The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor THE PRIME Minister said he was "elated" upon learning that Our Lucaya's current occupancy levels were at 75 per cent, adding that an owner other than Hutchison Whampoa would likely have closed the Freeport resort. Speaking at a press conference at the Rand Memorial Hospital, Hubert Ingraham said: "When I was here on Sunday I was elated when the manager told me he had 75 per cent occupancy. I had never heard that; I've been hearing about the 20s and the 30s. "I think that a genuine effort is being made to attract more business to the place, and I continue to express my appreciation to Hutchison Whampoa, to whom we are very grateful for continuing to put money into a place that has been a total loss from their point of view. It is my hope that my people in Grand Bahama, and all people in Grand Bahama, would be appreciative of what they are doing because others may have closed it but they are keeping it open and operating." Hinting that the Government and Hutchison Whampoa had differences over how Our Lucaya should be managed, the Prime Minister added: "We obviously have some views as to how they ought to manage it differently than they have been doing, but it is not our place - we do not own it, it is their money. "We talk to them from time to time, seek to cajole them, make suggestions. Sometimes they take our suggestions, but it is their money." Meanwhile, Mr Ingraham said the global recession continued to take its toll on Harcourt Developments, owner of the Royal Oasis, and any plans it had to develop the resort property that has now been closed for over seven years. "Harcourt is in the same position that Ginn was in west Grand Bahama, and that is the recession has affected them and their ability to raise money from banks, and their ability to fund any development," Mr Ingraham added. "There is no answer to be given as to when they will get money or when they will find a buyer - that is one of the consequences of this great recession that took place. Some people in my country seem to think that such a thing does not exist, but it exists all over the world and Harcourt was a very big and successful company in Ireland who is now unable to fund that kind of development."