The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

INVESTMENTS minister Khalis Rolle confirmed yesterday a $20 million “poultry project” for North Andros was currently under review, telling Tribune Business the Government should be in a position “in a couple of weeks” to make a final decision on the proposal.

    The project, which is being spearheaded by US investor Robert L. Parker, could provide a major boost to the Andros economy and create at least 150 jobs on North Andros.

Speaking with Tribune Business yesterday, Mr Rolle said: “We haven’t made a decision on it. It requires quite a number of adjustments that cannot be simply made, so we are looking at what the possibilities are.

“It’s already been given some level of approval, it’s just that some concessions being requested fall out of the scope of what the Government can reasonably do without amending any laws. We are still reviewing it and should be able in a couple of weeks to make a final decision on it.”

    The project proposal, which had received some level of approval under the former Ingraham administration, was never able to materialise and is now before the Christie government. Bob Parker and his brother Bill, who is not involved in this particular venture, are no strangers to Andros, having made investments in several ventures including small hotels and commercial farming on the island dating as far back as the 1950’s.