The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The FNM’s deputy leader yesterday urged the Government to provide reassurance on the fate of Grand Bahama’s major hotels, telling this newspaper: “We don’t see an end in sight quite yet.”

K P Turnquest, the east Grand Bahama MP, said:  “These are very serious times in Grand Bahama. our tourism product has taken a very serious hit. Now in excess of 500 people have been put out of work.

“I am happy that the company is committed to making the severance entitlements, which will go some ways to alleviate some of the pain. However, that will shortly run out.”

He added: “I don’t know what provisions the Government has put in place with respect to the unemployment benefit that was to cushion further these losses while people look for employment. Unemployment on the island was very high prior to the hurricane and this now adds a whole new set of people to that list, with very little prospect for employment in the short term.”

Memories’ operator, the Sunwing Travel Group, confirmed its withdrawal from Grand Bahama’s resort market last week, blaming a lack of co-operation and obstacles placed in its way by its landlord, Hutchison Whampoa. The company is now paying its employees redundancy and other benefits due to them, having this week taken out an advertisement announcing the payment process.

Mr Turnquest added: “While we hear of renovations planned for the property, we know that there is nothing happening up to this point. It is very discouraging because this property is not only a significant employer but also is symbolic of one of the last remaining tourism hopes that we have.

“Connected to this property is a casino which had closed, and despite the promises still has not found a new operator, and so those persons have lost their jobs.”

Sunwing and its subsidiary, Blue Diamond Resorts, slammed Hutchison Whampoa for having sought to impose “exorbitant” and “totally unacceptable conditions” on its bid to carry out post-Hurricane Matthew restoration work.

The two companies, in a statement, said they had “taken on the significant financial burden of compensating and re-protecting customers, as well as running an air programme with limited accommodation options as a demonstration of goodwill and commitment to the people of Grand Bahama island”.

“When you look at the Port Lucaya Marketplace, it, too, is suffering significantly as a result of the closure of these hotels. There are a number of businesses that provide services to the hotel and those connected to the hotel, tour operators and the like, who have had to put staff on reduced hours as a result of this closure,” said Mr Turnquest.

“We are going through a very serious time and no one has been able to assure us that there is going to be some kind of a rebound in the near term. We need someone to speak to us for sure to let people know what the plans are so they don’t lose hope and stay in the game, if you will.  We don’t see an end in sight quite yet. Everyone is trying to manage their businesses and do the best they can to hold on while we look for some kind of rebound.”