Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper delivered his contribution to the 2025-2026 budget debate in the House of Assembly on Thursday.
Cooper lambasted the official Opposition for their lack of support for the economic rebound of Grand Bahama dubbing them enemies of progress. He said, “when the IMF report is good, the FNM is upset. The country forecasts a surplus but the FNM is upset. Infrastructural work is going on in most of the islands, the FNM is upset.”
A major signing ceremony was held for the redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan Hotel in May which members of the FNM did not attend. The minister said, “we just signed a big deal in Grand Bahama and they don’t like it either, but we’re going to have a beautiful development at Grand Lucayan, first class, along with the redevelopment of Port Lucaya and the airport coming too.”
FNM Deputy Leader and Member of Parliament for St. Barnabas, the Hon. Shanendon Cartwright responded to Cooper’s comments demanding transparency about the more than $800 million Grand Lucayan deal. He said, “the Bahamian people and Grand Bahamians have not gotten any details and in his words that he said about the deal we had that they need to come clean on what the details are and really what it is that the Bahamian and how are they benefiting.”
Cooper said that FNM had five seats in Grand Bahama and did nothing and are now confused as to how two can do more than five.
