FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2012
PLP applauds government over Reef Village reopening
Bradley Roberts
National Chairman
Progressive Liberal Party
With signed Letters of Intent and Memoranda of Understanding between the Bahamas Government, Hutchison Port Holdings Limited and Sunwing Travel Group, Grand Bahama has taken a giant and important step in its march to economic recovery.
This was made possible through the government’s pledge in its Charter for Governance to prioritize this northern island that has seen its share of economic woes for a protracted period of time, especially in its tourism industry.
The PLP shares the Prime Minister’s sentiments that “this state of affairs resulted in the closure of large and small hotels, failed resort projects, massive losses to hotel owners, losses of hundreds of jobs and much lower Government revenues, with a multiplier effect on businesses and households throughout Grand Bahama.”
The PLP applauds the government for its commitment, focus and forthrightness with the Bahamian people in treating the economy of Grand Bahama with the sense of urgency it desperately needs.
With the appointment of a Minister dedicated to Grand Bahama, a Minister of Tourism and two Senators from Grand Bahama, the Prime Minister has demonstrated that he is serious about ensuring that his government’s plans for Grand Bahama’s economic revival are realized.
With the renovation and reopening of the 503-room Reef Village, some 1,000 permanent jobs will be added to the Grand Bahama work force and hundreds more during the construction phase. This project will measurably reduce the unemployment rate in Grand Bahama that is currently in excess of 20%.
With agreements in place to increase airlifts to the island, to reopen the 192-room Lighthouse Point property and the restructuring of the Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board, Grand Bahama now has the requisite technical and marketing support network in place to facilitate its economic resurgence.
The PLP supports these initiatives and remain confident that the government’s new generation team of leaders and seasoned veterans will restore this country’s strong and sure economic footing. We did it before and will do it again.
To God be the glory.