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FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2025
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Grand Lucayan redevelopment project to create 1,750 jobs By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@trribunemedia.net THE $827m Grand Lucayan redevelopment will create more than 1,750 permanent jobs, it was announced yesterday, in what is a landmark deal for Grand Bahama. Prime Minister Philip Davis said the redevelopment of the hotel signals a “turning point” for the island that will create opportunities and change lives. Speaking at the signing of the heads of agreement (HOA) with Concord Wilshire yesterday, Mr Davis said the resort village will include three new hotel buildings, a casino, megayacht marina, golf course, water parks and retail spaces. “The Grand Lucayan redevelopment is very ambitious. And rightly so. At the heart of this redevelopment is an integrated resort village that will create jobs, restore confidence, and give Grand Bahama the momentum it deserves,” said Mr Davis. “That means three new hotel buildings. A full-scale cruise resort. A revitalised 25,000-square-foot casino. A Greg Norman-designed golf course. Over-the-water cabanas, beach clubs, family attractions, water parks, retail spaces, restaurants, music venues — and a 16-slip mega-yacht marina.” He said that as a result of the redevelopment over 1,300 jobs will be created in the construction phase and 1,750 permanent jobs will
be available once the resort is opened. “Thousands of Bahamians will have an opportunity to earn, to grow, and to build a future for themselves and their families, right here at home,” said Mr Davis. “We’ve said clearly: Bahamians must be at the centre of this. At least 80% of these jobs must go to our people. That’s not just a condition—it’s a conviction. Because we know the skill is here. The talent is here. The work ethic is here. What’s been missing is opportunity.” Mr Davis said the Grand Bahama International Airport will also be remodelled to accommodate the development and attract more airlift. “What we’re building here at the Grand Lucayan is not a stand-alone project — it’s part of a wider, more connected vision for Grand Bahama,” said Mr Davis. “We are moving ahead with a new, modern airport that matches the scale of Grand Bahama’s ambitions — able to attract more carriers, handle more capacity, and offer visitors a first impression that reflects the quality of what this island has to offer.” Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said the redeveloped hotel and the surrounding area is “a key plan in the overall ecosystem of Grand Bahama”. He noted that air arrivals to Grand Bahama have already increased by 11.6 percent and with the opening of Carnival’s
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BACSWN’s US deal for system to help improve flight safety By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@trribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN company has become the first in the region to cement a deal with the United States for an advanced aviation forecast system. The Bahamas Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to develop and install an advanced aviation forecast system that will improve flight safety for airlines traversing the country’s airspace. Dr Steve Thur, assistant administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and acting NOAA chief scientist, said the agreement will also allow NOAA to access additional weather observations, which will be used to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts. He said the agreement is a “win-win”, as the data sharing will improve aviation safety and severe weather tracking for both nations. “[About] ninety percent of the visitors to The Bahamas come through the US or from the US, and so this partnership
THE BAHAMAS Aviation Climate and Severe Weather Networks Ltd (BACSWN) signed an agreement with the US government licensing technologies to help improve flight safety through Bahamian airspace. The technology will also seek to improve forecast accuracy for severe weather events.
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DIR defends advance business licence payments BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net PAYING business licence fee estimates is the equivalent of paying for a product before you get it, according to the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR). With some businesses expressing their disapproval of the policy that calls for business licence fees to be paid in advance, DIR’s training and communications manager, Beaumont Todd, at the Institute of
Chartered Accountants’ (BICA) SMP seminar, yesterday, clarified that a “business licence is actually a product that you’re actually paying to have to continue your business” supporting the idea that you have to pay for it before you can get it. “So the thing is, most persons, when they go into a business and you have to purchase a product, do you get the product before you purchase it and pay for it, or do you get a product after
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Developer promises ‘unique’ destination at Grand Lucayan BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net A MIAMI-BASED developer and the government sighed a heads of agreement to reinvent the Grand Lucayan into “one of the most unique mixed use destination resorts in The Bahamas”. Concord Wilshire’s president, Nate Sirang, revealed the company’s goal of revitalising the resort at its head of agreement signing, yesterday. “What we’re creating and developing here is really one powerful economic resort engine with
seven different integrated cylinders,” Mr Sirang said. “In short, in order for us to ignite these different seven cylinders, we need to control finance and integrate seven different resort elements. First, a 35-acre cruise ship destination resort open to all cruise lines, local residents and hotel guests. And second, a 25,000 square foot indoor and outdoor poolside Casino. Third, a 350-key branded Hotel Resort and Convention Center. Fourth, 120-unit timeshare, residential resort. And fifth, the conversion of the existing reef golf course to 160 acre Greg Norman
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