Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, the Hon. Kingsley Smith disputed rumours on Thursday that government is acquiring land from Bimini residents for foreign investors.  Smith was making his contribution to the Veterinary Medicine Bill 2024 in the House Of Assembly.

He said, “the truth is the airport of being redeveloped as it should given the booming tourist economy on the island Biminites deserve a port of entry they can be proud of.  But equally a port of entry that is attractive enough to those visiting the island so there’s an expansion phase.  There was a need for land and the land will be acquired.”

Smith added, “adequate and justifiable compensation to land owners will be given.  There are laws in place when these things occur and they will be followed.  No one is taking from anyone and giving it to the foreigners.  The airport is owned by the government and a private management firm has been contracted to develop and manage it as with NAD in New Providence for the Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport.”

The West Grand Bahama MP, who won the seat in a by-election after the death of the late Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, also gave an update about works in that part of the constituency.  He spoke about progress at the Holmes Rock School saying, “I encourage those of you who were on the school’s grounds some months ago doing live feeds to show the Bahamian people that nothing was happening, you are now invited to return with your audience to see the progress and hope that you will come often to see its completion.”

Smith also mentioned as accomplishments the completion of the new Obadiah Wilchcombe Government Complex, the renovation of the Eight Mile Rock High School gym and the construction of a new park in Pine Forest Estates.