Myles Ahead Ltd., a Bahamian-led development company, held its first informal community town hall meeting on Thursday evening, August 6th, introducing residents of Central Eleuthera to its proposed boutique 5-star hotel and residence development planned for the site of the original French Leave estate and, later, Club Med in Governor’s Harbour.
The event, held at Workers House in Governor’s Harbour, ran approximately two and a half hours, the majority of which was devoted to direct questions and discussion with the community.
Myles Ahead outlined a $200–250 million investment across roughly 93 acres, including a 40- to 60-key boutique hotel and up to 100 residences, to be developed in phases beginning in mid-2027, with the property partially open in 2029 and fully open in 2030.
The evening drew active engagement from more than 150 residents – some voiced support for the vision, while also raising direct questions about beach access, infrastructure, local realtor inclusion in real estate sales, the redirection of historical public access roads, and the pace of development. Some residents also provided recommendations about economic inclusion, community investments, and programs the project could support – feedback Myles Ahead says it welcomes as the project continues to take shape.
Among the details shared, public beach access at French Leave beach would increase from four points of access to five, with enhanced, paved pathways and new facilities for residents and visitors alike, said presenters.
“Tonight was exactly what we hoped for,” said Anthony Myers, Bahamian entrepreneur and one of the project’s lead partners. “We came to listen, and to ensure that the community understood our vision for the project included increased and enhanced beach access at French Leave Beach. We also learned about the community’s priorities and concerns, and that’s exactly the kind of engagement we held this town hall to facilitate, and we’re grateful for it.”
He added in a brief comment to local media following the town hall about the purpose of the night’s outreach, “It was really to introduce the project to the community and to get feedback, constructive feedback to help us plan and design not only from a physical standpoint, but also from an employment basis, from a social basis, to help build our program so we are well integrated within the community and that we can grow with the community. We don’t want to be separate from the community. We want to be a part of the community. We want the community to look to us as their neighbor, as their friend and their supporter.”
“We came to the community in the early stages of this project to hear the real questions about beach access, about infrastructure, about what this project will mean for daily life here, and we take all of it seriously,” said Dr. Alyson Myers, a Bahamian marine scientist and member of the development team. “This is the start of an ongoing conversation, not the end of one, and as we build out more of our commitments around training, entrepreneurship, and community development, we will continue our engagement with Central Eleuthera.”
Myles Ahead confirmed that Thursday’s town hall was the first of several community engagements as the project moves forward, with additional opportunities for public input to be announced. “This doesn’t end with one meeting,” said Anthony Myers. “We’re looking forward to continuing to engage with this community every step of the way.”
In a release on August 12th, the Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce President, Thomas Sands, voiced formal support for the proposed development, saying, “As the Chamber of Commerce, we are glad to see an experienced Bahamian-led team bringing this kind of investment to Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, and that they are starting the conversation with the community early… From what I heard and saw, a project like this has the potential for real opportunity for local businesses, and we look forward to the continued engagement as it moves forward… We are encouraged that the developer has committed to supporting commerce initiatives and fund-raising to execute those efforts.”
Myles Ahead has also outlined a series of commitments to Central Eleuthera beyond the development itself. On training, the company says it will partner with Bahamian training institutions, local schools, and hospitality partners to create apprenticeships and long-term career pathways, not just entry-level positions. On local business engagement, Myles Ahead is committing to sourcing Bahamian-made products and services during construction and throughout the operation of the development, alongside mentorship, hospitality-readiness training, and preferred-vendor pathways to help local businesses grow through the resort.
In response to community feedback, the company has committed to specific community projects in Governor’s Harbour, including a playground, dock and ramp access, and fencing improvements at Cupid’s Cay, while continuing to engage the community to help shape additional initiatives.
“Support like this from the Chamber means a great deal to us,” said Anthony Myers. “It reflects exactly the kind of partnership we’re hoping to build with this community as the project moves forward. As we continue our engagement and learn more about the community’s expectations, we intend to provide greater details on our commitments.”
