Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, the Hon. Kwasi Thompson commented on relations between the government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) on Wednesday outside of the House Of Assembly.

The government and the GBPA are currently involved in arbitration over the government claim of $350 million owed by the GBPA per the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. Thompson said, “what the government is doing is the wrong way they are doing it. They are seeking to have a conflict with the Grand Bahama Port Authority. What we do need if for both parties to work together to ensure the best economy that they can. There are some issues with ease of doing business. The government must be focused on making it easier for folks to do business not just in Grand Bahama but for the entire Bahamas.”

The Member of Parliament also called for transparency concerning the progress of government project such as the redevelopment of the Grand Bahama International Airport and the Grand Lucayan Hotel sale. “We saw statements that were being made in reference to the hotel, statements being made in reference to the airport but to date we still do not know what is happening in reference to the hotel, we do not know what is happening in reference to the airport and these are the big ticket items that folks in Freeport, folks in Grand Bahama are very interested in.”

Thompson also shared his view that reform is needed at the GBPA. He said, “there has to be structural issues to address in terms of the ownership of the Grand Bahama Port Authority. We also want licensees to be more involved in the governance of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.”

Both Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis and Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Chester Cooper spoke to the sale of the Grand Lucayan Hotel while visiting Grand Bahama.