By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) executive director Rupert Hayward said excessive red tape, strict immigration policies, and regulatory changes have hindered Freeport’s investment growth, while also expressing frustration with the slow pace of government approvals for projects in the pipeline.

He also said the GBPA’s relationship with the Davis administration is better and more cooperative behind the scenes than public statements suggest, expressing fondness for Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and his wife.

“Sadly, the gradual watering down of the regulatory regime, excessive red tape, and guardrails on immigration have undermined the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, which by its very existence created the Magic City,” he said yesterday during Grand Bahama’s Business Outlook event.

He said while Freeport has attracted about $14 billion in real investments since its inception in 1955, it could have been much higher. He said there have been missed opportunities to restore Freeport’s standing as an international commercial hub.

“Freeport, unlike other islands, was and needs to be an international, commercial hub for diverse foreign direct investment, which is why ‘ease of doing business’ is so important,” he said.

Despite major development projects in the pipeline, Mr Hayward said even though the GBPA has worked to facilitate access to key agencies such as BIA, NEC, and DEPP, approvals take longer than they should. He called for greater collaboration to streamline processes and eliminate bureaucratic obstacles.

He highlighted ongoing projects, including the $660 million Grand Bahama Shipyard Expansion Project and the redevelopment of Billy Cay into a modern cruise port and amusement park. The Freeport Harbour Company, a GBPA sister company, is leading the latter project in partnership with MSC and Royal Caribbean. Once completed, it will accommodate 23,000 passengers daily, significantly boosting Freeport’s tourism numbers.

He also addressed the ongoing dispute between the GBPA and the Davis administration over the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. The government has demanded $357 million in unpaid reimbursements for public services, accusing the GBPA of failing to invest adequately in Freeport’s development. The GBPA has denied the claims, stating that it has not been presented with credible evidence to support the demand.

Addressing the GBPA’s relationship with the Davis administration, he said: “I think politics is often a lot of fanfare. And I think behind the scenes there is willingness collectively to turn Freeport around.”

“There are longstanding relationships between the management and the principals of the Grand Bahama Port Authority with many members of government. The prime minister’s wife is a good friend. I like the prime minister enormously, and he is very accommodating when we sit down and talk about things behind closed doors.”

Still, Mr Hayward acknowledged the need for stronger public messaging to reassure Bahamians that major stakeholders are working together.

“We need to get our public messaging right, and it is important that people see big stakeholders in Grand Bahama working together — not just behind the scenes but also in public,” he said.