One of the proposals calls for a significant transformation of the South Ocean Golf & Beach Resort, he indicated.
The Canadian owners of the property are seeking to create a marina along with overhauling the resort, which has changed management several times over the years.
The resort is owned by PRK Holding Limited, which also controls the British Colonial Hilton in downtown Nassau.
When he announced the closure of South Ocean last summer, Warren Adamson, president of PRK’s Caribbean Hotel Division, said the property was about to undergo a significant transformation.
“When we re-open, the resort will have been escalated to a position of a luxury golf and beach resort, providing upscale accommodation, memorable cuisine and fine entertainment in an intimate setting where our clients can enjoy the warmth of Bahamian hospitality.”
The prime minister told The Bahama Journal that the government is also looking favourably at a plan for a luxurious gated community development for southwestern New Providence.
The American investors also want it to include a marina.
Mr. Christie believes that what they are proposing could rival nearby Lyford Cay, which according to its managing director, Paul Thompson, pumps $100 million into the local economy every year.
“We’ve seen some of their architectural renderings and it’s a very exciting possibility there,” the prime minister said.
He called the proposed gated community development a “higher-end” Lyford Cay that would involve some of the world’s leading golfers, including Ernie Els and Tiger Woods, as part of the project.
Mr. Christie said the economic benefits would be huge.
“If one looks at the contribution to the Gross Domestic Product of Lyford Cay ﾖ and one could imagine a 500 to 600 new home subdivision with non-Bahamians of the kinds of means who could spend millions of dollars on a piece of property and a home ﾖ then obviously that in itself gives you a permanent resort second-home development with extraordinary contributions to the local economy,” he said.
As it considers these blockbuster deals, the prime minister said his government is also determined to ensure that it continues a very “aggressive” housing programme so that the need that Bahamians have for affordable housing is not drowned out by his administration’s focus on development.
“The government has to be very concerned about the limited land left on New Providence for housing purposes and therefore as a policy, it must have a balanced approach for development for non-Bahamians,” Mr. Christie said.
“It means, therefore, that there has to be a significant infrastructural shift to accommodate the people who are moving out there so it means planning, schools, clinics and police stations.
“The reason why I spoke in the same context about the development for Bahamians is that it will become an issue if we do not have built into this a parallel programme for Bahamians and that is why it is important and that is why the developers have been sensitized to this issue by me in terms of moving ahead because it is of critical importance to me that as people come here to enjoy themselves that we also have Bahamians in a position to have a home and to enjoy themselves.”
In considering the gated community proposal and the expansion of the South Ocean Resort, the prime minister said his government is determined to ensure that Bahamians have full access to the beach in that area.
“One of the concerns my government has is the fact that if we do not exercise sufficient caution in the face of the development proposals, we could cause Bahamians to be further disadvantaged when it comes down to access to beaches,” he said.
<P>Candia Dames, Bahama Journal
