By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday the Government was viewing a Mexican group as the front-runner to become the new casino operator at the Memories Grand Bahama Beach and Casino Resort.

Speaking with Tribune Business at the Grand Bahama Business Outlook, Mr Wilchcombe said the group was the only potential operator currently at the table. Treasure Bay has operated the casino since 2009.

“We have someone at the table right now. We have a Mexican group, which has obviously been the best of the bunch we have had. We have to be satisfied and we’re still asking some further questions,” Mr Wilchcombe said.

“We have to remember that we are trying to build a destination, and all the components including the brands of the hotels and the brand of the casino, if they can’t help to drive business then we are going to be worse off. We have to find a way to get the best operator.”

While declining to identify the group, Mr Wilchcombe added: “If it ends up being them at the end of the day, that’s because they went through the whole process of scrutinisation. I’m unapologetic about it. We failed with the last two, and that’s not good. Right now, if you looked at the numbers you would be shocked. Bimini is doing better than Nassau.”

Mr Wilchcombe said that while there had been other groups expressing interest in operating the Memories casino, they had not been able to meet all the Government’s requirements and ultimately dropped out of the process.

“There were one or two two that have come to the table, but when you make requests of them they don’t deliver,” he said.

“We have asked companies to show us their financials and they have not delivered, and you really can’t go beyond that unless you show us your financials. This company we are assessing now has been able to, up to this point, provide all the necessary requirements.

“What we are looking for is that draw and whether the brand can work in the Bahamas. Can the brand have an appeal to the American market? That’s a big market for us. That’s our low hanging fruit; 80 per cent of our business comes from America, and so we have always understood that they have to appeal to that market.”