DNA Says No Help And No Hope
For Immediate Release
August 27, 2017
Contact: Chris Mortimer
Ph. 376-1980
Still No Help and Hope for Grand Bahama
Last week, the nation’s second city took center stage on the national dailies but not in the way
that many Grand Bahamians have hoped. The recent media reports surrounding the breakdown
of negotiations for the sale of hotels on the Lucayan Strip on Grand Bahama are just the latest
in series of unfortunate events for the island and its residents.
The passage of the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 did irreparable damage to the Grand Bahama
economy, sending thousands of Bahamians to the unemployment line when the Royal Oasis
resort closed its doors. Since then the island has struggled to regain its footing and its residents
though promised help and hope by successive governments have for the most part, been left to
fend for themselves. Now, under this new administration – five members of which represent
Grand Bahama – it appears that history is once again about to repeat itself.
The withdrawal of the Wynn Group from the ongoing talks is telling in many ways and raises
some very important questions including one obvious one: Why would the front runner for the
purchase suddenly abandon the negotiations in which it has invested so much time and money
into over the past many months?
Equally troubling has been the government’s response. When speculation about the viability of
the talks broke last week, the Minnis administration, whose entire campaign was run on
transparency, missed an opportunity to frankly and honestly address the situation. Instead,
they attempted to deflect from the ensuing complications by promising an announcement
soon.
These empty, open-ended promises harken back to the previous administration who while
promising Help and Hope did nothing but ignore Grand Bahama and its residents.
During the last electoral cycle, Grand Bahama showed overwhelming support for the Free
National Movement sending all five of its nominated candidates to Parliament. It is the
responsibility of these five individuals to do everything in their power to protect the interests of
the men and women who voted for them.
Now, more than ever, Grand Bahamians deserve honest, transparent communication. They
deserve a road map detailing the government’s plans to rescue GB from the precipice of
economic decline. They deserve Real Help and Hope and not just more empty promises.
Chris Mortimer
DNA Deputy Leader