Is The Grand Bahama Port Authority Broke
FELIX SANDS WRITES FROM GRAND BAHAMA
The Hawksbille Creek Agreement as it was envisaged in 1955 no longer exists. The Grand Bahama Port Authority was allowed to strip away its key elements: companies like the power company, the road Building Company, the sanitation collection company, the airport and Harbor. These were all vital for the city’s success .
Today, November 1st, begins six months of consultative process that will shape the way forward and set things in order for the City of Freeport which is being propped up by the government of the Bahamas. Please log on to www.gbframework.com read and comment
We should all, seriously, ask ourselves; does the Grand Bahama Port Authority have the resources and working capital to manage and take care of their fiduciary responsibilities to run the City of Freeport as laid out under under the 1955, Hawksbill Creek Agreement?
Do the present owners of the Grand Bahama Port Authority have faith and confidence in the City of Freeport? Why, then, did they abandoned the Freeport International Airport after the passage of hurricane Dorian in 2019, taking the multi-million dollar insurance payout for the hurricane damaged Airport and selling it to the government of the Bahamas for $1? This was their responsibility to run and manage until 2054. That decision telegraphed two things: greed and doubt in the future of the city.
Why hasn’t the Taino Beach Bridge been repaired after almost four years of in action by the Port Authority? Is it a money issue?
Why has the Grand Bahama Port Authority allowed subdivision owners to abandon their their responsibilities; subdivisions like Hudson Estates, Freeport Ridge Estates, Royal Bahamia Estates, and Malibu Reef. All of the above require urgent attention. The subdivision of North and South Bahamia roads have fallen into a state of disrepair. On Pinta Avenue, the central sewage system consistently malfunctions on to the streets.
The area east of the Lucaya roundabout in Freeport has been neglected with washed out roads, overgrown verges. and missing street signs. The Grand Waterway seawalls are in urgent need of repairs, and boat ramps have simply been abandoned.
The Port Lucaya Marina is the final example. This is the most recent example of GBPA demonstrating that the company has lost its way. The Port Lucaya marina have allowed parts of the dock to fall into the sea. A stop work order has been put in place preventing its repair rather than work out their differences off camera with the owners. The dock resembles a dump at a premium tourist site. That speaks to a lack of foresight and vision of this company.
The final observation is: does the Grand Bahama Port Authority have the money needed to adequately manage and run the City of Freeport; or, should the government and the licensees of the GBPA entertain the prospect that this company might be insolvent; and if so, isn’t the government duty bound to take action? Let all parties be clear the the option of doing nothing will constitute malpractice on the part of the government of the Bahamas.
FREEPORT IS TOO BIG TO Fail !
Photos of the Taino Beach Bridge and subdivisions where the MP has stepped in:
Grand Lucaya Waterway seawalls in need of repair
