The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

A Family Island hotelier yesterday backed the use of seaplanes to increase airlift once such services are properly zoned and regulated.

Jeff Birch, owner of the Small Hope Bay Lodge in Andros, said he supports resorts and developments in providing sea plane docks but warned that landings in the flats should not be permitted.

He said: “I don’t think that they should land in the flats or on the west side. I think that they can be a very large disruption to the eco-balance in those areas.

“I think they should service hotels. We can pull out our little docks and they can pull up to the resorts and service hotels, but I don’t think they should be bringing people into the vast unspoiled areas around Andros.”

Mr Birch added that Andros has had a “pretty good” year but hotels have been affected by the high cost of utilities and food. He said: “I think that everybody in Andros has had a pretty good year. I think what we’re feeling a little bit now is that the cost of business has gone up substantially.

“The cost of utilities, food and beverage have increased the most this year, beverage not as much but definitely food.” Mr Birch explained that with rising costs, businesses have had to adjust their projected profit margins to accommodate the change.

He said: “You get an increase in business, so if you have an increase in revenues, your cost of generating those revenues is very, very high. Then whatever little margin you might have had, you might have foreseen in the past, you’re not going to see in the future, so you have to do even more business. So I’m not sure how that’s going to play out.

“But as far as the business and Andros, I think everybody in Andros is seeing an upsurge. I think Kamalame Cay has been doing well, bonefish lodges have been quite busy. I think all of them, whatever offerings they have in Andros, they’ve been doing better.”

Mr Birch added that Andros would benefit from having its airports renovated to accommodate increased airlift to the island.