The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The bitter, long-running dispute at Exuma’s Oceania Heights project may be moving towards a negotiated settlement, after the homeowners group yesterday indicated they would be prepared to meet with the developers face-to-face.

Dr Terry Swaine, in a letter sent last night to Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) sergeant Jennifer Bowe, indicated that the homeowners would be prepared to meet the developers, Canadian citizen Howard Obront and Bahamian attorney Anthony Thompson, with the Exuma Chamber of Commerce acting as mediator.

Applauding the offer by Exuma Chamber president, Pedro Rolle, to help resolve the dispute as “encouraging and appreciated”, Dr Swaine wrote: “Now we are faced with a potential opportunity to physically sit in a room together and, hopefully, have an adult conversation.

“Our goal in the discussions would be to produce a global resolution which would allow all parties the ability to move forward. In that spirit, I recommend that the police host the settlement discussions with the hope that a resolution can be achieved.

“In order to allow the discussions to become the mostproductive and successful, I would like to recommend that a member of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Investment, and the Attorney General’s Office be present.”

Referring to a recent meeting between the homeowners and Sergeant Bowe, Dr Swaine added: “During our recent meeting I am sure that you were able to detect the disdain that we [Oceania Heights] investors have for Mr Obront and Thompson.”

He added that the police probably looked at the dispute as”a bunch of rich folk’s fighting”.

Among the complaints previously advanced by several Oceania Heights homeowners are difficulties with obtaining title documents to their properties, and that Stamp Duty payments due to the Treasury on lot sales have not been made.

Other alleged grievances are that Mr Thompson, while representing both purchaser and vendor (the Oceania Group of Companies) in the real estate transaction, did not pre-disclose that he had a beneficial ownership interest in the development.

This, as with all other claims, has been vehemently denied by Mr Thompson and the Obronts.

However, Chris Fleming, another Oceania Heights homeowner, said: “We applaud Rolle, president of the Exuma Chamber of Commerce, who has courageously demonstrated the leadership required to resolve this contentious matter.

“I would strongly recommend the addition of MrRolle in any potential meetings. A year ago we offered Oceania Heights the opportunity to get together; at that time they were unwilling to hold any discussions.

“We are delighted that Oceania Heights now has come to the conclusion that any dialogue is productive, even if it does not come to a resolution.”

In response, Mr Rolle wrote: “Thank you for agreeing to meet with the principals of Oceania Heights. They have also expressed a willingness, to the Chamber, to meet with your group.

“The Exuma Chamber of Commerce would be happy to play a role, no matter how small, in attempting to resolve this matter. We look forward to a date being set by the relevant parties.”