SAVE EXUMA ALLIANCE WELCOMES HALT TO ROSEWOOD YNTEGRA SITE WORK

The Save Exuma Alliance (SEA) has welcomed the halt of development and construction activity at the Rosewood Yntegra site at Sampson Cay, while calling on the developer to honour its commitments regarding the nature and extent of construction activity.

The alliance, which represents a coalition of Central Exuma business owners, tour operators and residents, said it was encouraged by the decision to pause work but expressed concern that the halt came shortly before a Supreme Court hearing concerning an emergency injunction application related to the ongoing activity.

According to SEA, Yntegra offered to pause all development and construction activity in an August 11 letter, issued hours before the court hearing. A partial court injunction and a stay issued by planning authorities were already in place, restricting certain development and construction activities at the site.

SEA said it had observed heavy equipment being brought to the island and construction activity taking place in recent weeks, raising concerns about whether the work was consistent with statements previously made by Yntegra.

The alliance pointed to an August 7 affidavit in which Yntegra Head of Operations Nicolas Maclean stated that “no excavation has been undertaken.” SEA, however, said video footage from July and early August appeared to show excavators and earthmoving activity at the site.

The group also raised concerns over environmental impacts, including what it described as apparent movement of sediment beyond containment measures during work near the island.

SEA said the issue is ultimately about ensuring development takes place responsibly and in accordance with environmental protections, court orders and planning requirements.

“This is about protecting the environment, and making sure development is done in the right way,” the alliance said, stressing the importance of safeguarding Exuma’s land, waters and the livelihoods of communities that depend on them.

SEA also noted that a petition calling for a halt to environmental clearance for the Yntegra Rosewood project has surpassed 8,800 signatures.

The alliance continues to call for transparency, compliance with existing restrictions and greater protection of Exuma’s environment as the development proceeds through the relevant legal and planning processes.