Updates

A seawall nearly 400 feet long was added to Yntegra’s East Sampson Cay plans after public consultation had closed, the Supreme Court heard today. Fred Smith, KC, told the court it was a structure so large that “even Nygard never tried to do that.”

The Director of Environmental Planning and Protection brought a “zombie” environmental approval back from the dead when she twice revived an expired clearance for Yntegra’s East Sampson Cay works, in secret and without any legal power to do so, lawyers for Turtlegrass told the Supreme Court.

Counsel for Turtlegrass Resort and Over Yonder Cay takes a moment during a break to speak to members of the media about the judicial review of the Rosewood Exuma project's environmental approvals on September 30th, 2026.

A key environmental approval granted to Yntegra for its East Sampson Cay development was based on a different version of the project from the one the developer is now bound to build, lawyers for Turtlegrass told the Supreme Court.

The Director of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) breached her legal duties to the public when she approved Yntegra's Rosewood Exuma development on Sampson Cay, Exuma, the Supreme Court heard on Tuesday.

Fred Smith, KC, says public kept in dark as developers tried to gain a “foothold” on East Sampson Cay before the full resort was approved

Court told of secret permits, stakeholders forced into a “treasure hunt” for documents, and a single resort proposal “salami-sliced” into pieces to hide its full environmental impact

Gash was instructed to provide an independent review of the two documents at the centre of Yntegra's approvals: the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is required by the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP)

A dredged channel and seawall for a new fuel dock in North Bay of Sampson Cay would kill the coral reef and seagrass beds that draw divers and snorkellers to the area, a veteran Exuma charter operator told an appeal board, warning that the Rosewood Exuma project threatens both a fragile ecosystem and his livelihood.

An independent ecologist of almost 40 years reviewed the environmental case behind Yntegra's Rosewood Exuma approvals and found it "deeply flawed." The first of six expert reports, published in full.

Yntegra, the developer of the controversial Rosewood Exuma resort on East Sampson Cay, claimed it halted work on Sampson Cay as a voluntary act of “goodwill”. A new court submission points to the true motivation for their sudden halt to the works that were underway. The developer was told in writing by a government regulator that it had to stop.

Turtlegrass recorded a significant win today in its fight to protect East Sampson Cay, Exuma, after Yntegra agreed to halt all construction, clearing, excavation and related works until the next court date. The commitment is a direct result of Turtlegrass’ application for an emergency injunction following weeks of accelerating works on East Sampson Cay.

After two years of work, Turtlegrass has paused construction and laid off its 53-person Bahamian crew. Founder Bob Coughlin explains what happened, and the path forward for Sampson Cay and the North Bay.

The Greater Cincinnati Foundation talks to Bob Coughlin about 25 years of giving, Friends of Exuma, and why conservation in The Bahamas matters now.

Turtlegrass founder Bob Coughlin talks to the Cincinnati Business Courier about giving back, taking the long view, and his stand to protect Exuma's North Bay.

The Bahamas Supreme Court ordered Yntegra to disclose key documents it had withheld in the Rosewood Exuma case, documents that will give Bahamians a clearer picture of how this project came to receive its environmental approvals from DEPP.

The Supreme Court of The Bahamas granted an injunction prohibiting the developers of the proposed Rosewood Exuma resort on Sampson Cay from carrying out dredging and other works pending the determination of a judicial review application challenging the project’s environmental approvals.

Computer generated simulation illustrates the impact of proposed industrial dredging on Exuma's seagrass, conch nurseries and dive sites, while a simple alternative remains on the table: move the dock and industrial back-of-house facilities.

There is a straightforward solution to the situation in East Sampson Cay. Move the proposed industrial supply dock, fuel and waste facilities away from the North Bay and down to the south of Sampson Cay