NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A neighboring resort developer is calling for a major redesign of the proposed Rosewood Exuma project, arguing that relocating planned industrial facilities could resolve legal disputes and accelerate development across the region.
Bob Coughlin, CEO of Turtlegrass Resort and an investor in nearby projects, is urging Florida-based developer Yntegra Group to move a planned industrial supply dock, fuel depot, and waste facilities from the North Bay of East Sampson Cay to the island’s southern shoreline, where he says deep water already exists and dredging would be minimal.
Coughlin described the proposal as a “straightforward solution” that could end ongoing legal conflicts, reduce environmental risks, and remove uncertainty affecting investment decisions in Central Exuma.
The dispute centers on Yntegra’s plan to establish marine infrastructure on the North Bay, an area Coughlin says borders the island’s only shared beach and shallow waters containing seagrass, reefs, and marine habitats. He argues that constructing a commercial shipping channel there would require extensive dredging and could undermine the tourism-driven economy that neighboring developments depend on.
Coughlin said his company has raised the southern alternative repeatedly since Yntegra announced its plans three years ago but claims the idea has not been seriously considered. He warned that continued insistence on the northern location is delaying progress for multiple stakeholders in the area, including existing resorts and planned projects.
Turtlegrass Resort signed a Heads of Agreement for its site in 2023 — a year before Yntegra’s agreement — and describes itself as the largest active employer in Central Exuma. Coughlin emphasized that his company supports development but believes industrial facilities should be separated from high-end tourism zones.
He also questioned environmental assumptions surrounding the project, noting that concerns about dredging impacts were raised by residents during a recent town hall in George Town. According to Coughlin, no environmental modeling has been publicly presented to support claims that the North Bay consists largely of sandy bottom with limited ecological impact.
The North Bay location sits between the Turtlegrass project and Over Yonder Cay, a luxury private-island destination. Coughlin said developers in the area — including interests connected to Staniel Cay — have publicly called for relocation of the dock, arguing that industrial shipping and waste facilities are incompatible with the region’s upscale tourism model.
As an alternative, he pointed to the southern end of Sampson Cay, where Yntegra is already planning two marinas covering more than ten acres. Consolidating those marinas, he said, could free space for industrial operations while preserving the broader resort vision. He cited nearby developments such as Highborne Cay and the proposed Torch Cay project as examples where marina and supply operations coexist.
Coughlin said his company remains open to dialogue, arguing that the delays and legal challenges facing Central Exuma stem from a single planning decision that could still be revised.
