By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A former Deputy Prime Minister believes the Government’s planning consultation over the new British Colonial Hilton parking garage is pointless, given that construction is moving “full steam ahead”.

Brent Symonette, in a recent interview, suggested that Bahamians and interested parties were being asked to review and comment on a project that already seemed to have received all the necessary planning permits and approvals.

And he questioned whether the design was in keeping with efforts to preserve the character and authentic Bahamian architecture of downtown Nassau, given that renderings of the multi-level garage show a property more in keeping with the financial districts of London or New York.

“When I passed there yesterday, the steel was 20 feet out of the ground,” Mr Symonette told Tribune Business. “I don’t know what we’re supposed to say. It’s going full steam ahead.

“That garage is so uncharacteristically Bahamian. What are we trying to do in preserving the charm of downtown? The old Charleston group.... what are we doing?”

Mr Symonette’s comments will likely strike a chord with many Bahamians, especially those who live and work near the construction site adjacent to the existing British Colonial Hilton hotel on Marlborough Street.

The Government’s Department of Physical Planning first started publishing notices about the public consultation earlier this month - after China Construction America’s subsidiary, Newworld One Bay Street Ltd, began building work that is still continuing.

The timeline indicates that the Government may again have failed to follow its own statutory planning processes, and will fuel suspicions that respondents to the consultation are being asked to respond to a ‘fait accompli’ and to help legitimise the project retroactively.

The parking garage is part of the $250 million project known as ‘The Pointe’, which is being developed by the same Chinese contractor currently embroiled at the centre of the Baha Mar controversy.

Mr Symonette, meanwhile, said he had still not been contacted by the Government about its plans for downtown Nassau’s redevelopment - especially the proposed boardwalk along Nassau harbourfront, which will run from Woodes Rogers Wharf to Potter’s Cay.

He added that Bay Street businesses and property owners needed to feel “comfortable” before investing their capital in upgrades and expansion projects, but the Government’s seeming silence was not creating such a silence.

“The short answer is: Nada, no, nothing. I’ve not been contacted by anyone since I last spoke to you,” Mr Symonette said, when asked whether he knew of the Government’s and other boardwalk plans. “People east of East Street are willing to go ahead, but can’t keep being given no answer.”

He compared the 30-day turnaround time for foreign direct investment (FDI) approvals, which was recently suggested by Obie Wilchcombe, minister of tourism, with his own 30-year wait for boardwalk-related and other permits.

“It really does not encourage Bahamians to invest in their economy,” Mr Symonette told Tribune Business. “Or are only certain Bahamians encouraged to invest in their economy? Is that the message being sent?

“We need to create jobs, but is the Government serious, or are they just going into election mode? Foreign direct investment rates over local investment, but when it comes time, local investors are the whipping boys. Yet this is the Government putting Bahamians first. It doesn’t add up.

“I was absolutely amazed to read Obie Wilchcombe’s comments [in Tribune Business] where he said Bay Street is dying. It was absolutely amazing, and I say that with a great degree of sarcasm.”

Mr Symonette said it was important that the Government offer the right investment incentives to revitalise Bay Street and the downtown area, adding that it had to guard against ‘tax breaks’ being pocketed as profits by property owners who then did nothing.

“If they want to develop Bay Street, they have to do something to create an environment where developers and business people feel comfortable to invest their money,” the former Deputy Prime Minister said, “which means giving concessions.

“We don’t have to invest our money, Bahamians and foreigners. We have to feel comfortable investing our money, and if we don’t feel comfortable, we don’t invest. It’s that simple.

“A lot of downtown is owned by non-resident people. It must ensure those concessions are focused on real results, and do not result in greater profits.”

Mr Symonette suggested that the Government take the lead in revitalising downtown Nassau by dealing with its own run-down and derelict buildings, and the enforcement of the parking laws.

“Make it a tourist environment,” he said. “Go down Woodes Rogers Wharf. It looks terrible but it can easily be remedied. It’s not hard, but we’ve got to be sensible.

“I’ve told Mr Christie he can call me any time he wants; he’s got my number. He knows full well I’ll be non-political when it comes to the development of this country. But I speak to you more than I speak to him. I get no answer, but I’m used to it.”