NASSAU, Bahamas — A Hayward family member has voiced optimism that Grand Bahama International Airport’s $200m transformation will serve as a “catalyst” for the sale of a Grand Lucayan resort that has become “a bit of an eyesore, The Tribune reported on Wednesday, March 22, in a article written by Business Editor Neil Hartnell.
Rupert Hayward, grandson of former Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) co-chair, Sir Jack Hayward, told Tribune Business of the announcement: “This is welcome news for everyone on the island, particularly for developments that are planned or already in the offing, especially the Weller Development, Pegasus and Six Senses hotel.
“This is critical infrastructure, which is really important. I hope it will be the catalyst to get the big hotel sold. That’s the really important piece here. The Grand Lucayan is a bit of an eyesore. The airport will hopefully be the catalyst for the sale of the Grand Lucayan, and that is a really important part of Grand Bahama’s sustainability.”
Michael Scott KC, the Grand Lucayan’s former chairman, reiterated that it was almost impossible to find the correct buyer for the resort without an assurance that an airport capable of servicing the required airlift and guest flow was in place.
“You could never do anything with that hotel,” he told this newspaper. “I learned that the hard way. That should be as obvious as anything. Unless and until you give people expected to put hundreds of millions of dollars into that property some assurance they will generate the revenue streams” a sale will not happen. Mr Scott added that a revived airport was the “sine qua non for any resurgence if any investment and growth in Grand Bahama and Freeport”.
Not everyone, though, agrees that a $200m investment in Grand Bahama’s airport is necessary. Kirk Antoni, the Cafferata & Co attorney, told last week’s Grand Bahama Business Outlook that a $25m injection may suffice given the urgency of the need to improve airlift and the airport experience.
“Do we need a $200m airport to get the flow of people coming to Freeport?” he asked, lamenting the numerous past promises of politicians who fail to deliver. “How is Mr Weller going to bring in investors if they come off a plans and have to pick up their luggage off a forklift or pallet?
“The domestic terminal is still a disgrace. Just speak with Sunwing passengers who are the only ones using the terminal. We need action now, people, not in two or three years’ time when an election is called.”
Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister, and also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, in unveiling the airport deal said its proponents ultimately aim to transform the facility into an international “air cargo hub” for the Caribbean and Latin America. He also disclosed that the mixed Bahamian and UK joint venture consortium that won the bid plans to “consistently generate 1,200 construction jobs” over the project’s five-year build-out.
See complete article in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/22/200m-gb-airport-deal-can-help-solve-lucayan-eyesor/
