BAHAMAS-Opposition not impressed with the slow progress of airport construction.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The leader of the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM), Michael Pintard, is accusing the Bahamas government of being unable to keep its promises after it confirmed that the private sector partners involved in the redevelopment of the Grand Bahama International Airport have failed to raise the necessary funding.

In a statement, Pintard said that the Phillip Davis government had been misleading the public regarding the construction of the facility, noting that it had stated in 2023 that the funds had been secured.

“In 2023, the prime minister loudly declared that US$200 million had already been secured and “drawn down” from the UK to rebuild the airport. In plain terms, that means the government received the funds in hand.

“The government named partners, touted attractive terms, and assured Grand Bahamians that work was about to begin. But the story now changes. Now, the deputy prime minister is contradicting the prime minister: not only was the US$200 million never drawn down, but the DPM’s version is that the funding never materialized,” the Opposition Leader said, adding, “Who is telling the truth? This is not a slip of the tongue…”.

Earlier this week, Tourism, Investments, and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper told reporters that the UK-based Manchester Airport Group, selected under a public-private partnership, had not delivered the funding officials expected.

“Regrettably, the funding had not happened. We are currently organising alternative funding. Whilst I cannot speak to that today, I can tell you that we are making progress and in due course I will be making a further statement,” he said regarding the project.

This is the latest setback to the redevelopment project, which delays and shifting timelines have plagued since it was devastated by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

Last year, the Phillip Davis government outlined a sweeping US$200 million transformation programme, adding that work would begin before the end of the year. Design options were unveiled, and demolition of old terminals was said to be imminent. Despite those pledges, financing was never secured, and substantive construction never commenced.

The government acquired the facility in April 2021 and has repeatedly promised to deliver a new, modern hub by 2025. The public-private model was intended to mirror the arrangement at Lynden Pindling International Airport, with the state owning the facility and private partners managing operations.

In a statement this week, the Ministry of Tourism said, “Manchester Airport Group, the UK’s largest airport management group, continues to work with us as a key partner in shaping the airport’s development and management. Their role has not been and will not be to provide funding. Alongside the Bahamian consortium of contractors, they are a part of the team that will deliver this project for the people of Grand Bahama. We will make a further statement on the funding partner in short order.”

The ministry said that the redevelopment of Grand Bahama’s airport is a “central priority for this administration and is key to the island’s economic renewal”.

“We are in the final stages of securing funding and concluding agreements on airport management. These steps will allow construction to proceed and ensure the delivery of a modern, world-class facility.

“Grand Bahama will have the airport it needs to grow, attract investment, and strengthen its role as a gateway to The Bahamas,” it said.

But Pintard said in his statement that the “timeline tells the story.

“In 2021, the government promised a modern facility by 2025. They said demolition would start in 2023. They reiterated in February of this year that demolition would begin within 30 days.

“Every deadline has come and gone. Not one bulldozer has moved. Not one promise has been kept,” he said while requesting further clarity from the government on potential funding options for the airport.

Pintard also criticised the Davis administration for bypassing open and competitive bidding for other family island airport projects, including those in Bimini and North Eleuthera.

“According to our research and news reports, the winning RFP included financing from UK Export Finance and Banco Santander, structured either with a sovereign guarantee or with only a letter of comfort,” Pintard said.

“Both options were reviewed and publicly referenced by the government. If the administration is now turning to alternative financing, they must disclose the full terms and provide a side-by-side comparison.”