by: BIS/Lindsay Thompson
The Government is assuring an economic boost for the Island of Exuma to the tune of $100 million.
This comes under a Heads of Agreement signed between the government and Sandals Resorts International for the redevelopment of Sandals Emerald Bay to Beaches Exuma Resort.
The HOA was signed during a press conference on Friday, November 21, 2025 at the Office of the Prime Minister, Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre on Cable Beach.
Present were: Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper; Minister of Economic Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Halkitis; Permanent Secretary Colin Higgs; Phylicia Woods-Hanna, Director of Investments; other government officials; Adam Stuart, Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International, and other resort officials.
The project will go out to tender in early 2026 with construction expected to begin in the second quarter of that year. The $100 million project will create some 450-construction jobs, and about 950 permanent jobs upon completion in 2027.
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper deemed it a great day for Exuma, the island of his birth. Also the Member of Parliament for Exuma, he said to Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stuart, “This is indeed a win-win…Success for you means success for Exuma … and [ I ] therefore look forward to having you back on the Island of Exuma.”
The project will go out to tender in early 2026 with construction expected to begin in the second quarter of that year.
Prime Minister Davis said he felt the pride and determination of the people of Exuma with the signing of the agreement.
“Exuma has a spirit that never dims – a confidence in its future, a belief in its people, and a steady resilience that has carried it through every season. And there is someone who brings that Exuma spirit into every room he walks into — the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Chester Cooper,” he said.
According to the prime minister, the story goes further, in that it is reflecting the redevelopment of the former Sandals Emerald Bay into Beaches Exuma – a $100 million investment and a full transformation into a family-focused destination over the next 24 months.
“But the dollars are not the heart of the story. The heart of the story is the people: the contractors who will get work, the small businesses that will feel the uplift, the young Exumians who will finally have a real pathway into the industry,” he said.
Independent assessments show that once the resort is fully open, it will support more than 1,500 jobs each year and attract tens of thousands of visitors.
“That means more money circulating in Exuma’s economy, more opportunities for families, and more strength across the Family Islands,” he prime minister said.
He shared that something else gives him deep pride; Sandals’ commitment to training young people on the island.
Sandals has agreed to a partnership with L.N. Coakley High School for a paid traineeship programme; 25 apprenticeships upon reopening, and an exchange initiative that will see Bahamians training in other Sandals properties across the Caribbean.
“This is exactly what we have been pushing for as a government — real opportunities that put Bahamians in a position to rise. When our people can upskill, when they can train, when they can earn while they learn, the entire country benefits,” the prime minister said.
He noted that Sandals has been a steady partner with the country for decades. Since 1995, they have invested more than $230 million in The Bahamas, and the Emerald Bay property alone generated more than $34 million a year in economic activity.
“Their contributions to our schools, our environment, and our communities have had real impact. Today strengthens that partnership and ties it directly to the national progress Bahamians are asking for,” the prime minister said.
It is anticipated that Beaches Exuma will bring more visitors, more jobs, and more possibilities for the people of Exuma.
Mr Stuart said the resort promises to be a spectacular one, adding “The resort will remain the same size in Phase I in this first $100 million.”
The resort will retain the Greg Normal Golf Course, and will also comprise a Kids Camp, a splash deck, pickleball facilities, sporting events and other outdoor activities, and other amenities, he said.
Multiple rooms will be converted to two, three and four bedrooms as family villas for multi-generational travel, said Mr Stuart, adding, “We will open with 10 new restaurant concepts.”
Concluded the prime minister, “Beaches Exuma will bring more visitors, more jobs, and more possibilities for the people of Exuma. And as we keep moving forward as a country, we stay grounded in one simple belief: progress must be felt in people’s lives.”
He thanked Sandals for its confidence in the country, and Exuma residents for their “resilience, their pride, and their belief in what is possible.”
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