The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A former Cabinet Minister yesterday called for greater transparency over a proposed masterplan for Georgetown’s redevelopment, while also urging February Point’s developers to stop using “Star Trek” language to describe their progress.

George Smith, who is also an ex-Exuma MP, told Tribune Business that all residents in Georgetown and the surrounding area should see the proposed ‘masterplan’, which is being developed jointly by the Government and February Point’s new owners, and provide feedback on it.

While backing the initiative, Mr Smith said this was the “fifth or sixth” move to redevelop the Georgetown area, and none of the previous efforts had ultimately materialised.

“The Office of the Prime Minister had invited people to bid on the masterplan for the redevelopment of Georgetown,” Mr Smith told Tribune Business.

“That’s very good and I admire that, but that’s the fifth or sixth plan for the Georgetown environment and none have materialised. There ought to be a masterplan but there isn’t.”

He added: “People in the immediate area, especially in Georgetown and the immediate environment, have a right to know what the masterplan is.”

Burton Rodgers, February Point’s vice-president of operations, told Tribune Business last week that the February Point owners were also prepared to convey 150 acres to the Government to aid Georgetown’s redevelopment, which will be driven by a masterplan developed by both parties.

Agreeing that February Point was “integral” to Georgetown’s future and economic development, Mr Smith said that Elizabeth Harbour should be “the major cruise/boat capital of the southern Bahamas”, and act as the key transit point for yachts travelling to the southern Bahamas.

Meanwhile, the Exuma native, who had previously expressed scepticism over February Point’s purchase by a group headed by Florida-based investor, John McGarvey, reiterated his concerns yesterday.

Criticising the developers for using the phrase “warp speed” to describe the pace of their increased construction activities, Mr Smith questioned how many persons were currently employed at the development.

Mr Rodgers last week said February Point already employed around 100 persons, a figure that would likely double once construction efforts reached full speed.

And Khaalis Rolle, minister of state for investments, yesterday told the House of Assembly, though, that February Point had begun construction activities that were expected to ‘ramp up’ as 2015 progressed.

Mr Smith, though, again called for the project’s new owners to disclose where the financing was coming from, and expressed concern that Exuma-based realtors might not be involved in the development’s real estate sales.

“There are a number of unanswered questions,” he told Tribune Business, calling on the February Point owners to reveal their architects and engineers, as well as financial backers.

Suggesting that the developers were engaged in “a lot of talk”, Mr Smith said the term ‘warp speed’ was employed on the popular TV series, ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ to describe a space ship that moves at the speed of light

Suggesting that this was an inappropriate analogy to describe the pace of February Point’s development, the former Cabinet Minister said: “Exumians deserve the right to know who is the Captain Picard [of February Point].”

Mr Rodgers last week estimated that February Point’s owners will be investing $5-$6 million in the project’s public spaces, include a plaza, new restaurant and bar area and recreational spa. They also plan to begin construction on a 26-unit condo complex within 30 days.

The developers are poised to meet soon with the Government to finalise their Flamingo Bay joint venture and, with Exuma’s tourism and construction economy on the upturn, they are also in discussions with third parties over a mega yacht marina development and the branding of the project’s planned hotel.