NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A proposed seawall for Yntegra Group’s Rosewood Resort development on Sampson Cay has ignited a sharp war of words between the developer and the Save Exuma Alliance (SEA), with both sides trading accusations over transparency, environmental risks, and community consultation.
Community leaders aligned with S.E>A said they were blindsided after learning of plans for the massive seawall — a 390-foot-long, 40-foot-wide structure rising four feet above the water, which they argue could alter tidal flows, damage marine life, and shrink nearby beaches.
“This will be a huge structure,” local boat captain Keiran Miller. “It will change tidal flows, shrink nearby beaches and damage marine life. The fact that this was hidden until now makes us wonder, what else are they keeping secret?”
SEA noted the seawall only appeared in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) released on July 21, 2025, claiming no prior mention of it had been made public. The group said the project, already controversial for its scale — more than 70 buildings, two mega-yacht marinas, and major dredging works — is “shocking, dangerous, and disrespectful” to Exuma residents.
Environmental activist Joseph Darville said the seawall would “completely block a 7-foot-deep cut that is the primary source of tidal flow into the bay,” adding: “This is an absolute insult to the people of Exuma and shows a total lack of appreciation or respect for the local resources that support our business.” Was quote din the press release.
Estimates from experts familiar with the area suggest the structure could block up to 90 percent of tidal flows into an adjacent seagrass meadow. SEA member Captain Tito Baldwin called it “an outrage that anyone would think this could be done without properly consulting the community.”
The alliance, which has launched a petition that has already attracted more than 6,300 signatures, is demanding a halt to environmental clearance until further impact studies are completed and meaningful consultations take place.
But Yntegra strongly pushed back, labeling SEA’s claims “false and misleading.” The company said the seawall and service dock were disclosed in official filings as early as March 19, 2025, and republished after instruction from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) on May 21, 2025.
Yntegra further stressed the seawall design was a “good faith” concession to neighboring developer Bob Coughlin of Turtlegrass Resorts, who objected to the original dock location. According to Yntegra, the dock was relocated four times further away — from 300 feet to 1,200 feet — after Coughlin’s request, at a cost increase of $2–3 million.
“It is both disingenuous and unfair for Turtlegrass Resorts and its affiliates to demand concessions from Yntegra in the spirit of cooperation and only for SEA to weaponize those accommodations as if they were new or hidden developments,” Yntegra said.
The company said its process has been transparent, citing participation in public consultations, community meetings, and ongoing regulatory reviews. Yntegra also highlighted commitments to employ nearly 150 local workers and create entrepreneurial opportunities for Bahamians, including a café, bakery, barbershop, and Captain’s Lounge within the resort.
Yntegra emphasized its environmental credentials, noting the project is targeting LEED and Fitwel certifications, and expressed confidence DEPP oversight would ensure compliance with national standards.
“Yntegra continues to believe that the Rosewood and Turtlegrass projects can coexist,” the company stated. “However, repeated public misrepresentations and misleading attacks make it increasingly difficult to maintain that spirit of collaboration. We call on all stakeholders to act in truth and good faith, in service of the Exuma communities we all care about.”
SEA, however, maintains the project is fundamentally out of scale for Sampson Cay, arguing it risks transforming a pristine cay into an “overdeveloped destination” and urging Yntegra to downsize and relocate its designs to more suitable deepwater areas.
