Sarah Bretz, ContributorConstruction has officially been completed at Disney Cruise Line’s newest destination in the Bahamas, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Lookout Cay is located at the southern end of the island of Eleuthera, which is located east of Nassau and south of Disney’s other private Bahamian destination, Castaway Cay.
Disney executives and cast members, community members, and Bahamian officials gathered together on Thursday at Lookout Cay in front of the brightly-colored, Junkanoo-inspired Goombay Cultural Center for a celebration of the completion of the project. The event included remarks from the line’s leadership team, Prime Minister Philip Davis, Deputy Prime Minister/Tourism Minister Chester Cooper, and Minister of Works and Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera Clay Sweeting.
“We are excited to celebrate the opening of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point with the Bahamian community,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Cruise Line. “The making of our second island destination in The Bahamas has been an incredible collaboration. We’re so proud of the relationships that we’ve built here in the community and the unique story that we’re telling together. We look forward to welcoming our first guests to the island, where they will experience the spirit of The Bahamas with a special touch of Disney magic.”
Guests were also treated to a performance by a group of local Junkanoos featuring the winning teams of this year’s Junior Junkanoo competition from Tarpum Bay Primary and Preston H. Albury High School in Eleuthera.
The new development created hundreds of construction-related roles for Bahamians, more than tripling the number of jobs Disney committed to before the project began. It will open with an all-Bahamian leadership team and has created nearly 200 high-quality roles for Bahamians.
‘Disney’s collaboration with Bahamian creative communities resulted in a truly unique cultural experience in South Eleuthera,’ said Antonius Roberts, a popular Bahamian artist. ‘Visitors and locals alike will be enlightened and entertained by the powerful stories shared by local musicians, artisans and storytellers. I am proud to have played a part in bringing this vision to life and believe that Disney’s commitment to promoting cultural understanding and appreciation will leave a lasting impact on all who visit Disney Lookout Cay.”
To celebrate the opening of Lookout Cay, Disney is investing $1 million to support youth programs, school playground improvements, and a community sports spaces — in addition to its other ongoing initiatives to support community needs. This investment also includes support from the Disney Conservation Fund for youth education focused on conservation in central and south Eleuthera.
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