The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and its leading private sector partner, Hutchison Whampoa, have failed to meet their statutory commitments to market/develop Freeport, a senior attorney arguing their inaction had resulted in it becoming “the forgotten island”.
Terence Gape, the Freeport-based attorney and partner at Dupuch & Turnquest, is now urging the GBPA and Hong Kong-headquartered conglomerate, through the Grand Bahama Development Company (Devco), to finally fulfill the obligations they signed up to under the 1993 Grand Bahama Act by creating – and financing to the tune of $2 million annually – a “marketing organisation” to promote the island.
Urging Bahamians “not to waste a crisis” caused by Freeport’s eight-year economic stagnation and slow-burning collapse, Mr Gape, writing in today’s Insight section, also calls on the Government to drive the “immediate action” required to revive Grand Bahama and its sustained marketing to potential international investors.
