Co-founder of the New York-based Setai Group, Johnathan Breene, has refuted reports that the Progressive Liberal Party Government is obstructing plans to develop Norman’s Cay, Exuma, reportedly the former home of a notorious drug dealer. “The government has not been stalling on approving the project. We have been working with them to finalise a few last issues and they have been very cooperative,” Mr Breene told The Guardian.
He was responding to allegations that the investment is being obstructed by bureaucratic and/or political manoeuvres.
The Setai Group plans to develop an upscale resort on Norman’s Cay οΎ– the alleged former drug headquarters of Carlos Lehder. The developers specialise in creating upscale residential and boutique hotel properties throughout North America.
On Crab Cay, it is understood that developers have met with the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology commission several times over the past months, but the matter remains unresolved.
Minister of Financial Services and Investments Allyson Maynard-Gibson said that the government is about to conclude agreements with investors for both Norman’s Cay and Crab Cay.
She added that the government met with the Setai Group’s attorneys, and that plans are “full steam” ahead.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Perry Christie said that foreign investors are having difficulty finding Bahamian labour for upcoming major developments, and not availability of land.
“We do know that major developments are taking place on the islands, and we do know already that investors are having difficulties finding Bahamian labour,” he said Sunday on the Love 97 talk show Jones and Company, hosted by Wendell Jones.
A question arose over some $26 million dollars earmarked for development on Exuma commonage land, which cannot be sold to investors.
A part of the land sought for development at Crab Cay was also inaccessible to the developer, the Prime Minister said.
“But (all) this means is that you cut that part off and use the rest that is available to you,” Mr. Christie said. “There are also developments that are being held up because we found historical assets, antiquities there, we thought might be of historical value.”
He said that, “Basically, when developers come to the government to get approval, we have looked at the land, determined that they own the land, or if they need Crown Land, we are prepared to give a lease purchase for them to go ahead.”
It is said that foreign investments have been the bedrock of the economy, since 1973, with no major development since Sun International Atlantis on Paradise Island.
On the question of why not develop a Family Island such as Andros, the Prime Minister said that his government is looking in that direction.
“We’ve had a very wealthy Androsian proposing to build a major tourism facility consisting of second homes and marinas.” he said.
Andros, home to the third largest barrier reef in the world, has positioned itself as one of the fishing capitals of the world, with its shallow water fish, bone fish, and deep water fish, the Prime Minister said.
North Andros, the “agricultural bread basket” of The Bahamas, also has about 150,000 acres of land, he said.
“We would try again, on a sustained basis to involve Bahamians in the production of those things and where they will make money,” Mr. Christie said, expressing his frustration over the past year in government over the high number of Bahamians lacking skills.
“That is why, concomitant with decisions,” he said, “we have to make some other decisions and those decisions have to do with training our people.”
Mr. Christie said that with respect to major developments such as Sun International, his government is prepared to entertain a “second Freeport” , which must necessarily involve Bahamians where a group would look at a large section of a particular island and create a similar business environment such as in Freeport.
On the question of whether the PLP administration is willing to give Sun International more concessions that the previous government granted, Mr Christie said he has to focus on the way ahead for the country.
He said he would like to believe that when he described the Kerzner group as “full partners” with his government, that they would sit down and make the right decision for the country.
“That I am mindful of the fact, of the need to move ahead, that in all of the concessions they’ve asked for that they would know that we are fully aware of the implications of them,” he said.
In reference to Kerzner having the “upper hand” due to the downturn in the economy, Mr. Christie said there is enormous frustration in dealing with an extremely successful and well-managed company, which if it were in a developed country, would not approach the government, as business demands and market forces would require them to expand to make more money.
“But in a country like The Bahamas, where we are faced with an expectant political electorate, who wants jobs, there are certain disadvantages to that,” he said.
Mr. Christie said that his government has to be “very wise, very strong and very firm” in its resolve to negotiate the best deal for the country.
By Lindsay Thompson, The Nassau Guardian
