Excellent article Etoile. Thank you for taking the government process to task for the thinly disguised rubber stamp they seemed ready to use in the blink of an eye.

Great letter and a timely message, Robin! Thanks for your input

One Eleuthera has not been around since 2006, they were formed in 2011. But Friends of Lighthouse Point was pre-existing. To answer your question, One Eleuthera, CTI and the credit union, all together currently have about 70 permanent full-time positions for Bahamians. In comparison, Disney currently employs 55 Bahamians at Castaway Cay, and about 100 - 110 foreigners. Those 120 - 150 jobs they are promising Bahamians at Lighthouse Point? It is more like 40 - 50 jobs for Bahamians. Whereas LPP will hire 190 Bahamians. It is sad that we have to fight about this.

May I ask, where did the pro-Disney t-shirts come from – who paid for them?”. As well, did they pay import duty on those t-shirts? did they pay VAT? Where is the “invisible hand” of the puppeteer now?

Oh and let’s take a look at Disney’s track record in the Bahamas, what they really think of Bahamians. We have but to look no further than Castaway Cay, Disney’s private cruise port in the Abacos. 160 full time jobs. 55 of those are Bahamian. One manager of one department is Bahamian. All the rest, foreigners. No Bahamians in skilled positions or in the trades. Not one. No Bahamian electricians, no Bahamian plumbers, no Bahamian carpenters. No Bahamian future. My source, in case you want to refute my facts: a man who just left there who worked for 10 years for Disney. He woke up one day after being passed over for promotion time after time. He was even forced to train new people to be his boss. Yeah, Disney loves Bahamians alright.

What I have a hard time believing is that the government doesn’t abide by their own counsel. Both D’Aguilar and Minnis have stated that the cruise ship model of tourism does not work and is not the model that needs support. Minnis just stated that a change is needed from old models 2 weeks ago at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (sotic). d’Aguilar’s own department says that 75% of tourists see the Bahamas on the deck of a cruise ship, but only account for around 10% of the spend. 25 % of the tourists are stayover (heads in beds) ones that account for 90% of the tourism spend. And then there’s the whole rebate policy the government signed that has the Bahamian taxpayer pay the Cruise ship companies a rebate on the departure tax. Turns out government is in arrears to the cruise ship companies for nearly 18 million. Yet this is the model that the government wants to endorse?

Disney is the one that will give you lobster? Funny that, considering what their development will do to the marine ecosystem in the area. So, One Eleuthera who can purchase the land and retain Bahamian control and ownership is the corn beef in this analogy. Yes, this does sound like inspiring vision on the part of CSG and the nepotistic title holders within this group. So, wait. Yesterday we heard at the “Town Hall meeting” that this was only a south Eleutheran matter, “sit yaself down if ya ain’t from dare”. Now you are including central Eleuthera in your sweeping claims of 80 to 90 % support. Care to put this to a referendum? Care to try to backup those claims? Or how about we hold another meeting in GHB? Make sure the lobster you are eating isn’t thinly disguised Warfarin!

Great letter Joe. Thanks for sharing your feelings and calling on the government, your government to do the right thing. Mr. Prime Minister: be either hot or cold. That you are lukewarm, be prepared to be spewed! Have the fortitude to at least declare your view, or be as vomit in His mouth!

One Eleuthera has a plan that provides the jobs. They have met with government before and got no assistance. They have made offers going back years on this land. They are neither a Johnny-come-lately to this area, nor are they under the control of “rich white fol”. Their board is made up of nearly all Bahamians that have no funding restrictions. There are no “yellow funds” that have a particular purpose other than to promote Bahamian authorship in their future, including employment, education, and entrepreneurship for the future health of Eleutherans.

Exactly the point. Developments such as Princess Cays went ahead. Many didn’t feel it would add much to the economy. I think all concerned individuals agree some development must happen to improve the economy of south Eleuthera. Has Princess Cays helped much? Forbidding looking gates and warnings from the cruise line company about safety and little to see keeps the money inside the compound. How many full time jobs has Princess Cays provided? How many Bahamians work at Castaway Cays? Both developments give us insight as to how LHP will play up. The past holds keys to the future. Ignore the evidence at The Bahamas and the inhabitants of south Eleuthera’s peril