The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – The Reef Village Resort is on target for re-opening on January 16 in time for six new flights from Canada, Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville said as he led a delegation on a tour of the Lucaya property.

Renovation work was still underway at the resort when the group toured the facilities on Friday.

During a media briefing, it was reported that as a result of the tripartite partnership arrangement between the government, Hutchison, and the Sunwing Group, somewhere in the region of $23-25 million would be spent on getting the resort open and bringing new airlift to the island.

Sir Baltron Bethel, senior policy advisor to the government, said the undertaking in Lucaya as a “major strategic move” to restore tourism in Grand Bahama.

“This is very significant – it has been a couple of years in the making,” he said. “The government from day one when it came to office promised the people of Grand Bahama to turn the economy around in Grand Bahama.

“So it is a very strategic move involving not only the re-opening of the hotel and the renovations, but the creation of a product that Grand Bahama did not have that is in demand in marketplace.”

Mr Bethel, a special advisor to the Prime Minister Perry Christie, was also among the delegation viewing the progress taking place.

Minister Darville reported that work is progressing well, and 200 construction workers had been employed during the renovations.

“We toured the complete facility and we are satisfied that on the 16 of January when all of the flights arrive in GB the resort will be ready. We looked at the quality of the work and we are quite pleased that the facility is at the standard we anticipate,” he said.

“This is the catalyst we have been waiting for in the tourism sector for the last few years; we are pleased at what is taking place.”

Mr Darville said job interviews have been held, and some people are already employed at the resort. He expects that the number of workers will increase to 1,000.

Sir Baltron noted that when the PLP came to office $25 million was being pumped into the marketing of Grand Bahama.

“We looked at the money and reduced it, and found willing partners in Hutchison and Sunwing to provide airlift and other funding for renovations, and so these renovations will most likely run from $23-25 million.

“Sunwing is providing the aircrafts and taking a lot of risks. Hutchison, which owns the airport, has done some upgrading of the airport to receive flights, and so all together it’s a collective exercise.”

Mr Bethel stated that Grand Bahama has been lacking in terms of airlift.

He noted that Sunwing will be bringing a fleet of new 737-800 aircraft from six cities in Canada, and will commence flights from eight cities in the US in the summer.

“What we have here is not just simply the opening of a hotel that was closed, but added the component of airlift.

“Hutchison has also been a willing partner and has put their money behind it, together with the government supporting this.

“It is a major strategy that brings together some important companies to make tourism work,” Mr Bethel said.