The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - DNA Leader Branville McCartney claims that Hubert Ingraham allowed his personal conflicts with the principal of the Grand Bahama Port Authority to interfere with economic progress in Grand Bahama.

He says that a leader should always put the interest of people first.

"The people of Grand Bahama must come first," Mr McCartney said Friday in Grand Bahama. "We will not allow personality conflicts and negative statements of potential investors to stifle progress in Grand Bahama anymore.

"The PM allowed his personality clashes with Sir Jack Hayward cause you to sink deeper and deeper into economic turmoil. Our leader should not be concerned about who likes them or who don't agree with them, they should be working toward the betterment of the Bahamian people."

Mr McCartney said Mr Ingraham put his personal feelings before the people of Grand Bahama.

"Look at what he has done. Look at the pain and suffering you are under. You do not deserve that. He ain't your Papa. Papa don't treat their children like that!" he said.

"Sir Jack said the dying economy of Grand Bahama is to be put squarely at the feet of PM Hubert Ingraham. He said government has been dragging its feet and has shown very little interest n assisting Grand Bahama."

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham did not think that former GBPA chairman Hannes Babak was a "fit" person for the chairmanship. He said government would not renew his work permit.

Branville McCartney was the then Minister of State of Immigration in the FNM government

Mr McCartney told Grand Bahamians that government must ensure that policies and procedures promote the economic and social development of FPO.

He said Grand Bahama has the potential of becoming a major manufacturer of assembly products.

Mr McCartney said a movie and related-business industry such as film, sound, production, and distribution warehouses should also be developed on the island.

"We need to create a cultural centre, where residents take advantage of many entrepreneurial opportunities that will abound through tourist activities and spin off products. We need to establish a state of the art facility in East Grand Bahama to accommodate educational research institutions, with particular focus on medicine, marine biology and technology.

"We need to strengthen Grand Bahama's tourism product, including West and East Grand Bahama, and better promote it as a tourist destination with a viable plan for resort hotel and thriving second home market," he said.