Flipping Grand Bahama

The Prime Minister Perry G. Christie was a speaker at the recent Grand Bahama Business Outlook at which time he said he was still optimistic about Grand Bahama. Under this year's theme of "A Bold New Agenda: the next 25 years" he said his Government is setting the stage for the solid recovery and expansion of our economy. "I cannot underscore more emphatically the point that we have embarked on a course of action and on a broad consultative platform that will lay the ground work for a stronger and more prosperous economy, particularly for  Grand Bahama, for many years to come" he stated. He noted that Grand Bahama's economic makeup is far more diversified than that of other Bahamian islands, with a legal regime of superior tax concessions under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, the superior infrastructure and topographical framework that are well suited to both tourism and industrial development.  "We are moving on all fronts now, synching both ...

Advocating a more structured form of government, Flipping Grand Bahama is very much in favour of the recent initiative being introduced by the Government to put in place a 25 year plan for the country. The country has been left at the will of men making statements whether for progress of their agenda or their party but not at all in the interest of the people, for years. It is good to have more stability that envisions growth. This week members of the National Development Plan committee were in Grand Bahama to listen to the people of this island about their thoughts for the next 25 years. Unfortunately not enough people were aware and so it is most important the persons write in to the committee to give their thoughts. The committee was launched in November of last year by the Prime Minister Perry Christie to students as public phase of the process for designing the plan: Vision 2040 with the intention of the plan to be completed by June 2015. Interesting that the plan arrive...

After a number of questionable starts and announcements on things to come the Grand Bahama Port Authority seems to be waiting for the ink to dry to let you know what is here, business wise. So this week it was announced, after months of rumours, that the Port Lucaya Marketplace has been sold for $5.5 million to UK investor Peter Hunt. According to a newspaper report this acquisition was announced by the Prime Minister Perry Christie during his recent mid-year budget speech. He was quoted saying, " The Port Lucaya Marketplace, which was recently sold for $5.5 million, will also now undergo significant upgrades, creating additional jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities." Port Lucaya Marketplace features 40 stores and boutiques, 14 restaurants, six bars and three late night bars/lounges, plus three watersports operators. Targeted at stopover visitors from the Memories and Grand Lucayan hotels, plus guests at other Freeport resorts, cruise ship passengers and loca...

The following is the speech given by the Prime Minister Perry Christie to open the annual Grand Bahama Business Outlook on Thursday March 5, 2015: Ladies and Gentlemen, I am delighted to have been invited to Grand Bahama to participate with Joan Albury and her team at Counsellors, together with a cross-section of the business community in another Grand Bahama Business Outlook. Despite the economic challenges of Grand Bahama, including those caused by natural disasters, protracted adverse international and local economic conditions , and lack of adequate promotional and planning initiatives, Grand Bahama continues to demonstrate its resilience, its staying power and its optimism about the future. And for good reason too! More than any other island in our archipelagic nation, Grand Bahama has almost limitless economic development potential because of its unique combination of e infrastructure, human resources and strategic geographical proximity to the North American mainland. My Go...

Flipping Grand Bahama would be remiss if we did nothing to member one of the founding investors in the creation of Freeport .. Sir Jack Hayward. For years this author has been trying to get that all exclusive chat with him but had to be satisfied with his recount of the old days when he spoke at a Chamber meeting last year. It was a joy to film that despite the fact that my tripod was no where to be found that day.  Sir Jack was not just interested in the development of Freeport/Lucaya, he had certain aspects he was particularly fond of. One being theatre and he along with others are responsible for the formation of the Freeport Players Guild and the Regency Theatre. Thanks from Freeport Friends and Chris Child The tribute to Sir Jack from Bahamasinfo.com said, "it is without a doubt that the Grand Bahama community and the world at large have lost a true thespian. "Sir Jack Hayward was an iconic figure for live theatre in Grand Bahama.  ...