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Businessman Mario Carey Urges Government ‘Build Highway to Prosperity for Working Bahamians, It’s Easier Than You Think’

Mon, Feb 13th 2023, 12:50 PM
Business

A highly successful real estate broker and entrepreneur said today the road to prosperity for working Bahamians is literally a two to three mile stretch of highway across southwestern New Providence that would open up a host of opportunities. 

The novel concept was proposed by Better Homes & Gardens MCR Bahamas founder and President Mario Carey who, after four decades and more than $2 billion in transactions, has increasingly turned his attention to solutions to boost the local economy and make life easier for ordinary Bahamians. 

“What I am proposing is a new concrete highway in Nassau running from the eastern end of the LPIA airport road, traversing south and west to the western end of Carmichael Road, opening up thousands of acres that could be developed by Bahamians for the benefit of Bahamians,” said Carey, who has also proposed monetizing the waters of The Bahamas with funds going into a sovereign wealth fund. 

It would not be the first time a road was designed and built for economic expansion but in the past, the most notable examples were for tourism or foreign investors rather than working Bahamians, said Carey, adding he is not opposed to foreign direct investment but wants Bahamians to have equal opportunities where potential exists.

“Government built a second bridge, the western bridge, to Paradise Island for Atlantis. Government re-routed the road along the water for Baha Mar and allowed CCA to move all the stores, banks, restaurants and build the roads they wanted for that resort. Government built the Frank Watson Highway to help service Albany,” said Carey. 

“Now there’s an opportunity for government to build a road that would open up vast lands in the southwest quadrant of the island where Bahamian developers could build affordable and mid-priced housing, where new businesses could start up and businesses that exist elsewhere could expand in a new urban area. This could literally be the highway to prosperity, especially for the working and middle-class Bahamian who is increasingly being squeezed out of an ever-higher priced market.”

According to Carey, interest in the south and southwest areas of New Providence is growing with some areas, including Coral Harbour, attracting more attention than ever. But, he says, lack of easy access and “traffic nightmares” on Carmichael Road, Faith Avenue, Blue Hill Road South and Gladstone Road are hampering development and creating buyer hesitancy. 

He compares the impact of the proposed two to three-mile road to how the bridges and concrete highway opened the Florida Keys to resort, residential and marine-driven economies. 

“Can you imagine if there had been no roads connecting Marathon to Duck Key or if Key West were just left as an island for a few fortunate boaters to enjoy instead of becoming a vibrant, exciting destination that generates more than $200 million annually? It’s those bridges and that concrete highway that supports thousands of jobs and hundreds of businesses in a place people treasure. We have the same opportunity right here in our own backyard and we are dancing around it instead of building over it,” Carey said.

In some parts of the proposed plan, where there are wetlands that need to be protected, the road could be raised without risking greater carbon footprint or damaging environmental assets, he noted, adding costs would be manageable.  

“The average cost to build a 4-lane road in a rural area in the US is $4 to $6 million per mile, according to bridge and road construction experts,” he said. “Within a few short years, the revenue it would generate would more than compensate for the cost of construction. It would reduce density in the roughest parts of the inner city, allow more Bahamians to know the joy and responsibility of home ownership and provide endless opportunities for new businesses to thrive.”   

Carey said even if the cost of construction doubled in The Bahamas, it would be within reason for the benefits derived. 

“At $12 million for two miles of road at the highest estimate, that is doable and if we were able to employ young men at risk in the construction process, we could see an immediate drop in unemployment and possibly, crime. When completed, we would have created something dynamic, a road that changes the economic and urban landscape built in a way that preserves green space, incorporates parks and inland ponds.”

A former triathlete, Carey also urged that all future road projects or improvements include bike lanes. 

“This could be part of the everlasting legacy of the current administration,” he said, “opening the highway to prosperity for Bahamians. It’s easier than you think.” 

A highly successful real estate broker and entrepreneur said today the road to prosperity for working Bahamians is literally a two to three mile stretch of highway across southwestern New Providence that would open up a host of opportunities. 
The novel concept was proposed by Better Homes & Gardens MCR Bahamas founder and President Mario Carey who, after four decades and more than $2 billion in transactions, has increasingly turned his attention to solutions to boost the local economy and make life easier for ordinary Bahamians. 
“What I am proposing is a new concrete highway in Nassau running from the eastern end of the LPIA airport road, traversing south and west to the western end of Carmichael Road, opening up thousands of acres that could be developed by Bahamians for the benefit of Bahamians,” said Carey, who has also proposed monetizing the waters of The Bahamas with funds going into a sovereign wealth fund. 
It would not be the first time a road was designed and built for economic expansion but in the past, the most notable examples were for tourism or foreign investors rather than working Bahamians, said Carey, adding he is not opposed to foreign direct investment but wants Bahamians to have equal opportunities where potential exists.
“Government built a second bridge, the western bridge, to Paradise Island for Atlantis. Government re-routed the road along the water for Baha Mar and allowed CCA to move all the stores, banks, restaurants and build the roads they wanted for that resort. Government built the Frank Watson Highway to help service Albany,” said Carey. 
“Now there’s an opportunity for government to build a road that would open up vast lands in the southwest quadrant of the island where Bahamian developers could build affordable and mid-priced housing, where new businesses could start up and businesses that exist elsewhere could expand in a new urban area. This could literally be the highway to prosperity, especially for the working and middle-class Bahamian who is increasingly being squeezed out of an ever-higher priced market.”
According to Carey, interest in the south and southwest areas of New Providence is growing with some areas, including Coral Harbour, attracting more attention than ever. But, he says, lack of easy access and “traffic nightmares” on Carmichael Road, Faith Avenue, Blue Hill Road South and Gladstone Road are hampering development and creating buyer hesitancy. 
He compares the impact of the proposed two to three-mile road to how the bridges and concrete highway opened the Florida Keys to resort, residential and marine-driven economies. 
“Can you imagine if there had been no roads connecting Marathon to Duck Key or if Key West were just left as an island for a few fortunate boaters to enjoy instead of becoming a vibrant, exciting destination that generates more than $200 million annually? It’s those bridges and that concrete highway that supports thousands of jobs and hundreds of businesses in a place people treasure. We have the same opportunity right here in our own backyard and we are dancing around it instead of building over it,” Carey said.
In some parts of the proposed plan, where there are wetlands that need to be protected, the road could be raised without risking greater carbon footprint or damaging environmental assets, he noted, adding costs would be manageable.  
“The average cost to build a 4-lane road in a rural area in the US is $4 to $6 million per mile, according to bridge and road construction experts,” he said. “Within a few short years, the revenue it would generate would more than compensate for the cost of construction. It would reduce density in the roughest parts of the inner city, allow more Bahamians to know the joy and responsibility of home ownership and provide endless opportunities for new businesses to thrive.”   
Carey said even if the cost of construction doubled in The Bahamas, it would be within reason for the benefits derived. 
“At $12 million for two miles of road at the highest estimate, that is doable and if we were able to employ young men at risk in the construction process, we could see an immediate drop in unemployment and possibly, crime. When completed, we would have created something dynamic, a road that changes the economic and urban landscape built in a way that preserves green space, incorporates parks and inland ponds.”
A former triathlete, Carey also urged that all future road projects or improvements include bike lanes. 
“This could be part of the everlasting legacy of the current administration,” he said, “opening the highway to prosperity for Bahamians. It’s easier than you think.” 

 

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