The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE appointment of a new chair to the Grand Bahama Port Authority should have been left to the incoming government, according to the Progressive Liberal Party.

Underscoring the critical nature of an approval to head the quasi-governmental company, the official opposition yesterday condemned the government's decision to appoint former director Ian Fair as "petty politics."

"The PLP condemns the timing of such an important appointment on the eve of a general election," the party statement said.

"In his usual high handed and arrogant manner, the Prime Minister failed to consult with the Leader of the Opposition and the broader business community of Freeport."

It added: "Given the gravity of the challenges facing Grand Bahama and Freeport in particular, such an important appointment should have been left to the incoming government."

Mr Fair's appointment was confirmed this week, more than six months after Tribune Business revealed the move was in the offing.

Mr Fair was appointed as a director of the board in September. At that time, Tribune Business reported that he was being eyed for the chairmanship, and that it was a question of when, not if, the appointment would be announced. The move was reportedly widely expected, and had been an open secret, for many months in the Freeport business community.

In yesterday's statement, the PLP termed the move as a "last-minute strategy to paper over problems" on the island.

"The Prime Minister," said the PLP, "has squandered his five year mandate to address the concerns of Grand Bahama so this last minute decision is simply too little, too late."

The Port Authority has been without a chairman since 2010, when former chairman Hannes Babak's work permit was not renewed.

Mr Fair also serves as chairman of the Bahamas First Insurance Group and is deputy chairman of Butterfield Bank (Bahamas).

He was the founding chairman of the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB), and is currently chairman of the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) and the Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX).

Sarah St George, the daughter of former chairman, the late Edward St George, will assume the position of vice-chairman.