Eva

If it makes you feel any better, I spoke to a friend who owns a home on Exuma about the Four Seasons. Although they are advertising the resort heavily, and slating it to open next year, most locals believe it will be 3-5 years before its ready,islandtime being what it is....

Robert

Yes, I agree about the 4 Seasons. It will have an impact on the island. Land will rise in price, land developers will come in with $ signs in their eyes, and start scraping out the "waste Land"(beautiful native grasses and other naturally growing flora), then parceling the land off into equally-measured lots, build alien-looking condos and "villas" sell and make enormous profits and then move on to the next undeveloped, pristine area. Kind of like what's happening in the U.S.A. Of course, "tootsie-frootsey" mini-malls will follow the land developers, and private beaches will replace community owned ones, like what's happened on Abaco. The Bahamians will lose their autonomy quickly. I suggest visiting Tortola, British Virgin Islands, where the entire government is eco-conscious. The beaches are owned by all, regardless of which land developer or hotel chain gobbles it up. And, the sturcture built cannot be taller than the surrounding palm trees. Trouble is, the Bahamians Ministers of Parliament take many kick backs and bribes, and the land developers pretty much get what they want. I'll take the Hotel Peace & Plenty, anytime. Robert

William

Robert, I so agree. P&P has an island flavor not yet ruined.

Howard

Fyi--Club Peace and Plenty modernized half of their rooms (#21 and up) last year and I belive are doing the others now. They really look nice.

Barry

I want to thank Howard, Robert, Fran, OP and William for all the kind words about the P 'n P. My father bought the Club in 1972 and has tried to keep the ambiance and 'out island' feeling all of you enjoy so much. To update all of you with some info. Ed Haxby's wife moved away a few years ago after Ed died of cancer. We found a great husband and wife team, Tom and Lynn Sutton to start up a new dive operation that he ran from the dock of the Club. Unfortuantly, (or fortunatly) he did so well that we decided to ask him and his wife if they would like to try their hands at managing the Beach Inn. They started this past June. Our new manager at the Club (started April '01) is Jeff Smith, a Jamaican who worked many years with Sandals. Charlie Pflueger does work for Palm Bay helping with the marketing, but I don't think their rest. is any where near opening. Same thing for the Four Seasons. My best guess is late '03. It is also 20 miles from George Town and shouldn't have the immeadiate effect that some people are afraid of. The local government, private people like myself and non-profits like the Exuma Foundation are working very hard at making sure that Exuma doesn't turn out like Harbor Island or Freeport. The Mariah Harbor Cay National Park is going forward. Basil Minns, (a local Bahamaian conservationist) has proposed some very tought rules for the park and quite an extensive area. His proposal will include half of Elizabeth harbor which will help to keep the boaters and the land based business from polluting the harbor. Yes, after 40 years of land deal after land deal property values are rising on the island. I know that our family and many others who love Exuma will work very hard to keep it the way it always has been. <BR>Barry

Robert

Barry; So nice to hear from you. You've got me hooked again; will most likely return to Exuma. I'm glad there's a grassroots effort to keep the pristine landscape and Elizabeth Harbor waters from becoming polluted. I first got into scuba diving by renting a Boston Whaler from the dive op, and snorkeled the patch reefs off Georgetown. After snorkeling with stingrays, moral eels, and beautiful reef fish, I, along with my wife and daughter, became scuba certified. We will return, and would enjoy helping out with the local conservation efforts. Robert