PI developer calls for PM to reveal if crown land was leased to Royal Caribbean

Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club (PILH) Principal Toby Smith yesterday called on the prime minister to reveal whether the government has signed a crown land lease agreement with Royal Caribbean Group (RCG) while the land remains contested in the Supreme Court.

RCG released its economic impact assessment earlier this week outlining the company’s intention to begin construction on the Royal Beach Club project on western Paradise Island in October.

While RCG has already purchased some land on Paradise Island, it is seeking approval to lease an additional seven acres of nearby crown land.

Part of the property on which RCG plans to build its beach club is also the crown land Smith said government agreed in writing to lease to him for the development of his own beach club.

“Clearly Prime Minister [Dr. Hubert] Minnis favors foreign over Bahamian,” Smith said in a statement.

“Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club Co. Ltd. had to wait seven years to be offered a lease by the government, liaise with over 100 government workers, run around to 15 government agencies multiple times and made to break through roll upon roll of red tape.

“On the other hand, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines applies for Crown Land and within a few short months announces they have a crown land lease which runs over the all-Bahamian Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club project.”

Smith filed a writ in the Supreme Court on May 18, 2020 and is suing the government over five acres of land on the western tip of Paradise Island that he said he had an agreement with the government to lease for the development of a beach club project.

Smith claims to have a letter from government dated January 7, 2020 agreeing to lease his company the land.

RCG intends to invest $110 million into its beach club which it said would accommodate 3,500 guests daily and inject $1 billion into the economy over ten years.

The company said the project would provide 250 from construction through completion which is slated for May 2023.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/pi-developer-calls-for-pm-to-reveal-if-crown-land-was-leased-to-royal-caribbean/