Relations between the government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has been strained for many months. They are currently in arbitration after the government requested a payment of approximately $357 million from the GBPA for work done in Freeport.
Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey and GBPA President, Ian Rolle both spoke with ZNS News on Thursday about the current state of relations between the GBPA and the government.
Rolle said, “I think both the government and the Port Authority, we realize that we need to work together in order to move Freeport forward. Grand Bahama has a lot of potential and so we are working together on various fronts to ensure that nothing is lost despite the noise in the marketplace.”
Minister Moxey said as far as she is concerned there has always been a great relationship between the two. “The Government of The Bahamas and the Grand Bahama Port Authority has to work together, collaboratively, in order to make things happen for Grand Bahama Island and we work well with the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce. Again, it’s about ensuring that we’re doing the things that allows Grand Bahama to be able to develop, to grow, to ensure that the people are impacted in a positive way, to ensure that businesses are able to thrive,” she said.
At a signing ceremony held for the redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan Hotel last Thursday the GBPA President spoke highly of Prime Minister Davis. Rolle says all involved understand that together more can be done.
Minister Moxey assured that the government and the GBPA will continue to work together to ensure that Grand Bahama and its people are able to benefits from what its happening on Grand Bahama Island.
