The Tribune

By ANNELIA NIXON

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS Livery Drivers Union (BLDU) yesterday said it is open to its members relocating to accommodate the proposed hotel at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), but wants to see details and ensure drivers are not “disenfranchised”.

Taurian Austin, the union’s president, said it has yet to hear the proposal directly and intends to hold further discussions before commenting on whether the potential relocation would work for its members.

“I haven’t heard the proposals as yet,” Mr Austin said. “The livery drivers, we’re not against a partnership with the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) as long as we don’t feel disfranchised.”

His comments come after a recent public consultation revealed that livery drivers currently use the proposed site for their parking area, and could be relocated across the street to make way for a planned 250-room hotel at LPIA.

Mr Austin said the union is not opposed to relocation in principle, and remains open to the proposed development, but wants to understand precisely where drivers would be moved and how the change would affect their operations.

“We’re open to seeing what the proposed location is and coming to some agreement,” he said. “We’re not totally against relocating. We’d like to see what the proposal is.” Mr Austin said the union would need to examine the proposal and consult with the relevant entities before determining its position.

“We like to get all the facts, talk to the relevant entities, have further meetings, and then I can comment,” he added. Mr Austin also acknowledged the potential economic opportunities associated with the proposed hotel, particularly for livery drivers who depend on activity at the airport and the wider tourism industry.

“Any time in The Bahamas when it comes to expanding opportunities, and any hotel that proposes to come into The Bahamas is a proposed opportunity for us,” he said. “So we are open to that.”

The proposed airport hotel remains at the conceptual stage. Stacey Moultrie, principal of SEV Consulting, NAD’s environmental advisers for the project, said during the recent consultation that the current livery driver parking area is within the proposed hotel site.

She said an alternative location across the street has been identified for the drivers, although the relocation remains subject to further consultation and development of the project.

The proposed hotel would feature two buildings containing around 250 rooms, along with amenities including a café, fitness centre and meeting room.

NAD is pursuing the development through a design, build, finance and operate procurement model. The bidding process for a third-party hotel developer closed on March 3, 2026, with the successful bidder expected to be selected in early 2027 and granted a lease of approximately 50 years.

Construction is currently estimated to take between 18 and 36 months, although the final timeline has not been established as the design remains under development. A further stakeholder consultation is expected once the project’s detailed design and successful developer have been determined.

Mr Austin said the union intends to await those further discussions before making any substantive assessment of the proposed relocation. “Now, where they want to put us or where they want to relocate us, that’s still something that I have to look into,” he said. “We’re not against it, in other words.”

The environmental consultation process remains open, with stakeholders given 21 business days to submit questions, comments and concerns. Feedback is expected to be incorporated into the consultation report and considered as part of the environmental management plan review.