In a recent discussion with an acquaintance who is a long time resident of Grand Bahama, he said he hopes Freeport turns around to which I quickly reminded him of the days when we thought Freeport was going down. After the rush of the 50's and the 60s that ushered in a lot of constructions and the building of Freeport which pushed the natives to the outer areas, there came the 70s and the smaller investors leaving quickly. However, in the late 70s and early 80s there was still a lot of activity here. There were over ten big hotels on the island and two casinos. Also there was Sir Laker who came in to add Laker Airways to the airlift to this island. The industrial side was holding its own but things were beginning to taper off. Around this time there were calls of a diversification of industries in the country and to stop relying only on Tourism. Some complaints were flying that there were too many foreign croupiers and well qualified Bahamians who could do that same job Th...
At four we are in the heat of a very interesting election season which thankfully ends tomorrow. There has been so much said. There has been a lot of character assassinations. There has been a lot of concerts. There have been some promises.... hmmmm by so many parties. There have even been some independents whose messages has gotten lost and certainly have not been heard due to the loud megaphones of the major parties. There has even been a call to spoil the ballot. There are calls to make sure you bring even land papers to be able to vote to make sure you are not stopped from exercising your constitutional right. It has been an interesting month, to say the least, and in Grand Bahama, there have been some improvements for some persons by an opposition candidate... the first to be seen..... as normally it's the Governing party candidate who would use the Governments (our) funds to make improvements to look good to be re-elected. Things that make you go "hmmmmm...
"Bend or Break speech" On July 26, 1969, Sir Lynden O. Pinding, then Premier of The Bahamas, delivered this speech during an inspection tour at the official opening ceremony for the new Bahamas Oil Refinery Company (BORCO). This speech in history has been called the "Bend or Break Speech" and has long be said by officials in Grand Bahama to be the reason the lights went out at the "Magical Fair" that was the spark called Freeport. Here is the entire speech: “I am certainly delighted to be here this morning because what I see beginning on this site is not only the erection of an oil refinery but also the real true birth of a petro-chemical industry in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Islands. I am delighted to be here because, if the industry develops as the proprietors hope it will be and I hope it will, not only will The Bahamas be able to meet from within its shores its own presently small needs of kerosene, gasoline, diesel and oth...
Comments
Post a Comment