It is anticipated that the lives of Biminites will be greatly improved with the re-paving of King’s Highway on Bimini. An official ceremony commemorating the event was held at the North Bimini Ferry Dock on Friday, December 19.
Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, accompanied by Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for West End Grand Bahama and Bimini, the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, attended the ceremony. Also in attendance were: Minister of Education and Technology the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald; Director General of Tourism Mrs. Joy Jibrilu; Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister Sir Baltron Bethel; and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Mr. Creswell Sturrup. Senior Undersecretary in the Office of the Prime Minister in Bimini, Mr. Jack Thompson served as Master of Ceremonies.
After congratulating the Resorts World Bimini developers, Genting Group, who advanced the funds to the government for the cost of the road works, the Prime Minister said that this was “indeed a day of celebration for the island of Bimini.”
“Today is indeed an exciting one for the people of Bimini,” said Mr. Christie. “Chairman K. T. Lim has decided to place his confidence not only in the government of The Bahamas but also in the people of The Bahamas by displaying this gesture of goodwill.”
The government, he said, will re-pay the multi-million-dollar cost of re-paving via casino tax concessions to the resort over the next few years. King’s Highway is the main road in the main settlement of Alice Town, North Bimini, and leads directly from the commercial hub of Alice Town to Resorts World Bimini beachfront resort and casino.
Mr. Christie cautioned Biminites about purchasing vehicles to drive in Bimini. He said that although the island will be better able to accommodate more vehicles, with the new road, all measures will be taken to preserve the tranquility and ‘island feel’ which people have become accustomed to in Bimini.
“The government will take into consideration the possible disruption that could result in people purchasing vehicles to drive on the roads,” he said. “Even if it means, consideration will be given to limiting the number of the vehicles to one per household.”
Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe congratulated the Genting Group for their partnership with the government. Mr. Wilchcombe also spoke of the recent decision by President Barack Obama of the United States, to ‘soften’ some of its policies towards Cuba and ease travel restrictions to that island. He urged Bahamians, including Biminites to prepare themselves for this move.
“We must be optimistic about all that we have in this country but also be aware of the fact that although Cuba has been closed to the world for the past fifty years or so, the Cuban government has invested heavily in its human capital and, therefore, has an abundance of professionals, including doctors and engineers who have made major contributions all over the world.”
Resorts World Bimini Bahamas is a 750-acre beachfront resort and casino located on North Bimini Island. It is operated by the Malaysia-based Genting Group, which is headed by Chairman Mr. Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay.
In June 2012, Genting Group signed a deal to open Resorts World Bimini Bay. It included a partnership between Genting Malaysia Berhad and RAV Bahamas, the developer of Bimini Bay and Rockwell Island Beach Estates. The Resorts World Bimini Casino opened in June 2013 and is the only casino on the island and the closest offshore casino to South Florida. In late June 2013, Resorts World introduced the MS Bimini Superfast, a German-built ship that brings passengers from Miami to Bimini. The boat has a capacity to accommodate approximately 700 passengers.
Resorts World Bimini has some 480 townhouses and villas, six restaurants, the largest marina in The Bahamas, and gambling facilities. The marina has over 230 slips with vessels up to 200 feet. It is anticipated that Bimini will be able to attract over 500,000 visitors annually with the addition of the new facilities at Resorts World.
Prime Minster, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, centre, chats with Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, right, and Minister of Education and Technology the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald during a visit to Bimini on Friday, December 19. The Prime Minister and a delegation from Nassau were in Bimini to attend a ceremony marking the re-paving of King’s Highway in Alice Town in North Bimini. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Perry G. Christie lays a wreath in memory of the twenty passengers who perished on the ill-fated Chalk’s Ocean Airways Flight 101 en route to Bimini from Miami in December 2005. Eleven Biminites, seven tourists and two pilots perished in the incident. The wreath laying ceremony was held on Friday, December 19 after an official ceremony marking the re-paving of King’s Highway in Alice Town, North Bimini. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
