by Christopher Lowe

The third party to the Hawksbill Creek Agreement has now arisen from its slumber, aided for a change by the revelations emanating from the battles and positioning of the other two signatories of the agreement, and other parties.

I am of course referring to the Licensees of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Seemingly subjected to, and I use the title of a movie,” A series of unfortunate events.”

A group thereof is seeking to ascertain exactly what has happened to the empowering organization known as the Grand Bahama Port Authority, and further, what has become of the intent and objectives of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.

This is no small task, but one that seems inevitable given the damage being done to our community and economy that has we shall say, been wounded periodically by the apparent collusion over the years between two of the three parties to the agreement namely the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the shareholders of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

It is also particularly unfortunate that it has taken blows being traded by the sparring shareholding partners of the Port to illuminate the situation, a situation the licensees have by and large been kept ignorant of.

It could be said that, no matter the number of licensees, a number cloaked in secrecy by the port Authority to date, there are as many opinions of events transpiring to date as there are licensees.

This of course is intrinsically wrong, as the terms of the agreement and the recommendations of a Royal Commission of Inquiry show.
Therefore this group of licensees is seeking the facts, truth and details, information that should not have to be fought for, but should always have been available, especially when we should have been privy to and approving of any changes to the practice of the terms of the agreement.

Perhaps, if viewed in a greater context, our potential in Freeport can finally be realized if an environment of transparency is created, facilitating that long awaited and promised boom that has at times held our hopes so high, only to be dashed on the rocks of apparent personal and political manipulation.

Individual education however on the part of the licensees is critical, and a great many of us will have to abandon those things we have taken as fact, and embrace and work with the discoveries that the Freeport Licensees and Property Owners Association are seeking under the Auspices of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Further, Any and all present and potential investors that are being entertained or facilitated by the Executives of the Port Authority should be heartened and encouraged by the efforts of their present or soon to be co-licensees, as perhaps they will benefit from these efforts towards full disclosure on the status of our regulatory body, the Port Authority.

In point of fact, it may and should make their presence in Freeport a more pleasant and permanent experience than that experienced by some of our present and former investors and licensees.

In any case, being that these issues are forefront in the minds of Grand Bahama residents and investors alike, and are critical to the success of our economic future, The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce is hopeful that the rightful presence of the Licensees at the table of discussion alongside the executive of the Grand Bahama Port Authority will aid and create the vision for Grand Bahama going forward.

Our future under rule of law depends on it, and we should remember, if seeking the truth one should be ready for the whole truth, not just part of it.

What all involved choose to do with the truth, is for them to decide, as per the terms of the agreement.

Christopher Lowe is the Operations Manager of Kelly’s Freeport Ltd, and is currently the President of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce.