“A Partial Decision Has Been Made, I Can’t Say More Than That”

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FREEPORT , GRAND BAHAMA – New developments in the government’s fight with the Grand Bahama Port Authority over its claims of more than $300 million in fees owed for services and infrastructure work in Freeport over four years.

The nation’s leader signaled some movement in the ongoing arbitration when asked about it today.

Our Joshua Williams followed this.

A nearly six-month-long arbitration between the government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority leading to what Prime Minister Philip Davis described as a partial decision.

Since last September, the two sides have been locked in arbitration over what the government claims is $357 million in unpaid fees.

The Davis administration has been at odds with the GBPA for several years now, accusing the private regulator of failing to meet its obligations under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement to maintain Freeport’s infrastructure and drive economic growth.

Philip Davis — Prime Minister

“As you know, the arbitration was confidential. I can tell you that a decision has been made — a partial decision has been made — but I can’t say more than that.”

The relationship between the two sides became strained back in 2023 when Davis criticized the GBPA in Parliament, accusing the Port of failing to meet its obligations.

Port officials quickly pushed back, placing responsibility for entities including the Grand Lucayan Resort, the international airport, and healthcare facilities squarely at the government’s feet.

Fast forward to April 2024 — the conflict escalated when the government gave the GBPA 30 days to pay or face arbitration.

The GBPA denied owing anything.

By May 2024, Davis told attendees at the island’s Chamber of Commerce dinner that he had had enough of what he described as perceived scare tactics.

I asked the Prime Minister his message to Grand Bahamians who may also feel the Port is not meeting its obligations.

Philip Davis — Prime Minister

“As I said, I don’t want to get into it because I may stray into revealing the content of the arbitration judgment, so I will just hold my tongue for now — and I’m smiling.”

While Davis, who was speaking on the sidelines of a new subdivision tour Monday, remained tight-lipped, just several weeks ago the nation’s leader suggested a new way forward for Grand Bahamians during the island’s annual Business Outlook.

Philip Davis — Prime Minister

“Authority ceded without enough accountability. Decision-making concentrated in a few hands. Bahamians absent from the table. Over time, that structure hardened into something else.”