[xml][/xml]
The Bahamas Weekly Facebook The Bahamas Weekly Twitter
Columns : Letters to The Editor Last Updated: Dec 9, 2019 - 1:23:01 AM


2 year plan for a stronger Freeport
By Terence Gape
Dec 8, 2019 - 6:00:04 PM

Email this article
 Mobile friendly page
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island - Prominent Grand Bahama Attorney Terence Gape proposes solutions to the ongoing dilemmas facing Grand Bahama Island post Dorian. At the epicenter of it all Mr. Gape says that, “Freeport has no viability if a new International Airport is not built.” 

Gape proclaims a legal and moral duty is involved and places the responsibility for rebuilding the airport firmly onto Hutchison and ‘the Port Families’ stating that he feels those entities “Should not be allowed to abdicate their responsibilities and ‘hand over’ the Airport to Government.”  Within his writing, Gape proposes assets and insurance money to be the means of  funding the airport rebuild by the two entities.

Mr. Gape encapsulates his solution into a Two Year Plan that, simultaneous to the major investors; Carnival, Royal Caribbean and the Medical University, that the airport reconstruction together with home reconstruction for 15,000 displaced Grand Bahama residents as well as the Hospital, Schools and Post Office take place. Looking towards the future of Freeport Gape cries out for a master plan for Freeport stating, “We still await with bated breath the delivery of the Port Families’ Master Plan for the re-development of Freeport.”

What follows is Mr. Gape's entire document entitled, "The Saga of The Grand Bahama International Airport and the Port Authority"

I imagine the Government is in a major Quandary over the Airport.

The Quandary is not whether the $70M needed for a new Terminal has to be spent, but by whom.

As I have explained, Freeport has no viability if a new International Airport is not built and I believe this is a generally accepted premise.

All indications are, the Port Families, as I expected, have turned up their hands and said they have no money, but they are apparently interested in ‘handing over’ their 50%  interest in the  Airport for $1.00, thereby reneging on their responsibility to provide Freeport with an Airport compliant with International standards and saving them the significant costs associated with the rebuild.  

I have pointed out that the Port Families have significant assets in the Harbour and G.B. Utilities etc., etc. which assets will be severely impacted (as will Freeport itself) if the Airport is not redesigned, re-engineered and rebuilt.   But, I believe they are prepared to take the gamble that Government will fund the construction and do “the right thing.”

In addition, I am told Hutchison’s position remains that they do not want to rebuild the Airport, but they want to keep the Insurance proceeds (á la The Grand Lucayan).   Their position is essentially the same as the Families, except they have their 50% interest in the Container Port to safeguard and 50%of the Harbour.   (The Devco land of 70,000 Acres I daresay is ultimately worthless  at this time but the Port and Hutchison had done nothing to make it valuable before Dorian).

My reason for writing is that neither the Port Families nor Hutchison should be allowed to abdicate their responsibilities and ‘hand over’ the Airport to Government with the intention of making the Government pay for the re-engineered/elevated International Airport and Terminal (as its Public Duty shall otherwise require) and for them to continue making profits as they enjoy the benefits of this new Terminal for years to come, without paying the Bill therefor.

As I have also pointed out, the Port Families have a legal and moral duty as the Parties to and Benefactors of the H.C.A. and as Trustees of the City of Freeport to make certain that the Airport is re-built and in place.

I submit that Hutchison as 50% owner of a Public Service Entity also have a duty to reinstate which, naturally, they do not accept.

The Port Families should therefore pay in equal share, either by Cash or Note, against their interest in the Harbour and/or G.B. Utilities, and Hutchison should pay an equal share by handing over to Government the Insurance proceeds.

In any event, Government should take title to the Airport to include the Sea/Air Development Site.

Two (2) Year Plan

It is essential that the new Airport be built and in place within the 2 years it will take Carnival and Royal Caribbean and the Medical University to be in place and, in that same time, to have the 4,000 homes (15,000 Bahamians) affected by Dorian rebuilt and/or made habitable so that Freeport can come back stronger than it was before Dorian.   Government will already have to find $150M for the Homes/Rehab, Hospital, Schools and Post Office (more on this at another time) so why should it pay for the Airport by itself!!!  

In the meantime, we still await with bated breath the delivery of the Port Families’ Master Plan for the re-development of Freeport to be published and we also await the Government’s own such Master Plan.

Where are they?

Yours sincerely

TERENCE GAPE

Freeport Resident

p.s.    Freeport Harbour Company Limited

There is growing sentiment among Freeport watchers that given the failure of the Port Families and the intransigence of Hutchison, the Government should move to Compulsorily Acquire the Harbour.   This would help to quantify and pay the Families’ share of the increasing burden being undertaken by Government in the Port Area and to pay for it over time but, also, would solidify the RCCL/Harbour deal and pave the way for a new Shipyard and other major Investments presently being planned by International Investors who can make no progress so long as the Harbour is held by the Families and Hutchison.

This Public Harbour Facility is too big to be left in the hands of these two non-players.

Moreover, the Port Families’ expenses look likely to keep escalating as there is a major road-building programme needed to be implemented.

Certainly, I believe this Harbour Acquisition should be sincerely considered  by Government if only to get the attention of these two (past) Investor groups whose time is up and, of course, cause them to make an urgent deal on the Airport.

T. G.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his/her private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of TheBahamasWeekly.com


Bookmark and Share




© Copyright 2019 by thebahamasweekly.com

Top of Page

Receive our Top Stories



Preview | Powered by CommandBlast

Letters to The Editor
Latest Headlines
Proposed zero vat removal from breadbasket items
Michael Brooks: A look at Bahamian culture
Equality Bahamas Welcomes Women in Parliament to Advocate for Human Rights
Letter to the Editor: The time is now! The Bahamas must act now to ban oil drilling forever
Joe Darville: Open Letter to The Prime Minister of The Bahamas