Top things to know
- Developer Bob Coughlin holds 124 acres of Crown Land on Sampson Cay in the Exumas, where eco-resort plans reportedly shifted to a private residence without regulatory approvals.
- The layoff of 53 Bahamian workers prior to an election and ongoing construction on the cay have generated sharp local opposition.
- Public relations firm Diane Phillips and former Bahamas National Trust head Eric Carey formed the Save Exuma Alliance, involving figures such as Joseph Darville, Paco Nunez, and Paul Aranha.
- The Save Exuma Alliance has formally requested a meeting with King Charles III during his visit to Bonefish Pond National Park or in London to address environmental threats.
- The dispute highlights broader questions regarding Crown Land tenure, developer obligations, and historical environmental stewardship in the Exuma Cays.
Controversy surrounds a 124-acre tract of Crown Land on Sampson Cay in the Exumas, where plans originally presented for an eco-friendly resort development have given way to the unauthorized construction of a private family residential compound. Developer Bob Coughlin holds the Crown Land lease on the cay, where local concerns have escalated over development commitments, labor layoffs, and ongoing environmental governance across the Exuma island chain.The Sampson Cay property was initially designated for a commercial eco-resort project intended to bring economic activity and employment to the area. However, reports and documentation indicate that the original development model was secretly altered to construct a private compound for single-family use with no neighboring developments. Ahead of a general election, 53 Bahamian workers employed at the site were laid off, while construction activities proceeded without required government exemptions or statutory planning approvals.In connection with the project and surrounding disputes with neighboring property owners, public relations firm Diane Phillips was engaged alongside former Bahamas National Trust executive director Eric Carey to establish an organization named the Save Exuma Alliance. The group, which also involves figures including Joseph Darville, Paco Nunez, and Paul Aranha, was formed as an entity to campaign on local island environmental issues and direct public attention toward surrounding developments on the cay.The operational setup of the Save Exuma Alliance has drawn sharp scrutiny regarding its backing, objectives, and leadership. Critics have pointed to historical conservation decisions in the region, specifically noting that during Eric Carey’s tenure leading the Bahamas National Trust in 2009, the trust did not oppose dredging and excavation within the protected Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park during development on Bell Island by the Aga Khan, which coincided with a $1 million donation to the organization.Despite local friction and scrutiny surrounding the Sampson Cay property, the Save Exuma Alliance has sought international engagement regarding Bahamian conservation threats. In a formal press statement issued by Carey on behalf of the coalition, the organization announced an effort to secure an audience with the British monarchy. "The Alliance has requested a meeting with His Majesty during his visit to Bonefish Pond National Park on 28 October, or subsequently in London, to discuss the environmental threats facing The Bahamas," the statement detailed.The situation on Sampson Cay underscores ongoing discussions in the Bahamas regarding Crown Land management, foreign investment obligations, and the oversight of major property developments in ecologically sensitive island areas. Questions remain regarding the status of the 124-acre Crown Land tenure, the enforcement of initial development conditions, and whether an official audience with King Charles III will be granted to discuss the environmental concerns raised by the alliance.