The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Family Islands will never achieve the level of economic impact to match major developments if central government remains the driving force behind them, a private sector executive said yesterday.

Pedro Rolle, the Exuma Chamber of Commerce’s president, told Tribune Business yesterday that there was little trickle down economic impact from the often highly-touted major developments in the Family Islands due limited local involvement.

“We have been hearing now for years about the trajectory and the importance of Exuma in the economic landscape, and all the wonderful things that are going to come on stream,” Mr Rolle said.

“We hear about it, but the challenge we are facing is that we are not seeing these things become a reality for us. Even if some of them do materialise, what we are facing is the fact that these projects don’t always translate into significant benefits on the local level. The scope, the projections often don’t translate for the local people.”

Mr Rolle added: “If you have a large project that comes and there is a little trickle-down effect, that is not impacting the Exumas in a big way. If we see a large project then we should see a huge bump in the Exuma economy.

“We believe it’s not happening because these things are not being done at the local level. Until we have input on the local level on the types of projects, how they are managed; if central government is the driving force behind it we will never, ever get the kinds of impact we should get.”

Prime Minister Perry Christie, while addressing the Exuma Business Outlook conference at the Sandals Emerald Bay Resort yesterday, highlighted the Stocking Island Club and February Point developments as major projects set to benefit the Exumas.

Mr Christie also warned that the Government would “make every effort” to help revive locally-driven projects on Exuma.