The government will "not be bullied by" nor "bend to the will of any investor", Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments, Tourism and Aviation Chester Cooper said yesterday as he addressed the controversy surrounding the Turtlegrass development and Rosewood project on Samson Cay, Exuma.
Speaking at the Exuma Business Outlook in George Town, Exuma, Cooper said the government believes the Turtlegrass development can "coexist" with the planned Rosewood Exuma resort.
"I want to take this
opportunity to also address the issue of the Turtlegrass development led by an American businessman," Cooper said. "We believe the project can coexist with the Rosewood resort.
"This is a project I [have] always supported and want to see flourish.
"However, the government of The Bahamas will not be bullied by, or bend to the will of any investor, no matter how big or small the investment is. We will continue to employ best practice and environmental stewardship, and the people of Exuma will not sell their birthright for a bowl of porridge.
"We are a proud people and will not be influenced by any self-interest who want to have their own way to the potential detriment of the best interest of Exuma's progress. I will leave it there for now."
Last month, Yntegra Group broke ground on the Rosewood Exuma project, however, a group opposing the development said they would continue to campaign against what it sees as a "vastly oversized project that will destroy the Exuma cays".
At the groundbreaking in September, Prime Minister Philip Davis said he wholeheartedly supports the project. However, Save Exuma Alliance (SEA) has said it will not be deterred from trying to get the project scaled back and to protect Samson Cay's north bay.
One of the biggest detractors of the development of a service dock in the north bay is the future development's neighbor on Sampson Cay, Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club. Turtlegrass' owner Bob Coughlin, who is also a part of SEA, has already developed phase one of his project. He had hoped to give his visitors the experience of a pristine marine environment marked by coral reefs, sea turtles and a conch nursery.
Eric Carey, a leading environmental expert and former executive director of the Bahamas National Trust, launched a petition to halt environmental clearance for the Rosewood project.
"That massive seawall and service dock, if permitted, will forever change the tidal flow, alter nearby beaches and create a dangerous situation for fisherman, recreational swimmers and local tour providers," Carey said last month.
Yntegra has said the Rosewood project is low density, despite environmentalists disagreeing.
Cooper, the MP for the Exumas and Ragged Island, said Exuma remains a resilient economy.
The Sandals Emerald Bay transformation into a Beaches resort will come "to life" next year, he said.
He said the project has increased from a $100 million development to over $150 million.
"We expect to execute final agreements mid-November," he said.
Cooper said the new Beaches resort will create year-round jobs, build international prestige and generate spill-over businesses that spread benefits broadly across Exuma. Sandals Emerald Bay closed in August 2024 in what was initially expected to be an eight-month renovation period.
Cooper said despite the resort's temporary closure, Exuma still had robust employment and growth over this period, with almost 3,000 short-term vacation rental rooms on the island.
He said the government has attracted almost $2 billion of new investments for Exuma and its cays.
Cooper also said he donated a fire truck to add to Exuma's firefighting equipment, and his team has initiated the Exuma Volunteer Fire Brigade, which trains and mobilizes residents to deal with blazes quickly and safely.
He said his team will donate fire extinguishers to all businesses at the fish fry in Exuma, and representatives have spoken with victims of the 2024 fire there and "provided tangible support toward their rebuilding efforts, including support from the government and the donation of my MP salary".
He also said an ambulance was donated to Exuma's clinic yesterday.