NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamian entrepreneur seeking to restore Paradise Island’s Lighthouse says “there is a lot to be concerned about” over Royal Caribbean’s $100 million beach club development, as he questioned why his project which is “ready to go” is being “held back.”
Toby Smith, the Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club Company principal said in a recent statement: “Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club Co. Ltd. is ready to go. We continue to push to restore our oldest lighthouse in The Bahamas, create a beach club to provide greater beach access to Bahamians and our guests, create employment and ownership opportunities for Bahamians.
“We have the support of the Bahamian people, we have raised more than $7 million for our project. Why do Bahamians have to fight so hard against our own and multibillion-dollar corporations to get started? We are seeking to employ an all-Bahamian, all-star team; why are we being held back?” questioned Smith.
Last week, Royal Caribbean’s president and chief executive Michael Bayley, while promoting the cruise line’s beach club development stated that Royal Caribbean plans to bring an additional 1.5 million visitors to Nassau within the next four years, describing the company’s Paradise Island beach club development as a “win-win.”
Bayley told Eyewitness News that he was “surprised” by the pushback the project was receiving from Atlantis, as he urged all tourism stakeholders to work together to introduce projects which improve the overall visitor experience on Nassau, with the destination receiving dismal rankings in that regard.
According to Royal Caribbean, 200 people will be employed at the $100 million development once completed, with the company reportedly having already invested some $60 million to date to purchase the land.
Smith queried: “Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club would like to know, is Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines operating under a lease for seven acres or has Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines now got a Cabinet Conclusion and in receipt of a four-acre Crown Land Lease?
“RCL cannot proceed with anything at DEPP until they can prove they have a Crown Land Lease, as identified by DEPP memo 1st April, 2022,” Smith continued.
