The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Hawksbill Agreement — to be stupid or super sensitive to the economic conditions?

The Government had better be exceptionally careful in how they decide on the two issues that solely arise for renegotiation in the Hawksbill Agreement – a misstep could push Grand Bahama back 50+ years.

The chronic Grand Bahama talk show callers will probably wish government to rip up the agreement and rewrite everything over again – sorry folks you can only deal with the issue of real property tax and I believe customs duties.

Government further can only negotiate with the party to the franchise not the general public.

Grand Bahama has over 30 per cent unemployment, if government makes the wrong decision the unemployment rate will burst right open and Grand Bahama will be faced with a catastrophic situation.

I question the legality of the government through the Ministry for Grand Bahama Duty Free concessions to businesses in East and West Grand Bahama...GBPA might stay quiet but there would seem to be a bona fide breach of Hawksbill for which government might have to pay severe penalties.

Since May 2012, various ministers have flown here and there running up many airline flyer miles trying desperately to find new investors for Grand Bahama – Chinese, Arabs, Singapore everywhere they travelled talked a lot when they returned, but that was that.

Mr Christie: My suggestion is at this immediate time leave sleeping dogs alone – be cautious and conservative to agree to review in four-years time when hopefully things might be different. Send the wrong message now organise a State Funeral for Grand Bahama, Editor.

W THOMPSON

Nassau,

June 22, 20l5.