The Chairman of a proposed $4.5 billion resort and real estate project off Grand Bahama said Tuesday that the project, if approved, would create approximately 25,000 permanent jobs, most of which will be offered to Bahamians.<\/P><\/p>\n
Michael Henderson, chairman of RJH Holdings and the creator of the MOON project, told the Bahama Journal that RJH, MOON\uffb4s parent company, is now waiting on the Bahamas Government to give provisional approval to the project dubbed the \uff93first wonder out of this world.\uff92<\/P><\/p>\n
On Friday, RJH Holdings released a statement saying it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Grand Bahama Port Authority to construct a celestial-themed vacation development just North of Grand Bahama.<\/P><\/p>\n
The project would consist of five man made islands which would house the world\uffb4s largest casino and hotel with 12,000 suites, and would also include a 20,000 condominium development and ten-ship cruise terminals.<\/P><\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson said, \uff93This will be a tremendous boost for the Bahamian working public. It will be the largest project that\uffb4s ever happened in the Bahamas.<\/P><\/p>\n
\uff93We intend to use every Bahamian construction worker that wants to work on the project. I cannot envisage, when we open, that there will be one person out of work on Grand Bahama unless they don\uffb4t want to work.\uff92<\/P><\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson said RJH Holdings developed the MOON concept five years ago, and has spent over $5 million to draft the project and acquire the expertise needed to construct and oversee it.<\/P><\/p>\n
RJH, however, has no other tourism or real estate-based interests in the world, and according to Mr. Henderson, MOON is the company\uffb4s \uff93standalone project.\uff92<\/P><\/p>\n
\uff93Once [the Bahamas government] has hopefully come on board, we will move to our next stage which is the feasibility stage,\uff92 he said. \uff93And in that stage we will be producing documents from global experts on such things as the environment and the economic impact.\uff92<\/P><\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson said the studies could take up to a year to complete.<\/P><\/p>\n
Government officials have not yet made any comment on the proposal, although Mr. Henderson said the project\uffb4s proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Financial Services and Investments.<\/P><\/p>\n
The multibillion-dollar project was originally pegged for the Middle Eastern city of Dubai, according to a MOON release issued last December.<\/P><\/p>\n
The release indicated that Thailand and the Caribbean were the remaining frontrunners for the project\uffb4s location.<\/P><\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson said Grand Bahama was eventually chosen because, \uff93It\uffb4s got many unique things. The Grand Bahama Port Authority is an extremely well organized group [that] is very interested in innovation. We think that MOON fits in very well with their vision for the island.\uff92<\/P><\/p>\n
In Friday\uffb4s release, GBPA co-chairman Edward St. George is quoted as saying that the MOON project is both bold and unique, and that the GBPA believes that Grand Bahama is the ideal location for a project of MOON\uffb4s magnitude.<\/P><\/p>\n
MOON\uffb4s project sketches posted on the project\uffb4s official website suggest that the offshore development would be linked to Grand Bahama via a bridge or an over-water causeway.<\/P><\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson pointed out that, \uff93One of the attractions with Grand Bahama is that [it has] a fabulous airport with a new airport terminal just built. They\uffb4ve got a great new runway that has just recently been paved and can handle the heavier aircraft that we plan to bring.\uff92<\/P><\/p>\n
Critics have reportedly expressed doubt in the project\uffb4s feasibility, suggesting that the plan, which has as its central focus the moon, is too big and would be unable to attract consistent interest in its theme.<\/P><\/p>\n
But last January, the project\uffb4s team expressed its optimism in the potential success of the proposal, saying that the planned MOON resort already has 1,000 confirmed bookings.<\/P><\/p>\n
MOON officials have indicated their intent to include one of the world\uffb4s largest artificial reefs as part of the project\uffb4s overall plans.<\/P><\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson said the project, if approved, would be completed in 2010.<\/P><\/p>\n
Sharon Williams,The Bahama Journal<\/B><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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