The government announced yesterday that Resorts World Bimini will invest an additional $450 million into its project.
During a supplemental heads of agreement signing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Perry Christie said an additional 100 permanent jobs and up to 60 more construction jobs will be created before the end of the year as a result of the move.
"The Resorts World entities and BB Entertainment (Limited) have revised their business plan from an investment of $150 million in the resort project to now $600 million," Christie said. "Some of the main components comprised the following; firstly, a new luxury Hilton-branded 300-room hotel now nearing completion. Some 200 rooms have been activated and works to do with completion of the lobby and an additional 100 rooms and connections with the casino are soon to be completed."
As part of the revised plan, Christie said the developer has also committed to expand Bimini's airport, construct a new water taxi ferry station, create a master plan for the development of north and south Bimini, pave King's Highway and upgrade the Fountain of Youth spring. The developer also plans to acquire local fishing boats, construct a deep water jetty capable of accommodating the Bimini Superfast Ferry and build a 448 unit to house employees.
Christie said in the supplemental agreement, the government has granted the developer certain options. These include lengthening the Bimini airport runway to 9,000 feet and upgrading the terminal and flight facilities; the development of a water taxi terminal on the lagoon side of the airport; construction of an additional hotel with a minimum of 200 rooms; the construction of a landing facility for amphibious aircraft and to build a heliport at the resort.
The prime minister noted that the government and developer have agreed to resurface several roads on Bimini and will increase the investment in infrastructural upgrades from $10 million to $15 million.
Noting that the developer has committed to creating new jobs for Bahamians this year, Christie said at present, 525 Bahamians are employed at the resort. He said around 200 construction jobs have been created during the various phases. Resorts World Bimini also plans to launch training programs abroad, including an apprenticeship program for employees.
Officials of the company said they look forward to getting more people to work. They said with the various expansion projects, the resort will become a "jewel, not just in The Bahamas, but in the entire Caribbean". The resort completed the first phase of its port facility in September 2014.
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