By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet Minister yesterday denied that foreign investors were given preferential treatment over Bahamians, as a local developer hit out at the “frustrating silence” over permit applications for a project that could create 60 tourism-related jobs.

Paul Fernander, spokesman for Buccaneers Bahamas Ltd, said it had received no word on the status of its applications after they were submitted almost a year ago.

The company is seeking approval to lease Crown land on the eastern end of Arawak Cay, and a portion of the Western Esplanade beach, to develop a ‘zip line thrill’ attraction as well as a complex including a ‘Pirate’s Landing’, ‘Blackbeard’s Cabaret’, ‘Nutty Pirate’ and ‘Buccaneer Kidd’s’ play area.

“I tried to get the property through Lands and Surveys, and was told I needed to make a presentation to the Ministry for the Environment,” Mr Fernander said.

‘I haven’t heard back yet from the Ministry of the Environment or the Ministry for Investments. My concern is that with the economy the way it is, and employment the way it is, if a Bahamian has an opportunity to impact unemployment they should be given every possible opportunity to do it. I think that the attitude that some people give to local entrepreneurs and young people with business ideas is what is retarding the country.”

Mr Fernander added: “When foreign investors come in, big announcements are made and sometimes these projects never get off the ground. When a Bahamian comes in you often times don’t even get an acknowledgment of your proposal.”

Such inequality in treatment was denied by Khaalis Rolle, minister of state for investments, who told Tribune Business via e-mail: “I don’t agree that foreign investors are treated better by my office, and certainly not by me. Whenever there are multiple requests for public property, the process is more complicated.”

Mr Fernander, meanwhile, said the Buccaneers Bahamas concept originated with his two sons and nephews, and could be a boost to Nassau’s tourism product offering.

    “I helped them to develop the concept along with some other persons in the Bahamas. We approached the  company in the United States that builds the zip lines, and that has all the expertise, all the international connections, all of the knowledge and experience to make this happen,” he added.

“Yet still we cannot move forward unless the Government gives us an opportunity to do it. It’s just frustrating  to see how many other projects have been announced in the past year, and we haven’t even gotten a document or letter to say that our’s has been received.

“This is the end of 2015. We wanted to start this project up in March 2016. My son and my nephews are feeling disappointed over the bureaucracy that can hold them back from an endeavour they want to do to help the employment situation in the country.”

   The project’s first phase will include a pirate-themed 2,000 foot zip ride and kids play area. The second phase for Buccaneers Bahamas includes a harbour view deck, a restaurant and bar and a nightly cultural show. The third phase calls for a 3,000 foot zip line.

“If we do all of the phases at once that could be employment for up to 60 people  in the construction phase, and then about 60 persons basically full-time. There’s a playground side of it, a restaurant side of it, a cultural show aspect, a presentation part of it and then there is the zip-line part of it ,and then we also want to eventually expand  the zip line,” said Mr Fernander.