Comment history

sea_sprite says...

Before he bought the Abaco Club in 2014, David Southworth requested (this is all in the Higgs & Johnson affidavit, which is part of public record) the following from the Bahamian Government. We don’t at present know how much of this ended up in the Heads of Agreement, but hopefully we will soon. We have requested this information, but have not received it.

Exemption from customs duty on all materials, equipment, etc.
Exemption from stamp duties and excise taxes for all materials, equipment, etc.
Exemption from property taxes for 30 years.
Exemption from taxation of any earnings, including rentals etc., for 20 years.
Waiver of customs duty and stamp tax on any vehicles, including golf carts.
Waiver of customs duty on livestock.
Waiver of taxes on fuel.
Whatever Crown Grants they might need, plus
dredging permits, plus
permits to mine sand from Little Harbour to put on the golf course and Winding Bay beach. Also
landing fee concessions at the airport
27 long-term work permits and residency cards.

We’re not saying they got all this – but who knows? But you can be sure they got a lot of it. And it adds up to a whole lot of money that is staying in the Developer’s pocket when it should be going into the Public Treasury. It makes you wonder, what exactly is the advantage of having them on Abaco for the Bahamas. All the advantages they have mentioned seem to have been covered in the points above. The BS Government is pushing this through aggressively, why? Who is making the money? because is isn’t the Bahamian People.

sea_sprite says...

Before he bought the Abaco Club in 2014, David Southworth requested (this is all in the Higgs & Johnson affidavit, which is part of public record) the following from the Bahamian Government. Residents don’t at present know how much of this ended up in the Heads of Agreement, but hopefully we will soon. We have requested this information, but have not received it.
Exemption from customs duty on all materials, equipment, etc.
Exemption from stamp duties and excise taxes for all materials, equipment, etc.
Exemption from property taxes for 30 years.
Exemption from taxation of any earnings, including rentals etc., for 20 years.
Waiver of customs duty and stamp tax on any vehicles, including golf carts.
Waiver of customs duty on livestock.
Waiver of taxes on fuel.
Whatever Crown Grants they might need, plus
dredging permits, plus
permits to mine sand from Little Harbour to put on the golf course and Winding Bay beach. Also
landing fee concessions at the airport
27 long-term work permits and residency cards.

We’re not saying they got all this – but who knows? But you can be sure they got a lot of it. And it adds up to a whole lot of money that is staying in the Developer’s pocket when it should be going into the Public Treasury. It makes you wonder, what exactly is the advantage of having them on Abaco for the Bahamas. All the advantages they have mentioned seem to have been covered in the points above. The BS Government is pushing this through aggressively, why? Who is making the money? because is isn’t the Bahamian People.

sea_sprite says...

He and His father are just another version of Trump - if you believe anything they say, you will soon learn your mistake. Just as the people in the USA are coming to realize they may have empowered a man who is only out to get his own. Always has been, always will be.

On Abaco Club refutes opponents’ job claim

Posted 1 December 2016, 9:31 p.m. Suggest removal

sea_sprite says...

In Little Harbour, we have watched as the Abaco Club has changed hands no less than 4 times in the past 8 years. They have failed to meet almost all of the stipulations in the past sales agreements for Winding Bay, one of the sweetest little bays in the Bahamas, now turned into a weed filled (fed by fertilizer from their empty golf course) backyard to their failed resort.
We are worried not only about David Southworth, but the next person to whom he sells. Because he will sell and then we will face another fight, another set of rules, another person who claims he "gets" Little Harbour as he stands there in his starched chinos, $500 dollar shoes, and a slick smile. He doesn't "Get" Little Harbour, he just wants to change Little Harbour into something he does "Get" a private, members only, restricted area. We just won the first round and have gained permission for Judicial Review - we will fight this every step of the way!

sea_sprite says...

The Bahama's main resource is its beautiful coastal land and waters filled with amazing wildlife. Every time a foreign developer starts one of these Anchor projects - they make huge promises of jobs, of not damaging the environment, and they always fail. Protect what brings the tourist money here, protect what has provided for your families for centuries. Don't let others come in and make a pretty penny - only to leave ruins and destruction in their wake. They coming from countries where they have already destroyed their own natural beauty,

On Abaco Club project facing legal threat

Posted 23 April 2016, 10:39 a.m. Suggest removal

sea_sprite says...

As a second home owner, this type of criminal behavior, coming from those in power, makes me really rethink my investment in the Bahamas. We like to think that the Bahamas is a law abiding country, but this shows it is run by a bunch of thugs who either don't know the law, or believe they are above it. What will they do next?