By JASMIN BONIMY, Guardian Staff Reporter, jasmin@nasguard.com

NEW BIGHT, CAT ISLAND: Residents attending a town meeting here on Thursday night expressed their overwhelming support for a proposed multi-million dollar development for the island that investors say will generate more than 900 full-time jobs when completed.

The proposed development, which is expected to be built on the island's southern tip adjacent to Fine Bay, will rest on 1,906 acres of land and is expected to create 937 full-time jobs and more than 200 construction jobs.

Government officials said the development would soon be approved, and construction could begin in "weeks".

Cat Island residents were introduced to the project and the developers at a town meeting held at the New Bight Primary School on Thursday night. Many called the development a blessing for their economically-challenged island, while others expressed their reservations.

The project's investors — the Cat Island Developers Limited — said the first phase of the development, pegged at $200 million, includes two miles of beachfront property, a 223 lot single and multi-family residential community, a 100 unit condominium hotel, a P.G.A. Golf Club and Village, along with a low-rise 200-room J.W. Marriot Hotel and a boutique casino. The estimated completion of the project's first phase is three years.

Hundreds of residents attended the meeting to share their opinions with the developers, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and more than a dozen other government officials who attended meeting.

Native of Devil's Point, Cat Island, Pembrooke Sutherland, said he fully supported the resort.

"Mr. Prime Minister, it is simple. The development is good for Cat Island. Bring it on. As for the casino, bring it on," he said as the crowd excitedly cheered on.

Sophia Seymour Russell, an Old Bight resident, said the development would help boost the careers of the island's younger generation.

"We need to get real with this thing tonight," insisted Russell over a cheering crowd. "I need the development to come in so that my children can be prosperous. I don't need my children to struggle the way I did."

But when an emotional 22-year-old mother of two addressed the crowd the festive atmosphere transformed.

A teary-eyed Angelique Brown chronicled her financial struggles as a young Cat Islander.

"I feel as though we really need this development," explained Brown. "The cost of living here is so high and for everyone here I know it is hard. As Cat Islanders, I feel as though we are our own worse enemies.

"Anytime you call for a change here, everyone is divided. I feel as though we need to...I'm sorry for my emotional break-down but I have struggled and struggled and struggled," she murmured among words of encouragement from the audience. "I've somewhat made it now but I know there are others like me that need to make it."

Still, not everyone supported the project.

Sammy Thurston, owner of Sammy T's Beach Resort, insisted that the large-scale development would interrupt the laid-back island feel of his community.

"What I have noticed in the last couple years is that we are creating small cities on every island. That is not good. We are soon going to put ourselves in one box as a tourist product," said Thurston.

"I should be saying yes [to this resort] because as a small resort, I will make money from this development," he added. "I will get a lot of money from the overflow. But I am saying 'no, no, no' because we need to step back a couple steps and think about what we are doing."

Others like Tony Ambrister, owner of Fernandez Bay Village, raised concerns over the availability of jobs for local workers.

"There are a lot of people that would like to be a part of a project that is of this magnitude but they need training so they can take these wonderful jobs that you guys are offering," said Ambrister. "When you open this hotel you're talking about 900 people being employed, which is more than half the population on this island.

"So it appears evident that you are planning on bringing in lots of people to run this. My fear is that Cat Islanders will be bypassed when it comes to actually getting these jobs," he added

Developer David Southworth replied by assuring those at the meeting that Cat Islanders would be given first preference for job opportunities.

"As it relates to the volume of jobs, it is our hope to start with Cat Islanders that are here," said Southworth. "Our hope is to start with Cat Islanders and Bahamians around the country that would like to come work and live in Cat Island. And then finally, in the beginning years and to the extent necessary, we will supplement the hotel staff with outsiders."

He added that this concept would be promoted by the website www.catislandjobs.com, where users can log on to apply for jobs at the resort.