The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - While in Grand Bahama over the weekend, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham revealed that the owners of the former Jack Tar Hotel are coming back to reopen the West End resort.

"I can tell you down in West End that Mr Sammons is coming back and so is Jack Tar!" he told FNM supporters at the opening of the West Grand Bahama constituency office in Russell Town, Eight Mile Rock, on Saturday.

The hotel, which closed 30 years ago, was the major economic pillar of West End.

Jack Tar employed nearly 700 Bahamians before it closed in 1990. The resort property included a marina and an airport.

In 2005, developer Bobby Ginn purchased the 2,000 acre property, with plans to develop a $4.9 billion mixed-use resort.

The project, which was announced under the former PLP administration, fell apart when the property went into foreclosure in 2011, after real estates sales failed to materialise due to the recession.

"They (the PLP) promised you Ginn, the largest development ever in the Bahamas. Nowadays when it comes to Ginn, mum's the word from them," Mr Ingraham said.

He said the PLP promises big things, but fails to deliver every time.

"That's why you know that all of these big things they are promising in Grand Bahama will never, ever come through. Promisers they are. Deliverers they will never be," he said.

"Give us the opportunity to bring you scandal-free, honest and hardworking representation. We ask that you elect one of your own and allow us to deliver for you," said Mr Ingraham.

The prime minister told voters that Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe will provide good representation for West Grand Bahama and Bimini.

He said Mrs Edgecombe - who was born in West End, grew up in Holmes Rock and graduated from the Eight Mile Rock High School - sought out the nomination to represent her home in the House of Assembly.

"We didn't have to recruit her; she volunteered. She said she wanted to give back and she wanted to do so right here in the community that made her. She has only good intentions for you," he said.