Port Lucaya Marina Demolition Halted Over Approval Dispute

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GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – A planned redevelopment project at Port Lucaya Marina has hit a roadblock, after the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) issued a stop notice halting demolition work at the docks.

Group Managing Director of Bahama Land Investments, Glyine Delancy, says a Port Authority representative arrived at his office with the notice.

He says his team had already submitted the required documentation and believed they had been given the approval to begin work.

Glyine Delancy – Group Managing Director, Bahama Land Investments

“This is not repairs. This is demolition. And again, this is the overzealousness of an individual. We have a great relationship with the Port Authority, and a very amicable one.

“However, sometimes you get people who wants to be a little aggressive, or be bullies, and this is what we are faced with. Over the past nine days, I would say we had applied for permits, and leading up to Thursday, we got a verbal permission, to commence with work…”

Delancy says despite being told to stop, his team had already submitted the necessary paperwork and approvals, adding that it’s confusing to see the redevelopment stalled at this stage.

Glyine Delancy – Group Managing Director, Bahama Land Investments

“…We’ve already provided NBC approval, we had already provided Central Bank approval for purchase agreement, so we have already received those things. Our lawyer was also in contact with them over the past weeks letting them know you know that this was in play and what we were going to do.”

However, the GBPA says the issue comes down to whether all required documentation was provided.

Deputy Director and City Manager Troy McIntosh says verbal communications do not authorize work to begin, and that approvals must be supported by the proper documentation.

Troy McIntosh – Deputy Director, City Manager, GBPA

“No such verbal communication was given to anyone to proceed. In this department, we proceed by way of documentation. And so those required documentation was not received at this office by anyone.

“And so, while he’s saying that isn’t the case here. It’s a case where we look at documents, there was email communications, we try to work extensively with the proprietors, to make sure we could assist them and work through the process...”

The Port Authority says it has been working with the developers to help move the project forward, but maintains that regulatory requirements must be followed.

Troy McIntosh – Deputy Director, City Manager, GBPA

“I want the public to know that we want to see the city develop. We want to see everything move as it should, but we want to see it done in a compliant manner.

“We want to see it done, where we are working with them, they’re working with us as the regulator, and as the inspection department, so that things could move through seamlessly and to code and to standards.”