The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet minister yesterday said the proposed Panama Canal-style port development in Mayaguana, which he admitted is in its "infancy", is being driven by a Bahamian private sector group and not the Government.

Renward Wells, minister of transport and local government, said: “It’s in its infancy stage. There are always folks who approach the Government of The Bahamas for all kinds of projects. Here is a project being driven by Bahamians who are interested in expanding port opportunities.

"They have approached the Government concerning it. The Government has asked certain questions and it is in its infancy stage.” Mr Wells said the proposal calls for a container port primarily, along with a cruise port component.

Addressing concerns raised this week by Opposition leader, Philip Davis, who said that groups behind such proposals have primarily been interested in rock mining, Mr Wells acknowledged that part of the proposal calls for dredging.

“If that is the case the Bahamian government has always had the requisite laws in place to ensure that the Government will get what it is supposed to on behalf of the people of The Bahamas,"

he said.

Mr Wells added that no decision has been made yet on an operator for Abaco's commercial shipping port. “There is a Bahamian group that is putting all of their ducks in a row for government to give them the approval," he said.

"The Government has asked them to go back and do certain things, so the Government has the requisite comfort in allowing them to operate the port. The Abaconians have put together a group. There may be other parties that may come along.”

Mr Wells said a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the redevelopment and management of Potters Cay could also be in the works.

“We are in discussions over perhaps putting out an RFP for Potters Cay. We are looking as to how we proceed in that regard, and to beautify from Arawak Cay all the way to Montagu,” he added.