EDITOR, The Tribune.

I am not a spear carrier for Toby Smith of the Paradise Lighthouse Company, but rather a Bahamian who is anxious to jump start the economy and getting as many fellow citizens to work in the shortest possible time frame. I do not subscribe to his public relations and coercive tactics in the least even if he and his advisors think that they are effective...more irritating than anything else. Facts on the ground:

1. Smith has all of the required approvals issued by successive administrations, inclusive of yours. He has a legal expectation to be granted an executed Leasehold Agreement and was in possession of the same long before RCL came into play. He cannot be defeated in a competent court of law.

2. The administration must at all times be seen to be an upholder of the rule of law and respect for the sanctity of contracts.

3. A serious mistake was made by some people in your offices and the Lands & Survey’s Department in that someone did not bother to cross check the documentation prior to granting approvals in principle to both Toby and RCL for similar and identical portions of the available Crown Land at Paradise Beach. This can only be rectified by granting, formally, what was agreed to respective to Toby.

4. You have declared that it is your government’s desire to stimulate the local economy well this is an ideal case to do so and to appear to be supportive of Bahamian investments. To do otherwise would send some bad vibes to other Bahamians and even the international investment market....that the government’s word cannot be trusted.

Please do the right thing and let’s move on. Stay Safe.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr

Nassau,

June 1, 2021.