MORE Grand Bahama businesspersons and residents are weighing in on the plans and benefits announced in the budget communication delivered last week by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

As the island continues to recover and rebuild from Hurricane Dorian, the Minnis administration has decided to extend the SERZ relief order to December 31 and to implement an employment incentive programme that will allow businesses to apply for a VAT credit to cover the salaries of up to ten new employees brought onto their payroll as of July 1.

Dr Minnis also mentioned plans for the development of a new airport for Grand Bahama, and a multi-story tower at the Rand Memorial Hospital.

Although some people have expressed a bit of scepticism about the reasons or motives behind the concessions, others see it as a step in the right direction.

“The budget put forth by the PM is progressive and a step in the right direction for GB,” said Freeport businessman Derek King. “I think individuals, small businesses, and residents should be pleased with it, especially during these trying times.”

He believes that the construction of a four-story tower at the hospital is needed.

Mr King stated that the government has done a tremendous job in renovating the Rand Memorial Hospital, which was devastated following severe flooding during the hurricane in September 2019.

“The four-story it is definitely needed,” he said. “It is not only a matter of if but whenever we get hit with another hurricane (like Dorian) again that four-story wing should be self-contained – you don’t have to shut it down… and you don’t have to move patients from the building. So, definitely, that is a step in the right direction and my hat goes off to the PM and his Cabinet team who have begun to plan that.”

Stephanie Ferguson also agrees that a tower addition at the hospital is necessary and more realistic than building a new hospital.

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