Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club Co. Ltd. continues to campaign to the Government of the Bahamas to have the Crown Land Lease offered and accepted to be honoured. Why is it Bahamians have to beg, fight and take the government to court while we watch foreign entities come to our land and get what they want with red carpet treatment?

The Minister of Tourism, Dionisio D’Aguilar has been broadcasted on television stating that Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club has a “valid lease”. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Vice President Russell Benford has gone on public record stating RCL does not have a lease. The government of the Bahamas has offered a lease to Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club which they accepted more than a year ago and yet the government refuses to honor it. The game’s up!

Prime Minister has nothing to show for Foreign Direct Investment. Actually, he doesn’t even have anything to brag about for Domestic Direct Investment. Even more embarrassing for him and us as a country is he blocks Bahamians from moving ahead and sends a very dangerous message to local and international investors that his government does not honor written agreements but insists he is “Most Honorable”.

The Minister of Tourism publicly challenged Bahamians to offer shore excursions of scale months ago, we publicly accepted his challenge and yet the government refuses to come to the table embracing the challenge sent out: proving its just idle talk and makes for good headlines! The government have a plausible, all Bahamian development ready to go since day one, nine years ago, and yet they say nothing! They blame every natural disaster: Irma, Dorian, Covid but not Hubert! Lead, follow or get out the way!

Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club is ready to go and judging by the temperate of the Bahamian voters: its looking like Minnis has overstayed his welcome.

Thank you very much.

Captain Toby C.S.  Smith,

Lighthou1thse Keeper.