Caribbean & Central America - November 2018

*** BAHAMAS APPROVES DISNEY DEVELOPMENT. On 19 October, the government of The Bahamas gave approval to a US$400m cruise port development at Lighthouse Point in South Eleuthera proposed by Disney Cruise Lines.

On making the decision, the government issued a statement saying: “The government of The Bahamas having taken into consideration the views of the majority of the people of Central and South Eleuthera is satisfied that it has made the best decision in the interest of the Bahamian people, and sustainable future for the people of Central and South Eleuthera, and the economic development of the country.”

As the government statement indicated, there does seem to be public support for the project. A nationwide poll by Public Domain which surveyed 994 respondents found 66% of those who had heard of the project were in favour. Another poll, this time of 217 Eleuthera residents, found that 72% of those who had heard about the project were in favour.

Despite these findings, however, there has been strong opposition to the project from a group called the Lighthouse Point Partners (LPP), a group which includes the Leon Levy Foundation, the Bahamas National Trust, and the Island School. LPP issued a statement saying: “Whereas our proposal would have created jobs immediately upon the acquisition of the property, Disney’s proposal will not have any meaningful impact on the employment of persons in South Eleuthera until at least 2023. Even on the construction of Disney’s quarter of a billion-dollar pier, there is every indication those funds will be spent with a US firm with Bahamian contractors receiving little to nothing.”

The government says that the development will create 150 jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities. Disney is also to convey 190 acres out of 700 acres of land to the government for conservation and a national park.

*** BARBADOS BEGINS LAYING OFF PUBLIC-SECTOR WORKERS. On 22 October, the government of Barbados announced that it was beginning the process of restructuring the public service and that at least 1,500 workers would be laid off in the next few weeks. According to the head of the civil service, Dr Louis Woodroffe, the workers would come from the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance, and from the Post Office Department.

Woodroffe said: “Every effort is being made to ensure that there is a smooth process according to established principle of last in first out, and that these officers who have made a valuable contribution to the public service and Barbados are treated fairly.”

Not all is gloom, however. A week before Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced various infrastructure and private construction projects that she said would help boost the economy, including US$50m to be invested in road rehabilitation. This money is coming from the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Latin American Development Bank.

Significant private projects mentioned by the prime minister included the Beaches hotel project in St Peter, the construction of a senior-citizens village at Boarded Hall and an associated oncology and cardiovascular clinic nearby, the opening of the 1,500-student Ross University in January, and a proposal for a new boarding school for 800 overseas students.