|
Last Updated: Dec 29, 2011 - 2:18:31 AM |
 Dear Editor,
In my more than half century of experience, I have
witnessed the ups and downs of Grand Bahama and the comings and goings
of its various leaders for many years, too many years. In these past few
years with the recession, the demise of the Grand Bahama Port Authority
and the heated political arena, we here on Grand Bahama, from West End
to Sweetings Cay, seem to be the lost and leaderless island of the
Bahamas. The present Government of the Bahamas appears to have a “hands
off” approach, neither taking responsibility for the 60,000+ Bahamians
on my fair isle nor allowing or forcing the Port Authority to fix
Freeport. While incomes dwindle and the cost of living soars this is no
time to sit idle and hope for the best.
In all the despair I see and hear on a daily basis, I have seen
little reason for hope. People are living in their cars, going months
with no current on in their homes, and scrapping leftovers from hotels.
While everybody isn’t hurting as bad as this, some of us just need to
know that it is going to get better.
This brings me to my topic of the one Bahamian still investing with
vision on GB, Mr. Jeffrey Butler. I have known Mr. Butler for many years
and spoken with him many times about the state of Grand Bahama,
including those brief times when things were looking bright. What I
don’t understand is, with Mr. Butler’s obvious tenacity and forceful
views to advancing economic growth both locally and internationally for
Grand Bahama, why hasn’t the Ingraham administration convinced their
loyal soldier to take up the reins of leadership and move GB forward?
Every investor and businessperson on Grand Bahama knows Jeff Butler,
and most know what he is capable of accomplishing if given the
opportunity by the powers-that-be.
Thinking back over my
conversations with Mr. Butler over the years, I know that he has
traveled extensively and actually worked in the Marine Engineering Oil
related field in Europe, North Africa and Brazil for many years until
returning to Grand Bahama in 1980. Mr. Butler is one of our most worldly
Bahamians with a vast knowledge of cultures. I have watched as Mr.
Butler moved from the Harbour Lobster and Fish Co to Butlers Specialty
Foods, the starting of Shenanigans, West End Bakery and the many
expansions of both companies and now Butlers Food World, which is
obvious to this writer the best thing that has happened for Grand Bahama
in quite some time. This is the patient work of a loyal and dedicated
Bahamian.
Mr. Butler will claim West End as his home but we all know that Grand Bahama is his home as he refers to it as “My Island”.
I
am of the opinion that Jeff Butler has the leadership qualities, the
energy and the drive to unite the various foreign and Bahamian peoples
and companies to move Grand Bahama forward.
Mr. Butler is obviously a favorite son of Hubert Ingraham, so why
doesn’t the Prime Minister use his well known powers of persuasion to
convince Mr. Butler to take up the leadership of Grand Bahama and deal
with our issues and get the international community of investors back to
GBI? I would hate to see Mr. Christie try to capitalize on all of Mr.
Butler’s wealth of knowledge and experience.
Any person in this country that knew Bernie Butler would completely
understand who Jeff Butler is and why. Jeff’s somewhat hard and
demanding approach was inherited from Bernie. Just ask anyone on Grand
Bahama, they will smile and acknowledge with absolute certainty.
I for one support Jeff Butler and I would strongly encourage all of
my fellow Bahamians and all our foreign friends and investors to call,
write or email our PM and tell him we need a true Bahamian like Jeff
Butler and we need him now.
Yours truly,
Grand Bahama Resident (Name withheld upon request)
© Copyright 2011 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
