By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE GRAND Bahama Chamber of Commerce president yesterday said he wants to see plans for Grand Bahama International Airport’s (GBIA) revival before the Government finalises a deal with a private sector partner.

James Carey told Tribune Business a credible plan for the island’s main aviation gateway can still be presented to stakeholders to give them confidence in the economy’s future prospects prior to a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement being reached for the airport’s redevelopment.

“I saw in the press they have an Irish company interested in the airport, but I haven’t really read through who and what they are. The plan still hasn’t been revealed yet about how far they are going to go and what they intend to do,” he said.

It was reported earlier this week that Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which operates Ireland’s Dublin and Cork airports, plus airport retail concessions in several other countries, is among the “frontrunners” to arrange the necessary financing for Grand Bahama International Airport’s multi-million dollar redevelopment and subsequently operate it. The Government will retain ownership of the airport via the Freeport Airport Development Company, much like it does in Nassau.

But Mr Carey asked: “Are they putting up a new and bigger terminal? The runway is there and it’s fine from what I understand and all of the reports I have heard. But what are they going to do with the terminal and the design because the information hasn’t been forthcoming?”

The airport was devastated by Hurricane Dorian. Its previous owners, Hutchison Port Holdings and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), declined to invest the necessary sums in its repairs and walked away with the insurance proceeds after the then-Minnis administration acquired the airport for $1 as well as assuming around $1m in severance liabilities.

Mr Carey said: “The airport was damaged three years ago. It is a point of contention, because while we don’t have sufficient hotel rooms, we do need airport because an airport is a gateway.

“With Exuma, for example, with their itty bitty terminal, they move a heck of a lot of people and a lot of flights are going in there because they do have the accommodation for them. An airport isn’t necessarily going to make accommodation, but it certainly contributes to the coming into being of accommodation for visitors. So it goes hand in hand.

“The Government is not necessarily in the business of making money when they start to do things, while a private enterprise is driven by profit, and they’re not going to do things unless they can see where they’re going to make that money.”