The Claim: The PLP promises Bahamian ownership and government support in the tourism industry.
The Truth: The abysmal track record of the PLP regarding tourism investment deals shows that this party has a history of backdoor deals, which sell out Bahamians while benefiting a select few well-connected cronies.
Perry Christie and the PLPs promised to “give priority to Bahamians in all circumstances and opportunities for development.” Instead, under the pretence of a joint venture and “new model for the Family Islands”, Perry Christie, Allyson Maynard Gibson and the PLP government tabled legislation to enable the “greatest land giveaway of our time” to the Boston based I-Group, which openly supported the PLP’s 2007 election efforts.
The party slated for sale nearly 10,000 acres of waterfront and beachfront Crown Land as well as significant wetlands at prices well below market value. Imagine if foreigners owned all the coastal land from the eastern end of New Providence to Lyford Cay, relegating local residents and any future tourism development only to the interior sections of the island.
The agreement also offered unprecedented concessions such as 20-years of exemption on business licence fees, stamp duty and real property tax. It would have also given the I-Group exclusive rights to grant licenses involving the development, allowing the company to essentially control how the island would develop.
True to character, the Christie administration ignored the “small man,” with citizens of Mayaguana protesting the potentially severe limitations to beach access and opportunities for land ownership for them and their children.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Minister of Tourism and Aviation Vincent Vanderpool Wallace rightly determined that this agreement under the PLP was not beneficial to the Bahamian people and prevented the deal from proceeding under the original terms.
They don’t deserve a second chance and we can’t afford the risk of gambling our future.
Same PLP. Same Empty Promises.
