“Rosewood Exuma’s Massive Foreign Worker Plan”

EXUMA, BAHAMAS – TURTLEGRASS: “Rosewood Exuma/ Yntegra should be called upon to clarify its startling claims about job creation at its proposed development on tiny East Sampson Cay.”

The Miami developer has asserted that the project will create a whopping 500 jobs for “Bahamian families.” Recently, when a Bahamian legal process halted work at the site, it claimed 150 “people” were being prevented from earning a living. 

But how many of these 150 “people” are Bahamians? It is difficult to tell, given that their Heads of Agreement (HOA), made public in March, called for “…the approval of 100 work permits for skilled construction workers” (for non-Bahamians).  

It also allows for two Singapore-based construction contractors to obtain an undisclosed number of permits.

And, what kind of full-time positions are being reserved for Bahamians, given that the HOA also includes “…30 work permits for key managerial staff during the operation of the resort” (for non-Bahamians)?

While the developer continues to pay lip service to Bahamian employment, a significant number of jobs – and a staggering number of managerial positions – have been reserved exclusively for foreigners. 

The HOA, signed by Yntegra and the Bahamian government, further clarifies, “During construction Bahamian landscaping companies will be contracted to landscape the site….” Does this suggest that these are the only Bahamians who will be hired for development phase of the project?

“Why would a development claiming to support the people of Exuma negotiate such a huge and in my opinion, totally unnecessary number of foreign work permits into their agreement with the government?” asked Turtlegrass CEO Bob Coughlin. “Do they think Exumians and other Bahamians are not capable of doing the work?

“Meanwhile, their continued effort to push through a project that’s far too large and intrusive for the area, is actually blocking real Bahamian jobs that should have already been in existence by now.”

Turtlegrass Resort employs dozens of Bahamians, the majority coming from Black Point, the nearest major settlement to Sampson Cay. Development of the eco-resort started in May 2023, and is approaching the completion of the first phase at an expenditure of $25 Million, including substantial infrastructure to support growth. 

Phase 2 of the project including an expansive beach club, at an anticipated expenditure of $35 million, would have required doubling the workforce just in the construction phase, in addition to dozens of permanent positions for the operation of the resort. There were to be additional phases after that.

But the threat of Rosewood Exuma’s massive and destructive development, right on Turtlegrass’ doorstep, brought all efforts to pursue Phase 2 of the project to a grinding halt, to the detriment of the dozens of Bahamian craftsmen and businesses in Black Point and Staniel Cay.

“Sadly for Central Exuma employment, we had to pause our development due to the impact that Rosewood Exuma’s aggressive and impractical plans will have on our low-density resort that emphasizes the beauty of Sampson Cay. I’ve been coming to The Bahamas for 30 years and am a permanent resident. I consider this my home, and what they’re trying to do is enormously destructive to the pristine environment that makes The Bahamas, and in particular Exuma, special,” Coughlin said.

Coughlin added that Rosewood Exuma / Yntegra’s stated intention is to dredge a massive 1.4 acres of sensitive seabed and route all of their commercial shipping deliveries through the tiny North Bay of Sampson Cay. This is an area teeming with coral reef, juvenile conch, grouper, lobster, turtlegrass, and other vitally important marine resources.

“Converting the North Bay into a commercial shipping channel would create a very unsafe and dangerous situation for our guests and end any chance of creating a positive example of sustainable tourism in the Exumas – benefitting both the environment and the local economy for years to come. They want to turn this pristine marine habitat into a highway for supply ships and fuel boats. Totally impractical!”

“Rosewood Exuma should be called on to explain and justify their unsubstantiated and apparently unrealistic claims about local jobs. They say that they are all about creating jobs for the local community while they have negotiated to employ 100 foreign workers as well as two foreign contractors to build their development. At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words,” Coughlin said.