07052015
Transcription
07052015
10 THE FREEPORT NEWS Thursday, May 7, 2015 Smith: GB experiencing the most severe economic downturn in decades Former Ambassador C. A. Smith spoke candidly on the way forward, in his opinion, for Grand Bahama, during his presentation to Rotarians of the Freeport Rotary Club on Tuesday, May 5. Following is Smith’s speech in its entirety. “President Clifford, distinguished head table guests, members of the press, ladies of the gentlemen. In an address to the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce a year ago, attorney Carey Leonard warned of two impending category five storms that would hit the economic life of Freeport in 2015. As predicted, ‘Hurricane’ VAT a category five storm, hit in January resulting in a dramatic increase in the cost to live and to do business here. If the government fails to extend the property tax, the business license fees provisions of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, an even higher category storm will hit in August. But If we are to avoid this storm we must take immediate corrective actions. We must batten down the hatch and we must begin a conversation with the relevant authorities to lessen the impact of this impending storm. Freeport Today Our island, Freeport and Grand Bahama, is experiencing the most severe economic downturn in decades. The tourism industry is in crisis. Available hotel rooms are down, total visitor count is down, stop over visitors are down, and hotel and service workers have to leave Freeport to seek opportunities elsewhere. Thousands of hotel rooms have been taken out of service over the last two decades, and the remaining ones are tired, rundown and in urgent need of repair and upgrade. To use a medical term the tourism industry in Grand Bahama is on life support. Urban decay is obvious throughout the downtown and the residential communities. Unemployment stands at an all-time high of 18.6 percent and climbing. Investment in the industrial sector is non- existent. Apart from upgrades and expansion to existing industrial plants, no new investment was made in the industrial sector since Sands Brewery opened in early 2008. Land sales, home construction and property development is at a standstill and has been so for decades. The truth is the magic has vanished and if we are to recapture the magic and regain the promise of the vision originally anticipated in the 1955 Agreement, we need the proverbial Midas touch. Ladies and gentlemen it is time to change this narrative. In spite of this gloomy reality all is not lost, but urgent radical surgery is the Agreement there have been too many periods of strained relationships between these two parties. Businesses cannot grow and prosper in an environment of uncertainty, and Freeport businesses have had unusually long periods of uncertainty while waiting Immigration and Customs decisions from successive administrations. The time has come for an ongoing deep level of trust to exist between the government, the port and its licensees. C. A. Smith Former Ambassador necessary to save the patient and get us on the road to economic recovery. The future success of Freeport requires dynamic, creative, resourceful, knowledgeable and visionary leadership at the Grand Bahama Port Authority Ltd. This proactive developmental minded leadership must be capable of creating an environment that capitalizes on Freeport’s unique characteristics and of inspiring confidence in the unlimited economic potential and possibilities that Freeport offers. Sadly, the present leadership has shown that it is deficient in these characteristics. The performance of the present leadership in sustaining economic development is unremarkable and leaves much to be desired. They will have great difficulty in pointing to a single significant investment brought to Freeport under their watch. It is now time for new ownership and new leadership at the Grand Bahama Port Authority Ltd. I strongly suggest that the government use this opportunity and its position of power to assist in identifying and encouraging new dynamic ownership and professional management to guide, promote and develop this important national asset. The Tourism Product As stated earlier the tourism sector on Grand Bahama is in crisis. It is yet to rebound to pre2000 days when we had thousands of high quality rooms available in West End and Freeport. The plant is deteriorating. Not one new hotel has been built in the last 20 years, and facilities at the Grand Lucayan and Memories are attracting down market clientele. If you remove Medical Facility Ladies and gentlemen. Successive governments have recognized the need for the construction of a regional medical facility on Grand Bahama to ac(Continued on Page 13) the subsidy the industry receives annually, these hotels would be closed tomorrow. The way forward is to identify and engage a world leader in the resort and tourist industry and provide them with all the incentives required to develop a multi-range high quality tourism product. Lucaya must be rebranded as a world class tourist destination. Marketing Mr. President We live in a highly competitive world where tax free and or economic zones abound all over the globe. If we are to compete successfully in this highly competitive environment, the government, the GBPA and its licensees must be prepared to invest significant sums of marketing dollars on an ongoing basis to market the economic benefits of investing in Freeport. No real effort has been made to market Freeport as a tax free zone. The way forward requires that this must change. I support the expressed view that establishing an adequately funded professionally staffed marketing entity with the mandate to promote Freeport to carefully targeted corporations and businesses across the globe as the ideal Free Trade Zone in which to locate businesses is key to the revitalization of Freeport. Branding Freeport as the Western Hemisphere’s industrial and commercial business destination; the Dubai of the west will assist in our recovery efforts. Government Relations In order for Freeport to succeed, the relationship between the GOB and the GBPA must at all times be constructive and collaborative. Throughout the life of CAREER OPPORTUNITY AUDIO VISUAL COMPANY Grand Lucayan is seeking an AUDIO VISUAL COMPANY to provide equipment and services for internal and external clients. Company must have experience from meeting set ups to special events. Company must possess the following criteria but not limited to: Must have knowledge of conventions and services: • Trade Shows • Meetings • Weddings, • Special events Knowledge, Skills & Abilities • Must possess their own inventory to facilitate the above • Certified staff • Staff must meet daily or when scheduled for various conventions meetings • Must possess and maintain a highly functional inventory • Company must have structure consistent with competitive local pricing and Audio & Visual industry standards • Company must be willing to service and function in house system if and when needed • Company must provide a professional report of its services and equipment available along with its equipment prices • Must be able to effectively communicate its equipment inventory and pricing to customer • Adhere to a professional grooming standard and dress code • Company will need to provide list of all employees Only passionate, self motivated professionals need apply to: Immigration Immigration can and should be used as an incentive tool to development. Used appropriately this tool could assist in ensuring that Freeport achieves its full economic potential. There are too many instances in the memory of Freeporters where immigration has been used as a tool to discourage rather than encourage development. Canada, The United States and a number of CARICOM countries maintain a progressive open door immigration policy, which attracts foreign direct investment and highly skilled and well qualified professionals to the economic advantage of the receiving state Working toward this goal requires a fundamental shift in government policy directive toward foreign investment in Freeport and a seismic shift in Bahamian attitude toward skilled foreign employees. Both The Ingraham and The Christie administrations have touted the red carpet treatment for foreign direct investment but they both have failed to implement this pledge. They were either unable or unwilling to summon the necessary political will to implement this sensible developmental policy. Director of Human Resources Grand Lucayan Bahamas P.O. Box F-42500 Freeport, Grand Bahama Email: [email protected] On or before May 15th, 2015 Qualified Bahamians only need apply Ph: (242) 352-6682