The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie has praised the Hawksbill Creek Review Committee for “an excellent job” and providing recommendations to aid his government in its deliberation and negotiations to stimulate Grand Bahama’s economy.

“The committee’s work will significantly help government in its deliberation and consultation in the coming weeks and months toward implementing at least 11 recommendations they have made in their report that is going to effect bringing about transformation to the city of Freeport and hopefully to the island of Grand Bahama,” Mr Christie said this week.

The committee, led by Dr Marcus Bethel and including former Free National Movement Cabinet minister Maurice Moore and the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president Kevin Seymour, was appointed in March to review the Hawksbill Creek Agreement (HCA).

The imminent expiration of concessions – real property tax and business licence fees – under the Agreement, provides an opportunity for his administration to secure a comprehensive set of new arrangements aimed at spurring economic development, while simultaneously increasing Grand Bahama’s contribution to net fiscal receipts on a fairer and more equitable basis, the Prime Minister said. Last week the Prime Minister announced a six-months extenion to the Agreement to allow for further consultation.

During the historic Cabinet meeting in Grand Bahama on Tuesday, Mr Christie said that the government contributes more to Grand Bahama than it receives in revenues from the island.

In addition to Cabinet closely examining pertinent issues relative to the tax provision of the HCA that are due to expire on August 4, they also met with the review committee, and engaged key stakeholders, including the Grand Bahama Port Authoriy and Hutchison Whampoa about the future sustainability of Freeport.

The study of the economic situation within the Port area undertaken by international consultant firm McKinsey, and the committee’s report, Mr Christie says requires the government to give further consultation and even further negotiations with stakeholders in Grand Bahama.

“As Prime Minister I would wish to reiterate that the six-month extension is necessary to enable detailed analysis and further consultation, particularly to create a platform or foundation for GB to have a better opportunity to realise its full potential, in the national interest of all Bahamians,” he said.

Mr Christie also said that strenuous efforts have been made by government to attract local and foreign investment to the island. He noted that in order to stimulate economic development the government had initiated a plan for significant capital work on Grand Bahama to foster new construction, particularly of an infrastructural nature, to bring about employment.

Among those were the reopening of fire station in Eight Mile Rock and commissioning of new state-of-the-art fire truck there. The government also broke ground on a $6.5m fire station in Freeport on Settler’s Way. Plans have been advanced for the new high school and connected sporting facility in West Grand Bahama. Mr Christie added: “The school is a major undertaking and a contract and groundbreaking will take place imminently.”

A new Fishing Hole causeway is out to bid and the seawall for Smith’s Point is out to tender. The government has also announced that plans are underway for construction of government homes in Bahamia West Replait.

The government also signed a $1.3m contract for construction of a storage facility at the C A Smith Government complex and for construction of a new Farmer’s and Fish Market. In Bimini, the government has signed a $10.3m contract for a new administrative complex.