central and South Eleuthera MP Clay Sweeting said he’s already visited the project and is quite impressed by what he has seen so far.

 “So, I look forward to the success of the project,” he added. “I look forward to visiting once it’s completed and I hope to see more projects like this not just in Eleuthera but throughout the Family Islands as this government remains committed to investment and remains committed to expanding opportunities for Bahamians and remains committed to developing the tourism economy in this country.”

 Briland Club is a 27-acre waterfront development, featuring hurricane-rated floating docks, in-slip fueling, restaurants, a spa, a golf simulator and more, including high-speed internet for guests.

 The club officially opened its marina in 2021 and has been doing well since then, according to Mr Weiner yesterday.