The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Bimini’s Chamber of Commerce president yesterday hailed spending by both political parties on today’s by-election as a “win-win” for all residents and the island’s economy.

Edward Reckley, also proprietor of Under the Sun Water Sports, told Tribune Business that the by-election is just adding more fuel to a Bimini economy that was already gaining momentum.

“Because of that now it is a good time, because you have a lot of persons between Grand Bahama and Nassau supporting both parties,” he added of the by-election’s impact.

“So from that there is an economic move, especially from the food vendors and all of the other merchants who are there, and then we also have the cruise ship at the same time. So it’s going very fine from the economic part of it. We are getting a good boost from the by-election.”

While by-election spending will come to a halt this week, both the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Free National Movement (FNM) have pledged to do more for Bimini’s long-term development.

“We also have a new airport that is going to be taking place. We also have the road paving that’s taking place; that’s happening right now. So it’s a win-win situation for Bimini, whichever candidate happens to win,” Mr Reckley said. The recently-announced $80m private-public partnership (PPP) upgrade for Bimini’s airport is also intended to boost airlift to the island and its commercial trade.

“This by-election is definitely a blessing in disguise despite it being sad for Mr (Obie) Wilchcombe’s family, but essentially the by-election is going to sustain the island based on whichever candidate may win,” he added. “I believe that, for both candidates, their table is going to be full due to the fact of the explosion that Bimini is taking in at this time.”

Resorts World Bimini is celebrating passing the one million visitor mark today, which is a “good indicator as to where the island’s economy is headed”. Mr Reckley added: “I feel excellent about this as this is showing a new way of Biminites now getting involved into any type of business that would be very lucrative at this time due to the fact of the visitation between the cruise ship, and also all the other boats that would come in and give us repeat visitors.”