The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WEEKS after forming his own political party, Marco City MP Gregory Moss held his first town meeting in Freeport at the International Bazaar on the weekend, speaking about a number of pertinent issues affecting residents of Grand Bahama.

Mr Moss told the gathering that the meeting was non-political and that his sole purpose was to provide honest answers to issues facing Grand Bahamians.

He stated that Grand Bahama, which was once the country’s economic engine, is now the “worst performing” economy in the country, with the island’s unemployment rate at 33 per cent.

Mr Moss, the leader of the United Democratic Party, was very encouraged by the turnout on Saturday and delivered his message in two parts, with lively gospel entertainment during the break.

Some of the topics covered were his opposition to the extension of real property tax in the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, the rate increase by the Grand Bahama Power Company, and National Health Insurance (NHI).

However, Mr Moss was also very concerned about the depressed state of the International Bazaar, which has suffered due to the closure of the road between East and West Sunrise Highway.

He stressed that the road closure in 2002 has caused traffic and visitors to be diverted away from the Bazaar, which was once a premier commercial location of Freeport.

He said visitors are taken daily from the harbour on tour buses and taken straight into the Port Lucaya Marketplace instead of the Bazaar.

Mr Moss said it is time for the government to fulfil its promise to invest in Bahamians and reopen the road.

“Obviously, once I am in the position to influence that, I am going to reopen that road. It has to be reopened in the City of Freeport,” the attorney stressed.

He also said other changes were needed for Freeport to thrive.

“The Port Authority can no longer be the government of Freeport, it needs to be in Bahamian hands,” he added.

Another promise unfulfilled, Mr Moss said, is the promise by the government to reduce the departure tax in Freeport at the harbour and airport by 50 per cent.

“Almost four years later we have not done it,” he said.

Mr Moss said that the government also promised to put money into Bahamian businesses to revitalise locations like the International Bazaar.

However, he said, instead the government continues to give foreigners millions of dollars every year, including Hutchison Whampoa, the operators of the container port and Grand Lucaya Resort.

Mr Moss said the government pays Hutchison, through their management of the casino, $15m a year to run the casino.

“They subsidise it by $15m per year. What are we subsidising for Bahamians? What are we contributing to making sure Bahamians move ahead? The PLP government promised it would put money into Bahamians businesses, such as night clubs, entertainment centres, musical festivals, and restaurants,” he added.

“The government could spend millions everywhere except on Bahamians. That is not normal and that should not be acceptable. It not something Bahamians should be comfortable with,” he said.