THIS WEEK IN THE BAHAMAS BY ELCOTT COLEBY
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(11 – 15 MAY 2015)
clinic times;”>PM Christie opens Island House Boutique Hotel
With 30 luxury rooms, six luxury apartments, two restaurants, gym, spa, squash courts, yoga studio, meeting room, pool, movie theatre, a coffee bar, and 128 employees to pamper their high end guests, the $40 million luxury boutique hotel, the Island House Boutique Hotel was officially opened on Monday of this week. Delivering the keynote address was Prime Minister Christie who thanked the Holowesko family for their belief in the Bahamian economy and for taking the risk to invest in a segment of the economy traditionally dominated by foreign investors. The Prime Minster touted the economic impact of the investment including increased public revenue and repeated the call for more Bahamians to invest in tourism related projects. The Island House is located in the hills just outside Lyford Cay.
Four Seasons Resort to boost South Eleuthera economy
After a quarter of a century of waiting, the residents of South Eleuthera are set to benefit substantially from a major economic stimulus involving one of the world’s most respected hotel and hospitality brands, the Four Seasons.
A Heads of Agreement between the government of The Bahamas, the Cotton Bay Holdings Limited and Mine Holdings Limited for the construction of a five star, $100 million luxury 115 room boutique hotel, 40 private residences, an 18 hole world class Robert Trent Jones golf course, spa, restaurants, recreational facilities, a commercial shopping center and employee housing. This first phase will create 200 direct construction jobs and 300 hotel jobs during operations.
“This day will mark the beginning of the renaissance of tourism on the beautiful island of Eleuthera” said Prime Minister Christie in his keynote address. Commenting further on additional jobs to be created in support services and infrastructural upgrades, the Prime Minister pointed to the planned upgrade of the Rock Sound International Airport.
“South Eleuthera airport facilities will be upgraded to international IATA standards and allow for day and night time commercial and private international flights with refueling and adequate passenger and luggage facilities as well as improved local emergency services to meet the brand standards of Four Seasons and other significant touristic developments taking place in the immediate future” said Prime Minister Christie.
Tourism Minister Hon. Obie Wilchcombe added that the government has facilitated a successful turnaround in the economies of Grand Bahama and Exuma and he fully expects the same for Eleuthera. He explained that The Bahamas was blest and privileged to have so many great hotel brands marketing its tourism products internationally but The Bahamas remains one of the greatest brands in the world.
The resort is expected to break ground before the end of the year under the watchful eye of its principal, Colombian born Dr. Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo, a resident of Eleuthera.
Immigration amendment bill 2015 comes into force
Having been signed into law by the Governor General on Friday 8th May, the Immigration Amendment Act 2015 and attendant regulations came into force on Monday. In a statement released by the Minister of Immigration, Mitchell said that “this is a pleasing development and one which will strengthen the hand of the Department of Immigration as it seeks to stem the tide of unlawful migration in The Bahamas.”
The Act will amongst other things provide for stiffer penalties for illegal landing, for harbouring illegal migrants and for making attempts to leave this country to be smuggled into another country. The Act will also make it an offence to enter into a fraudulent marriage and will strengthen the powers of arrest of Immigration Officers. READ MORE.