$250m development announced for Long Isl.

Travis Cartwright-Carroll October 7, 2022

The government yesterday signed a heads of agreement with Azul Destinations and Calypso Cove Development for a $250 million plus cruise port terminal, marina and luxury residential resort in south Long Island.

Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper said the development, which will be called Calypso Cove, will include a 200 room hotel, mega yacht marina facilities, interior pools and lagoons to support water park activities, a recreational lighthouse and a Junkanoo art plaza.

It will also feature a zip line, rock climbing wall, sporting activities, excursions and an 18 hole professional miniature golf course.

“This is an important day for all of us,” Cooper said during the signing at the Office of the Prime Minister.

“We are delighted that we have gotten to this stage in record time. I believe this is a testament to the many improvements we’re making at the Bahamas Investment Authority to continue the ease of doing business in our country.”

The project took eight months to get approval.

More than 300 people will be employed when construction begins, Carlos Torres De Navarra, principal of Azul, said.

Torres De Navarra said the group hopes to break ground by late 2023 or early 2024.

“It will be a two-year process in terms of construction and getting ready for operations,” he said.

Torres De Navarra added, “Our goal is employ as many Bahamians as possible …

“We have already hired a number of Bahamian firms that have been doing the studies for us.”

He said he fell in love with Long Island right away.

“From the moment we landed, the warmth of the people that we met, the fortitude and the trust that they placed in us is something that none of us take for granted,” Torres De Navarra said.

“It is an amazing opportunity and it is something that we don’t take for granted.”

He said, “I think I speak for all us; we believe that we will have an amazing opportunity for Long Islanders in terms of employment, in terms of economic development for the entire island, as well as neighboring islands.”

Asked about the airport on the island, Cooper said the government is looking to issue requests for proposal either later this year or early next year.

“There is a plan already in the works for the airport,” he said.

“This is going to be a key requirement for the type of development that we see here. There is already a preliminary design and we expect there to be a PPP on the development of the airport.”