Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe assured during a recent interview with The Bahama Journal that while enough may not have been done for Grand Bahama’s economy in the past, the government has a plan to rescue that island from the tough economic times it is now facing.
“We have to be very realistic about this,” he said. “It’s not only [the Royal Oasis Resort] that’s a concern for me in Grand Bahama. The concern is that we did not have a plan for Grand Bahama.
“Grand Bahama has total amount 4,000 hotel rooms and [it’s] the second most populated island of The Bahamas. That’s nonsense. Grand Bahama needs no [fewer] than 10,000 hotel rooms if it’s going to be a viable tourism operation in this country and if it’s going to have a sustainable industry.”
Minister Wilchcombe, who is also the member of parliament for West End and Bimini, said he would like to get more room inventory in Grand Bahama.
The government, meanwhile, has not yet been successful in getting the Royal Oasis Resort sold.
The property was extensively damaged during Hurricane Frances in 2004 and the owners of the resort – the Driftwood Group – closed it for repairs, but is now facing serious financial difficulties.
More than 1,000 Grand Bahamians loss their jobs following the closure of the resort.
Minister Wilchcombe said the government is making good progress in its efforts to get the property sold, but it’s something the government has been saying for several months now.
“It’s very progressive,” the tourism minister said of the ongoing talks. “We have several buyers at the table. Lehman (Driftwood’s financier) is right now ensuring that the groups that are offering can meet the obligations. The due diligence is being carried out by our local offices because we have to ensure [that there’s] work being done to get the hotel up and opened again.”
He said there have been “major international interests” for both the resort and casino.
“So a number of things are happening simultaneously,” he told The Bahama Journal.
But as far as Free National Movement Leader Hubert Ingraham sees it, not only did the present government not have a plan for Grand Bahama, but it still has no plan for that northern island.
Mr. Ingraham said at a party rally in Freeport on Friday night that in its first three years in office, the FNM created 12,740 new jobs across the country; 1,560 of those jobs being in Grand Bahama.
He claimed that during its first three years in office, the Christie Administration has created 5,650 jobs, less than half of what the FNM created.
“In their first three years in office, they have created 420 jobs in Freeport,” he claimed.
“In three and a half years they’ve only managed to facilitate or create less than half the economic activity fostered by the FNM during our first three years in office. I tell you they are sitting down on the job and they’re getting paid on slack. That’s not right.
“By not creating enough jobs the PLP has lost the backing of the people to whom they promised hope and help.”
Mr. Ingraham said that Grand Bahama is a missed opportunity for Prime Minister Perry Christie and his government.
“I say that the failure of this government to take advantage of developments which took place here in Grand Bahama between 1992 and 2002 is astounding,” he said. “Their attempt to excuse their non-performance in Grand Bahama is an insult to the good people of Grand Bahama.”
He said the FNM government provided leadership, saved jobs and grew Grand Bahama’s economy.
Mr. Ingraham added that it was hard work and leadership by the FNM that facilitated the entry into the Freeport economy of: Polymers International; The Grand Bahama Shipyard/Care facility; the Bradford Marine Yacht Repair Facility; Port Lucaya Market Place and Marina; The Bahama Rock cement plant; the new Grand Bahama International Airport terminal, and numerous commercial and residential real estate developments which peppered the island’s landscape between 1992 and 2002.
“The PLP [is] not treating you right,” he told FNM supporters.
“But they do enjoy talking and promising. Now they’re promising yet another development for West Grand Bahama. The last time they made an announcement about investment for that area they had the shovels on the table, not on the ground.”
By: Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
