http://www.thenassauguardian.net/national_local/305911986663481.php
Amendment to US/Bahamas Pre-clearance Act passed
By KRYSTEL ROLLE ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:
Parliamentarians yesterday passed an amendment to the United States of America and The Bahamas Pre-clearance Agreement Act and agreed that it would facilitate the growth of Grand Bahama's economy.
The pre-clearance bill would allow for the introduction of private pre-clearance facilities in The Bahamas.
According to Mount Moriah MP Tommy Turnquest, who moved the bill yesterday, the government has chosen to construct such a facility in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
"It should be noted that this bill provides for the pre-clearance of aircraft both visiting and transiting The Bahamas," Turnquest said. "We are confident that its passage and implementation will alert the owners of private aircraft that if it is advantageous for them to pre-clear in Grand Bahama before flying on to their ultimate destination within the United States, then it would make sense for them to make Grand Bahama their vacation destination."
Turnquest said that owners and lessees of private aircraft in the U.S. have indicated preference for closer destinations and airports.
According to Turnquest, for the past three years, 80,000 visitors arrived in The Bahamas on private planes.
"We expect those numbers to grow even in a recession once these per-clearance facilities are in place and there is little debate over the fact that the spending of those persons arriving on private aircraft is considerably higher than those arriving on commercial aircraft," he said.
Grand Bahama MPs Neko Grant, Obie Wilchcombe and Zhivargo Laing also spoke of the benefits that the island would receive once the bill is implemented.
Grant, the MP for Lucaya, said there will be direct and spin-off benefits for Grand Bahamians.
In addition to increased traffic at the airport, he said taxi drivers, hotel workers, restaurants, shop owners and tourist attractions will all be on the receiving end of the deal.
Wilchcombe, who is the MP for West End and Bimini and a former minister of tourism, said the bill would place The Bahamas ahead of the competitors.
"I believe it would help the tourism industry," Wilchcombe said.
The economy of Grand Bahama has declined since the 2004 hurricanes devastated the island. Over the years thousands of people have been laid off and several hotel properties and businesses closed their doors.
According to a recent labor force survey, the rate of unemployment in Grand Bahama stood at 18.1 percent in November.
Laing, the MP for Marco City, said the bill was in the making since the previous FNM administration.
He added that the bill would go a long way in restoring Grand Bahama's economy.
"Stay tuned Grand Bahama, we are working for you," he assured.
Turnquest added that the bill also seeks to bring up to date the titles that applied to current officers of the US responsible for pre-clearance and provides for the minister responsible to make regulations and charge fees to the users of these facilities.
The Bahamas is one of only five destinations in the world with US pre-clearance facilities for commercial passenger flights.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Amendment to US/Bahamas Pre-clearance Act passed
By KRYSTEL ROLLE ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:
Parliamentarians yesterday passed an amendment to the United States of America and The Bahamas Pre-clearance Agreement Act and agreed that it would facilitate the growth of Grand Bahama's economy.
The pre-clearance bill would allow for the introduction of private pre-clearance facilities in The Bahamas.
According to Mount Moriah MP Tommy Turnquest, who moved the bill yesterday, the government has chosen to construct such a facility in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
"It should be noted that this bill provides for the pre-clearance of aircraft both visiting and transiting The Bahamas," Turnquest said. "We are confident that its passage and implementation will alert the owners of private aircraft that if it is advantageous for them to pre-clear in Grand Bahama before flying on to their ultimate destination within the United States, then it would make sense for them to make Grand Bahama their vacation destination."
Turnquest said that owners and lessees of private aircraft in the U.S. have indicated preference for closer destinations and airports.
According to Turnquest, for the past three years, 80,000 visitors arrived in The Bahamas on private planes.
"We expect those numbers to grow even in a recession once these per-clearance facilities are in place and there is little debate over the fact that the spending of those persons arriving on private aircraft is considerably higher than those arriving on commercial aircraft," he said.
Grand Bahama MPs Neko Grant, Obie Wilchcombe and Zhivargo Laing also spoke of the benefits that the island would receive once the bill is implemented.
Grant, the MP for Lucaya, said there will be direct and spin-off benefits for Grand Bahamians.
In addition to increased traffic at the airport, he said taxi drivers, hotel workers, restaurants, shop owners and tourist attractions will all be on the receiving end of the deal.
Wilchcombe, who is the MP for West End and Bimini and a former minister of tourism, said the bill would place The Bahamas ahead of the competitors.
"I believe it would help the tourism industry," Wilchcombe said.
The economy of Grand Bahama has declined since the 2004 hurricanes devastated the island. Over the years thousands of people have been laid off and several hotel properties and businesses closed their doors.
According to a recent labor force survey, the rate of unemployment in Grand Bahama stood at 18.1 percent in November.
Laing, the MP for Marco City, said the bill was in the making since the previous FNM administration.
He added that the bill would go a long way in restoring Grand Bahama's economy.
"Stay tuned Grand Bahama, we are working for you," he assured.
Turnquest added that the bill also seeks to bring up to date the titles that applied to current officers of the US responsible for pre-clearance and provides for the minister responsible to make regulations and charge fees to the users of these facilities.
The Bahamas is one of only five destinations in the world with US pre-clearance facilities for commercial passenger flights.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
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