What about the 90s and into 2000s?

Grand Bahamas has seen a series of ups and downs and I think one of the hardest was during this era.

As we came into the 90s there was great political upheaval all around the islands, but particularly here.

The champion of Grand Bahama and leader of the then official opposition - the Free National Movement, died just before we came into this era. But it is reported that on his death bed he asked a former member of the ruling Progressive Liberal Party, who had been kicked out, to take on the leadership role of the Free National Movement.

This was the only position that the ousted man could pridefully take considering the fact that in previous times he stated that he could never join this party.

So with elections fresh in the air in beginning of the 1990s, this buck gave it all he had and together in 1992 they won the election from the 25 rule of the Progressive Liberal Party.

It would have been the second time I was eligible to vote and yet, I was still unregistered and cared not about the politics of a jaundiced people.

But at this time, I was a reporter at the local daily and had been to almost every rally that was held in Grand Bahama. I heard the noise in all the markets and regurgitated it for the people to read. I was not impressed at all. What bothered me most was the need to talk badly about the next candidate or the opposing leaders. I always felt that if your argument for representing me was strong enough, there would be no reason for you to attack the personality of our opponent.

Unfortunately I was taught the governments were set up by "the people" to take the peoples views for a vote to make better laws for all.

Jaded I came to realize it is all a scam and a sham and "the people" who don't know their rights and blindly follow leaders, are the ones to blame and to suffer.

I do digress. Bit of a soap box there.

But you see, in 1992 the taxing parts of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement was to drop and discussions had begun on what to do about them. Were we ready for Real Property Tax, or Income Tax?

The hotels were once again suffering, and the investors had pulled out but to keep the people working the Progressive Liberal Party while in power as a government had taken over the operations of three hotels on the Lucayan strip, including a casino.

The International Bazaar was said to be dying and the foreign croupiers at the Princess Casino were almost all packed up and set home.

But the Princess Country Club and the Towers were still open and operating.

The Free National Movement government came in just in time to decide on the taxes for Freeport, but I still state that they had no idea what the agreement was about, nor the concessions that were to fall away.

Interestingly enough though, considering the fact that the rest of The Bahamas did not have income tax, I don't see where that would have been a problem (hoping of course the government didn't decide to start income taxes in Grand Bahama), nor did the real property tax issues.

However, the new government decided to put off the decision on these issues for another year.

In 1993, the Free National Movement and the Grand Bahama Port Authority made a few more changes which included extending the taxes issue to 2015. However the Port had to take on the three hotels on the Lucayan strip and the casino and continue the works at the harbor - dredging - and somehow they became responsible for the utilities of the outer areas of Grand Bahama.

So the promises of electricity all the way to Sweetings Cay came through right away as Freeport Power was extended that far and then all the way to West End.

The power company with its new details later became rebranded as the Grand Bahama Power Company.

Previously the outer ends were managed by smaller companies for either side.

Following this, the hotels on the Lucayan strip were closed and all refurbished with the Atlantic Beach hotel in the middle being imploded and then rebuilt completely.

So what the previously government was avoiding was upon us. Mass unemployment.

This went on into 2000 when finally the hotels were opened again.

Grand Bahama was waking up in the tourism sector again, and the industrial sector seeing some interesting changes. Somewhere we never mentioned the cement factory that once graced this island, that gave employment to many. This was back in the 1960s and 70s, before it closed its doors. The Bahamas Oil Refining Company changed hands several times and later instead of refining oil became a holding terminal for oil; we saw the rise and fall of Syntex Pharmaceuticals and Honeywell coming in and then leaving; Polymers, the makers of styrofoam going the group and remaining.

But the business the thrived best was the boat refurbishing business, or wet docking, the began in the 90s the has continued and now has about three different companies doing quite well in this area.

The 2000s began rather ok, and the hope of the people was still somewhat high.

Then the storms of 2004 and 2005 came and there entire island, from east to west was devastated and had quite a time getting back.

To this day there are some places that are still affected. Some businesses never reopened - one of them being the best hotels on the island the Princess Country Club and Towers. Before the storms they were sold and became the Royal Oasis. But they were flooded out after the storms and has sat with the International Bazaar languishing like a sick relative on their death bed. Some hopes are still holding out, but for some, the dream is finally dead.