[PRESSWIRE] NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS, 27 October 2026 – The Save Exuma Alliance, a coalition of environmentalists, community leaders and residents of the Exuma Cays, has made an urgent appeal to King Charles III on the eve of his visit to The Bahamas on 27 October, asking him to use his voice at next week’s Commonwealth summit to protect the region’s coral reefs and seagrass meadows from large-scale resort projects.
The letter, written by Save Exuma Alliance (SEA) and Eric Carey, former Executive Director of the Bahamas National Trust, comes amid a fierce local backlash over a proposed $200 million luxury resort on Sampson Cay in the Exumas, developed by Miami-based Yntegra Group and set to be operated by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Plans include two megayacht marinas, a floating helipad and a floating padel court, with activists and coalition members warning that extensive dredging and marine construction threaten irreversible damage to coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
More than 9,000 people have signed a petition demanding a halt to the Rosewood Exuma project, which is now at the centre of a landmark Supreme Court battle – the first major test of The Bahamas’ environmental protection laws introduced in 2019. A ruling is expected in early 2027, with far-reaching consequences for development across The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
SEA and Eric Carey are appealing to the King’s longstanding commitment to environmental conservation, urging him to use the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda to press member governments to honour their commitments under the Commonwealth Blue Charter. The letter calls on His Majesty to champion stronger protections for the region’s fragile marine ecosystems, with independent environmental impact assessments, greater transparency in development approvals and meaningful consultation with local communities at the heart of future development decisions.
The UN’s landmark 2026 World Ocean Assessment warns that coastal development and dredging are contributing to the degradation of vital marine habitats, including seagrass meadows. In The Bahamas, these activities threaten fragile marine ecosystems that sustain biodiversity and play a crucial role in combating climate change by absorbing and storing carbon that would otherwise contribute to global warming.
Protecting these ecosystems is also a matter of national heritage. The Queen Conch, a cherished symbol of Bahamian identity featured on the country’s coat of arms, is already listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. A recent Inside Climate News investigation revealed that waters near Sampson Cay serve as an important nursery for juvenile conch, raising serious concerns about the impact of proposed dredging on the seagrass habitats and tidal flows essential to their survival. Marine scientists warn that disrupting these delicate conditions will cause lasting damage to an already vulnerable species.
Eric Carey, former Executive Director of the Bahamas National Trust, said:
“The King has admirably spent decades warning about the damage irresponsible tourism can inflict on the natural world. Now, those exact threats are unfolding in front of our very eyes.
“Quite simply, our country’s ecological future is being sacrificed in the pursuit of private profit. We are urging His Majesty to use his unparalleled influence to ensure Commonwealth commitments translate into real protections for our marine ecosystems, before it is too late.”
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.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Media contact: exuma@maltinpr.com
Images and videos can be found on the Save Exuma Alliance website, here. Further images are available on request.
The Save Exuma Alliance (SEA) is a Bahamian community coalition comprising local residents, business owners and environmental advocates dedicated to protecting the Exuma Cays from environmentally damaging development. While supportive of responsible economic growth and tourism investment, the organisation has emerged as a leading critic of Yntegra Group’s proposed Rosewood Exuma resort on Sampson Cay. SEA argues that the project’s planned dredging, marina infrastructure and scale threaten sensitive seagrass habitats, marine biodiversity and the area’s established tourism economy.
SEA is a member of Cancel Rosewood, an international coalition of grassroots organisations challenging Rosewood Hotels & Resorts over the environmental and social impacts of its luxury developments. Rosewood is accused of pursuing developments in some of the world’s most ecologically sensitive locations, raising serious questions about the compatibility of its luxury hospitality model with its stated sustainability commitments. Campaigners argue that Rosewood’s projects risk prioritising the interests of wealthy tourists and developers over the protection of fragile ecosystems and the concerns of local communities.
Eric Carey is a prominent Bahamian environmental advocate and conservation expert, best known for his 15-year tenure as Executive Director of the Bahamas National Trust. During his leadership, Carey helped transform the organisation into one of the Caribbean’s leading conservation bodies, expanding its workforce, strengthening the national parks system and overseeing the raising of more than $60 million in funding.