The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama businessman Shuffel Hepburn said the island’s economy today is in the worst shape it has ever been and blamed the Grand Bahama Port Authority for it.

Mr Hepburn staged a one-man protest last Friday outside the Grand Lucayan Resort, where Sarah St George, the GBPA’s vice chairman, had been invited to speak at a Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce luncheon. He held a sign that read: “Port Authority way of operating holding Grand Bahama back need to change.”

He stressed that Grand Bahamians have had more than 10 years of severely tough times, during which the hotel industry has been struggling, many businesses have closed and major foreign investments have failed. He noted that the downturn of Freeport began in 2004 following hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

“In one swoop real estate in Grand Bahama was crippled as almost a third of the island was flooded by salt water, and the hotel industry was struck a blow that decimated 50 per cent of the industry when the Royal Oasis (formerly Bahamas Princess) closed down. Not to mention the total crippling of the International Bazaar and the failure of the Ginn project that followed,” Mr Hepburn said.

He claimed that Queen’s Highway, which was once the main commercial hub of Freeport, is now a “virtual graveyard of closed businesses.”

With the deaths of Edward St George, Sir Jack Hayward and Sir Albert Miller, Mr Hepburn said Freeport has lost three of its most powerful figures in the GBPA and expressed concern about the infighting among the two families that owned the authority – the St Georges and Haywards.

Mr Hepburn has indicated that while the industrial sector appears to be sound and profitable for investors, it is taking a heavy toll of the environment, the workers and the residents. He said there have been industrial accidents that have left many workers crippled and without limbs and unable to work again with no benefits other than National Insurance.

Mr Hepburn also said that residents of Pinder’s Point, Hunters, Seaco Town and Lewis Yard are bombarded by fumes from the industrial plants, which are affecting their health.

“No one cares. Shouldn’t the GBPA be doing something for these residents?” Mr Hepburn asked. “They brought these industry owners to the table; has there been sufficient consideration given to the needs and care of the workers?”

Additionally, he claimed that the residents of Chesapeake are also being exposed to foul odours from sewage and harmful gases from the Grand Bahama Utility Company’s sewage plant.

“Again, no one has reached out to the residents. No one from the GBPA and only one from the government,” he said.

Mr Hepburn also raised concerns about alleged pollution to Hawksbill Creek.

“There is no one to fend for the residents of Grand Bahama against the big industrial companies so their cries get swallowed up in silence, flushed down the drain,” he said.

“We are thankful for the GBPA’s efforts to bring big business to Grand Bahama, but what about taking care of the workers, and the environment that we hope to leave for our descendants? Do we want industry at any price?”