NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The chief of the principle opposition Free Nationwide Motion (FNM), Michael Pintard, is accusing the Bahamas authorities of being unable to maintain its guarantees after it confirmed that the personal sector companions concerned within the redevelopment of the Grand Bahama Worldwide Airport have failed to lift the required funding.
In an announcement, Pintard stated that the Phillip Davis authorities had been deceptive the general public concerning the development of the power, noting that it had acknowledged in 2023 that the funds had been secured.
“In 2023, the prime minister loudly declared that US$200 million had already been secured and “drawn down” from the UK to rebuild the airport. In plain phrases, which means the federal government acquired the funds in hand.
“The federal government named companions, touted enticing phrases, and warranted Grand Bahamians that work was about to start. However the story now modifications. Now, the deputy prime minister is contradicting the prime minister: not solely was the US$200 million by no means drawn down, however the DPM’s model is that the funding by no means materialized,” the Opposition Chief stated, including, “Who’s telling the reality? This isn’t a slip of the tongue…”.
Earlier this week, Tourism, Investments, and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper instructed reporters that the UK-based Manchester Airport Group, chosen underneath a public-private partnership, had not delivered the funding officers anticipated.
“Regrettably, the funding had not occurred. We’re at present organising different funding. While I can not converse to that as we speak, I can inform you that we’re making progress and sooner or later I can be making an extra assertion,” he stated concerning the undertaking.
That is the newest setback to the redevelopment undertaking, which delays and shifting timelines have plagued because it was devastated by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
Final 12 months, the Phillip Davis authorities outlined a sweeping US$200 million transformation programme, including that work would start earlier than the tip of the 12 months. Design choices had been unveiled, and demolition of previous terminals was stated to be imminent. Regardless of these pledges, financing was by no means secured, and substantive development by no means commenced.
The federal government acquired the power in April 2021 and has repeatedly promised to ship a brand new, trendy hub by 2025. The general public-private mannequin was meant to reflect the association at Lynden Pindling Worldwide Airport, with the state proudly owning the power and personal companions managing operations.
In an announcement this week, the Ministry of Tourism stated, “Manchester Airport Group, the UK’s largest airport administration group, continues to work with us as a key accomplice in shaping the airport’s improvement and administration. Their function has not been and won’t be to supply funding. Alongside the Bahamian consortium of contractors, they’re part of the group that can ship this undertaking for the folks of Grand Bahama. We’ll make an extra assertion on the funding accomplice in brief order.”
The ministry stated that the redevelopment of Grand Bahama’s airport is a “central precedence for this administration and is essential to the island’s financial renewal”.
“We’re within the ultimate levels of securing funding and concluding agreements on airport administration. These steps will permit development to proceed and make sure the supply of a contemporary, world-class facility.
“Grand Bahama could have the airport it must develop, appeal to funding, and strengthen its function as a gateway to The Bahamas,” it stated.
However Pintard stated in his assertion that the “timeline tells the story.
“In 2021, the federal government promised a contemporary facility by 2025. They stated demolition would begin in 2023. They reiterated in February of this 12 months that demolition would start inside 30 days.
“Each deadline has come and gone. Not one bulldozer has moved. Not one promise has been stored,” he stated whereas requesting additional readability from the federal government on potential funding choices for the airport.
Pintard additionally criticised the Davis administration for bypassing open and aggressive bidding for different household island airport tasks, together with these in Bimini and North Eleuthera.
“In accordance with our analysis and information reviews, the profitable RFP included financing from UK Export Finance and Banco Santander, structured both with a sovereign assure or with solely a letter of consolation,” Pintard stated.
“Each choices had been reviewed and publicly referenced by the federal government. If the administration is now turning to different financing, they need to disclose the complete phrases and supply a side-by-side comparability.”
