Former Deputy Prime Minister, and businessman, Brent Symonette (right) describes the developers’ plans to visiting Government Ministers and decision makers. Standing right to left behind Mr. Symonette are: Administrator Charles King; MP South Eleuthera, Damian Gomez; District Councilman and Contractor, Jason Thompson; Minister of State for Investments, Khaalis Rolle; and Bahamas Investment Authority Director, Joy Jibrilu.
(Eleuthera, Bahamas) – Brent Symonette, former Deputy Prime Minister and one of the principal developers in the proposed expansion of the Cocodimama Resort in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, has re-affirmed that funding is in place, and they are ready to begin phase one of the expansion of Cocodimama, as soon as final approvals are received from the government – with the hope of opening in time for the 2014 Christmas season. He did this during an interview on Friday April 19th as the resort group hosted two government ministers, Khaalis Rolle (Minister of State for Investments in the Office of the Prime Minister) and Damian Gomez (MP for Central and South Eleuthera and Minister of State for Legal Affairs) and a number of government agencies involved in the decision making process for approval of the proposed expansion plan for the resort.
Phase one is expected to involve preparation of the land, the inputting of infrastructure and the construction of an alternative public access road.
According Minister Rolle, the development group will not have long to wait, as government expects to act soon, enabling the project to move forward.
He stated, “It will be moved forward quickly. I brought down all the agencies involved in the decision making process, and the developer will go through the application phase. We hope to have this done very, very shortly.”
The Symonettes and Urgos present expansion plans to visiting government officials.
About his entourage, the minister commented, “The purpose of today’s visit is to review what is taking place, with the objective of ensuring that we get a development that is going to contribute significantly to the economy of Eleuthera off the ground.”
He continued, “It is important that people that have projects have funding and plans already drawn up. The government has to take a very proactive and diligent approach, ensuring that these projects get executed in the shortest time frame. That’s the only way that we are going to get economic recovery in this country.”
The two Ministers were joined by representatives of the Bahamas Investment Authority – Director, Joy Jibrilu and Investment Officer, Carol Young, as well as representatives from the Department of Lands and Surveys, Department of Physical Planning, the BEST Commission, Local Government’s Central Eleuthera Administrator, Charles King and other stakeholders.
Mr. Symonette along with the other principal developers; Donald Urgo Sr., Urgo Hotels; Sean Urgo, Urgo Hotels; and Craig Symonette, Chairman Bahamas Ferries; welcomed the visitors, giving them an overview of the nature of the proposed expansion. The developers envision taking the current 12 room resort to 70 rooms when completed, consisting of a mixture of private cottages, condo units, hotel public areas, and a re-diversion of the public access road.
Developers also shared that the new Cocodimama will operate independently within the Marriott Autograph Collection brand, following completion of the first 30 rooms. Plans also include construction of spaces for wedding and group events.
The former Deputy Prime Minister, added that there is interest in private homes, saying, “We have a number of interests in private homes, so they will be built quickly and efficiently – on demand – if we find that Eleuthera can take ten then we will build ten. The idea is to build them with local contractors, and they will have to be to the quality of the overall concept of the resort.”
Site plans show a complete transformation of the property around the beach, however, the former Deputy Prime Minister expressed their group’s plans for the resort to go as green as possible in terms of landscaping, as well as offering low impact recreation for the beach in terms of kayaks, sailing boats, paddle boards etc., saying they did not want jet skis and the like.
Commenting on airlift, Brent Symonette shared, “We’re hoping we’ll be able to attract persons who fly private aircraft which will help with the question of airlift.” A part of their plan, as described, is to target the high and ultra high net worth traveller – who would use their own aircraft to fly in to the island.
While he – at this early stage, did not offer any projections on the numbers of new employees expected to be hired should the project be approved, he did highlight the spin-off opportunities expected, in transport, catering, sport fishing, sightseeing tours, car rentals and other areas.
As a result of the visit, both ministers recommended holding a town meeting to share the resort’s expansion plans with the general public, including the diversion of the access road, highlighting the developers’ intent to ensure that the public continues to enjoy unhindered access to the popular beach where the resort resides, known by several names, including Alabaster Bay, Receiver’s Beach, and Brownie Beach.
Concerning the public meeting, Minister Rolle stated, “I will attend that also. I think it’s important to have the community involved in the decision making process, so they understand what government is trying to achieve, and what the developer is trying to achieve. It only makes sense, and I think that’s the way you get buy in and you get a project going with all the stakeholders agreeing that this is the path forward.”
The public meeting is tentatively scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, April 24th, at the St. Patrick’s Parish Hall, in Governor’s Harbour.
