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PM asks Del Zotto family to reconsider GB closures

Wed, Aug 3rd 2022, 08:03 AM
Business Nassau Guardian Stories

Prime Minister Philip "Brave" Davis yesterday asked the Del Zotto family, the owners of Gold Rock, Home Design Center and Do It Center in Freeport, Grand Bahama, to reconsider closing those businesses after the family's relationship with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) broke down.

 

“Regrettably, a number of Bahamian jobs were lost,” Davis said in a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister released last night.
“It’s the main reason why we’ve ask them to reconsider their position.”
He added, “Despite the very difficult issues, again, we asked the Del Zotto family to spend every effort to resolve the matter.”
The statement said that Davis updated Cabinet on the matter.
“The family conveyed that the relationship between themselves and the Grand Bahama Port Authority had broken down,” the statement said.
The Del Zotto family announced on Friday the plan to close all of the companies following an impasse with the Grand Bahama Development Company (DEVCO).
Gold Rock has said its issue lies with the GBPA, which it claimed blocked it from purchasing raw material from an excavation site at the Devonshire Subdivision.
“The decision to withdraw our investment in its entirety comes from years of witnessing the blatant disregard for the growth of this island by the GBPA,” the Del Zotto family said in a statement.
“Our operations have never ran to their fullest production capabilities because of the economic decline and stagnation that Freeport has been forced to endure.
“That is not to say we have not prospered. We have reinvested every dollar back into these operations with the hope of the island reaching its true potential, and to match the rest of The Bahamas’ growing economy.”
In a statement released on Monday, the GBPA called the closure of the Del Zotto family’s three businesses unfortunate and unnecessary.
“Regardless of their stance on the mining contract, there is no need to shut down the other businesses in Freeport, including a much-needed hardware store and furniture and home center, which were totally unaffected by the Gold Rock negotiations,” the GBPA said.
“This move, seemingly motivated by nothing but spite, will cost yet more hardworking families their livelihoods and further shrink the options available to consumers in a struggling economy.”
Opposition Leader Michael Pintard yesterday called the move “unfortunate”.
“To have a prominent business close, and I would say summarily close, with very minimal prior warning, has the potential to have some damaging effects on the Grand Bahama recovery efforts,” he said.
The Marco City MP, who said he reached out to Davis about the issue, said the decision to close those businesses comes at the worst possible time.
“This is happening in the midst of a hurricane season where building supplies are essential [and] badly needed in order to help persons who have not yet recovered from [Hurricane] Dorian…,” Pintard said.
“The timing of this is absolutely horrible.”
He called for cooler heads to prevail and said both sides should approach the negotiating table with a sense of compromise.

“Regrettably, a number of Bahamian jobs were lost,” Davis said in a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister released last night.

“It’s the main reason why we’ve ask them to reconsider their position.”

He added, “Despite the very difficult issues, again, we asked the Del Zotto family to spend every effort to resolve the matter.”

The statement said that Davis updated Cabinet on the matter.

“The family conveyed that the relationship between themselves and the Grand Bahama Port Authority had broken down,” the statement said.

The Del Zotto family announced on Friday the plan to close all of the companies following an impasse with the Grand Bahama Development Company (DEVCO).

Gold Rock has said its issue lies with the GBPA, which it claimed blocked it from purchasing raw material from an excavation site at the Devonshire Subdivision.

“The decision to withdraw our investment in its entirety comes from years of witnessing the blatant disregard for the growth of this island by the GBPA,” the Del Zotto family said in a statement.

“Our operations have never ran to their fullest production capabilities because of the economic decline and stagnation that Freeport has been forced to endure.

“That is not to say we have not prospered. We have reinvested every dollar back into these operations with the hope of the island reaching its true potential, and to match the rest of The Bahamas’ growing economy.”

In a statement released on Monday, the GBPA called the closure of the Del Zotto family’s three businesses unfortunate and unnecessary.

“Regardless of their stance on the mining contract, there is no need to shut down the other businesses in Freeport, including a much-needed hardware store and furniture and home center, which were totally unaffected by the Gold Rock negotiations,” the GBPA said.

“This move, seemingly motivated by nothing but spite, will cost yet more hardworking families their livelihoods and further shrink the options available to consumers in a struggling economy.”

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard yesterday called the move “unfortunate”.

“To have a prominent business close, and I would say summarily close, with very minimal prior warning, has the potential to have some damaging effects on the Grand Bahama recovery efforts,” he said.

The Marco City MP, who said he reached out to Davis about the issue, said the decision to close those businesses comes at the worst possible time.

“This is happening in the midst of a hurricane season where building supplies are essential [and] badly needed in order to help persons who have not yet recovered from [Hurricane] Dorian…,” Pintard said.

“The timing of this is absolutely horrible.”

He called for cooler heads to prevail and said both sides should approach the negotiating table with a sense of compromise.

 

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