Resorts World Bimini Resort has seen a 30 percent increase in occupancy since its opening and is currently constructing a new 300-room hotel. Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie made the statement during the official opening of the Port at Resorts World Bimini on September 18. The majority of his cabinet ministers accompanied him.

Mr. Christie said that this signals more opportunities for Bahamians.

“I would like for you to listen very carefully to the jobs and economic impact of the Resorts World development,” said Mr. Christie. “Some 480 persons have been involved in construction and to date 488 persons are employed at the resort. When the new hotel opens some 800 persons will be employed permanently at the resort.”

The Prime Minister said that several infrastructural projects are also scheduled for Bimini and will take place during the upcoming months.

“Phase 1 of the cruise pier is now completed, and I am advised that the temporary Customs and Immigration building will be operational within one month,” said Mr. Christie. “The permanent Customs & Immigration building will be completed in six months time and will have space for a Tourism desk, tour operators as well as check in counters.”

In addition, the Prime Minister said that other amenities including a straw and craft market for local vendors, transportation pick up area, a beach restaurant, and a warehouse for local freight will be located landside of the deep water jetty. He said that the new jetty would facilitate more visitors to Bimini, and allow more of them to spend more time in the local community and more opportunity to stay over in local resorts. Further, Mr. Christie pointed out, there would be additional benefits.

“Limited service caused by weather conditions, tendering of passengers and lack of a deep water docking facility for the cruise ferry will now be a thing of the past,” he said. “The cruise ferry is now looking to attract some 1,000 persons per cruise six days a week, thereby creating a significantly increased economic impact on the resort, the community and Government revenue.”

Chairman of Genting Group, Mr. K. T. Lim, also delivered remarks. He said that he was ‘proud’ to be a part of the Bahamian community and ‘looked forward’ to making even greater contributions to the island.

With the construction of the new port, guests will spend up to six hours on the island of Bimini. Resorts World also announced that Bimini Superfast ferry would complement its current Friday, Saturday and Sunday cruise schedule from Port Miami with a weekday schedule from Port Everglades to Bimini every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday commencing on October 14, 2014. Just four months ago,

the runway of South Bimini International Airport was completed. The airport now has the capacity to accommodate night flights.

The Genting Group, a global company founded in 1965, operates Resorts World Bimini. It is the world’s largest Destination Resorts operator. Genting has Resorts World-branded properties in Asia, Europe, and North America and on all four oceans through 50 percent ownership of Norwegian Cruise Line and Star Cruises brands. Genting’s international partners include Universal Studios and Simon Property. The company has a combined market capitalization of $45 billion and employs more than 50,000 persons worldwide.

REMARKS BY

THE RT. HON. PERRY G. CHRISTIE, M.P., PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF RESORTS WORLD DEEP WATER JETTY

Good and great things continue to take place in the further development of the exotic island of Bimini.

It was only four months ago while on a jet aircraft with beautiful, balmy breezes blowing in the night skies, the pilot smoothly landed the aircraft on the runway of South Bimini International Airport, with the airport in full operation for the first time to accommodate night flights. It was another first for Bimini and for the partnership between The Bahamas Government and Resorts World.

I am delighted along with a large contingent of Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians, and officials to join with Chairman Lim and his team to participate in yet another milestone for Bimini Resorts World, the people of Bimini and indeed our vital tourism industry. We are here to witness and commemorate the first occasion that the magnificent cruise ship ferry, the Bimini Superfast is calling and berthing at the newly built deep water one thousand feet pier.

Phase 1 of the cruise pier is now completed, and I am advised that the temporary Customs and Immigration building will be operational within one month. The permanent Customs & Immigration building will be completed in six months time and will have space for a Tourism desk, tour operators as well as check in counters. A straw and craft market for local vendors, transportation pick up area, a beach restaurant and a warehouse for local freight will be located landside of the jetty.

The new jetty will facilitate a greater number of visitors to Bimini, allowing more of them to spend more time in the local community and more stay over guests in local resorts. Limited service caused by weather conditions, tendering of passengers and lack of a deep water docking facility for the cruise ferry will now be a thing of the past. The cruise ferry is now looking to attract some 1,000 persons per cruise six (6) days a week, thereby creating a significantly increased economic impact on the resort, the community and Government revenue.

I have previously commended the developers for the public/private partnership arrangements, with respect to the airport expansion, other infrastructural and community projects. It is particularly noteworthy that this multi-million dollar deep water pier is being funded and operated entirely at the expense of the developer, for the benefit of both the resort and the people of Bimini. In this regard I wish to call on more developers in the community to follow suit, rather than looking to the Government to fund such projects. Steady progress is being made on other essential components of Resorts World Bimini development. The combined day and night airlift and daily cruise ferry services will ensure better occupancies and results for the casino and hotel operations.

The casino is doing very well with increasing revenues each month to the point where its casino revenues are already the second highest in The Bahamas. It is expected that the new gaming legislation which shortly comes into force, will yield immediate benefits and allow the expansion of the casino offerings. The new cutting edge measures will make The Bahamas more attractive as a modern, competitive gaming jurisdiction. Government is grateful to Resorts World for the invaluable input and assistance that Mr. Dana Leibovitz made to this exercise. For the past six months Resorts World has operated a casino training school, having trained approximately 50 Biminites.

Overall the resort has seen a 30% increase in occupancy year over year. Today we also tour the constuction of the new 300 room hotel. It will be a five star stylish, sophisticated and seamlessly blend to Bimini’s beauty and charm with modern interiors. I am informed that the rooms should be completed in December and the lobby, food and beverage, entertainment and other amenities will be completed in late February, when the new hotel will be opened.

Ladies and Gentlemen, at this point in my remarks, I would like for you to listen very carefully to the jobs and economic impact of the Resorts World development. Some 480 persons have been involved in construction and to date 488 persons are employed at the resort. When the new hotel opens some 800 persons will be employed permanently at the resort. Moreover to ensure world class service standards and high level of guest satisfaction, extensive customer service training will be started by Resorts World in October for all employees both new and old.

Each time I have occasion to speak to events like this in Bimini, the moment is not lost upon me where I continue to remind the people of Bimini that it was never the intention of the Government of The Bahamas to approve such projects and not have the people of Bimini benefit in substantial ways. Whether as owners and entrepreneurs of businesses, landlords, service providers, whatever the opportunities are, the time is now to take advantage of them.

Master Planning for orderly growth, improvement and provision of adequate infrastructure, health, education and other social and public services, sports and recreational facilities, housing, public accommodations, public safety, environmental safeguards etc. are all matters which are being addressed. We realize that with increased development there will be a need to improve and increase facilities and services in Bimini. In this regard land utilization on both North and South Bimini is receiving my Government’s focussed attention.

Again, I wish to thank Chairman Lim and his partner Mr. Gerado Capo for their significant investments in Bimini. The challenges of building and successfully operating a major multifaceted resort project as you are doing in a small island like Bimini are considerable. It is appreciated that it will take longer to realize a profitable return on your investment, than would be the case in large cities with good infrastructure, modern services and a larger skilled and professional manpower pools. Nevertheless, I remain confident of the future success and profitability of your investments in Bimini within the near future as you complete the vital components now underway and planned, with my Government’s continuing support and the goodwill of the people of Bimini.