Stafford Creek NORTH ANDROS οΎ– Minister of Financial Services and Investments Allyson Maynard-Gibson announced Saturday that her ministry has formed a special division to expedite the applications of Bahamians for incentives under the Hotels Encouragement Act.
“When Bahamians apply to my ministry for the Hotel Encouragement Act concessions for this type of resort (small Bahamian family-owned resorts), those applications will be expedited, at the behest of the Prime Minister, who wants to ensure that we have resorts like this all over the country” she said.
Mrs Maynard-Gibson made the announcement while speaking at the opening of the nine-room Love at First Sight Fishing Lodge and Restaurant in Stafford Creek. She said Prime Minister Christie approached her last week and voiced the concern that Bahamians were not sufficiently benefiting from incentives afforded them under the law. Though her Government’s policy is to create a large scale “anchor development” on every major Island to fuel economies, Minister Maynard-Gibson said smaller, family owned resorts like Love at First Sight were also a vital part of the policy.
“…That is to have resorts just like this on each island , all over the island; family-owned hotels that exemplify not only the beauty of The Bahamas but the beauty of Bahamians” she said.
Mrs Gibson said the proprietor of the lodge, Sheila Blatch, and others like her send out the message that there are many opportunities for people who return to the islands of their birth and invest.
“So its only my job as Minister of Investments to support you as you come back, as you have requirements under our laws, as you need policy things in place, as you need us to move swiftly to assist you” said Ms Gibson. “I pledge my ministry’s total support to make sure that we expedite your applications and that your efforts come to fruition quickly.”
By: Raymond Kongwa, The Nassau Guardian
