By Kaitlyn Babb Guardian Staff Reporter

Copyright thenassauguardian

Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Michael Pintard is demanding answers from the Davis administration after Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper revealed that the government is organizing alternative funding for the Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA).

In a statement released yesterday, Pintard called Cooper’s revelation a “gross example” of the government’s inability to keep promises.

He accused the government of misleading the public as he said Prime Minister Philip Davis previously stated, in 2023, that funds for the airport had been secured.

“In 2023, the prime minister loudly declared that $200 million had already been secured and “drawn down” from the UK to rebuild the airport,” the statement read.

“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 $200 million never drawn down, the DPM’s version is that the funding never materialized.

“Who is telling the truth? This is not a slip of the tongue…”.

Grand Bahama’s airport was extensively damaged by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, and in 2021 the Davis administration unveiled plans to reconstruct the airport.

Last year, the government signed an agreement for the $200 million redevelopment of GBIA.

Cooper said that the deal involved a consortium made up of Aerodrome Limited, a Bahamian group, Manchester Airport Group (MAG) Limited and BHM Construction International UK.

On Monday, Cooper revealed that those funding plans did not materialize, and the government is currently looking for alternative funding.

In a statement yesterday, 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,” it said.

“These steps will allow construction to proceed and ensure the delivery of a modern, world-class facility.”

The ministry said that it is focused on results.

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

Pintard, who is the member of Parliament for Marco City, has been vocal about the government’s slow progress on GBIA, as well as the Grand Lucayan resort, which has seen little movement since the Davis administration signed an agreement to sell it for $120 million in May.

“The timeline tells the story,” Pintard said.

“In 2021, the government promised a modern facility by 2025. They said demolition would start in 2023. They said again in February 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.”

While requesting further clarity from the government on potential funding options for the airport going forward, Pintard criticized 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.

“Bahamians deserve to know what liabilities we face, what risks taxpayers carry, and whether this deal is better or worse than the one originally promised.”

Pintard said, “In 2023, they signed a 30-year, $80 million concession for South Bimini, and by 2025 handed Plenary a $55 million contract for North Eleuthera—again with no competitive process.

“These no-bid arrangements were justified as urgent, but the truth is simple: under the PLP, taxpayer money continues to be spent behind closed doors, without transparency or fair competition.”

He added, “I am demanding full disclosure. Show the contracts. Table the financing term sheets. Confirm whether any funds were ever received by the government or any state entity. State plainly what was signed, amended or abandoned.

“Give the country the real construction schedule and the real financial exposure.”