By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Senior Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has defended the agreement his administration struck with Royal Caribbean for the lease of Crown land on Paradise Island.

Press Secretary Clint Watson said last week the Davis administration will not let Royal Caribbean lease seven acres of land for 150 years.

“I agree that the standard lease time is 100 years,” Dr Minnis said in the House of Assembly yesterday. “I accept that and I am certain that RCL would have no problem with reverting rather than 150 to 100 years.”

Toby Smith, a Bahamian entrepreneur who is behind a $2m investment in the Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club, has an ongoing court matter in which he alleges that he has a valid lease for two parcels of land included in RCL’s agreement.

 Mr Watson said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis believes he can bring an amicable solution to the dispute.

 Dr Minnis said: “It has always been the government’s policy that we do not sell Crown land to foreigners or give Crown land to foreigners. As a matter of fact we look at the global picture as to the advantage of leasing Crown land to foreign nationals. Rather than one or two individuals benefiting, we look at the global picture to ensure that the nation would benefit.

 “With respect to RCL, yes it’s a lease of $140,000 per year (for) 25 years with extension. But the benefit certainly outweighs the lease of the property. RCL would embark on a $55m lease of that particular property and in fact they are even increasing that. There would be many jobs available for Bahamians. All of the investment on the property would be run by Bahamians and RCL would assist Bahamians with funding to ensure they are intimately involved.

 “In addition to that there will be 80 Bahamians involved in the construction; excellent salaries. Upon completion of the project there will be an additional 150-200 Bahamians who will be hired at a salary of thirty to forty thousand dollars per annum. Most importantly, RCL presently brings about one million tourists to The Bahamas. With this project the numbers would increase which would benefit all Bahamians, especially those within the hospitality and tourism industry.

 “In addition to that, individuals must be mobilised to (the property) by ferry boats. RCL will enter engagement with Bahamians so that Bahamians will be involved and possibly own the ferry boat between the cruise line and the property itself. We know today that the ferry boats that are utilised today may not meet the certification or the standards that will be required by the International Maritime Organisation and, therefore, RCL would ensure that the Bahamians have adequate ferry boats that will meet the certifications and standards. This would create vast entrepreneurship and wealth for Bahamians as opposed to one individual; and I won’t get into that at this particular time but the decision was Bahamians at large would be involved as opposed to one or two individuals.”