In an effort to "facilitate the timely and orderly development" of Bimini, the government will establish an Office of the Prime Minister on the island.
A senior official will be posted to the office, which Prime Minister Perry Christie said would "strengthen the government administration" there.
He made the announcement during his speech at Monday's Bahamas Business Outlook, where he spoke at length about new developments expected to impact the economy in 2014.
Nine square miles in size, Bimini is currently undergoing major development at the direction of Resorts World Bimini, owned by the Malaysian Genting Group, which is expanding the already existing former Bimini Bay Resort to include an additional boutique hotel, a ferry terminal and other amenities projected to provide a significant boost to the local economy.
The project has stirred controversy, in part inciting claims that it has moved ahead without necessary permits, or due regard for the environment - claims Resorts World Bimini have denied.
Yesterday, MP for East Grand Bahama and shadow minister of finance, Peter Turnquest, questioned the need for an Office of the Prime Minister on the island, particularly during difficult economic times.
"The obvious question is 'to what end'? What exactly is this office going to do there? We've seen the Office of the Prime Minister in Abaco, we've seen the Office of the Prime Minister, which is now the Ministry of Grand Bahama... one would have to question what is the net benefit of all of these offices.
"Bimini like all out islands would have an administrator, and presumably he'd be the chief liaison with any government agency and the Office of the Prime Minister, and when you consider that the whole intent of local government is to devolve some of the powers of central government, how does that work in concert with establishing another central government agency on the island? It seems kind of counter productive in my mind," said Turnquest.

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