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TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022
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PM’s ‘intervention’ sought over 130 Gold Rock jobs By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE OPPOSITION’S leader yesterday voiced optimism that the Prime Minister’s “intervention” will prevent “a substantial blow” to Grand Bahama’s economy with up to 130 jobs threatened by the Gold Rock group’s closure. Michael Pintard told Tribune Business that, after reaching out to Philip Davis QC over the holiday weekend, both the Government and Free National Movement (FNM) are “quite anxious” to resolve the all-out conflict that has erupted between Gold Rock’s owners, the Floridabased Del Zotto family, and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and its affiliates. Besides Gold Rock, the supplier of pre-cast, block and ready mix concrete,
• Opposition chief fears ‘substantial blow’ to GB economy • Says he and Gov’t ‘quite anxious’ to resolve Port conflict • Fears ‘wrong signal’, ‘reputation damage’ if group exits the Del Zottos’ Friday announcement that they also plan to shutter the Home Design Center and Do It Center, their hardware and furniture/home stores, has sparked alarm for the Marco City MP because of the wider potential fall-out for Freeport’s Dorian and COVID-ravaged economy. Mr Pintard warned that the Gold Rock group’s exit threatens “to send entirely the wrong signal” to both Bahamian and international investors right when there are fledgling signs that Grand Bahama’s
Contractor: Gold Rock exit is ‘good riddance’
economy may be poised for revival, with the $200m Carnival cruise port set to begin dredging within the next 60 to 90 days. While much still hangs on closing the Grand Lucayan’s sale, and rebuilding Grand Bahama International Airport, the FNM leader said both Freeport and the wider Bahamas could suffer “reputational damage” if any conflict between a private sector entity and quasigovernmental authority such as the GBPA goes unresolved.
Pointing to the negative construction industry impact from the loss of local pre-cast concrete supply for major development and infrastructure projects, Mr Pintard said that based on his conversations with the Prime Minister it appeared Mr Davis was keen “to get involved in this matter” and would address with his Cabinet at today’s full meeting.
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Very small’ US hike impact as national debt past $12bn
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A GRAND Bahama contractor yesterday branded Gold Rock’s imminent exit as “good riddance” amid industry expectations that rivals will fill the concrete manufacturing void it creates “within three to six months”. Patrick McDonald, principal of Patrick McDonald Construction Company, told Tribune Business that the company’s five-year monopoly over aggregate fill extracted from the Devonshire subdivision did not benefit the wider construction industry or consumers as he accused it of raising prices “sky high” following Hurricane Dorian. Describing himself as a licensed contractor of 20 years’ standing, who built Freeport’s fire and police station, he told this newspaper in a statement: “I speak for many if not most in the construction sector on the island when I say good riddance to Gold Rock and the Del Zotto family... “Gold Rock has promised to give local contractors discounts on the purchase of aggregate, only to go back on their word. It raised prices suddenly, during difficult economic times. In general, the company has shown a lack of regard for the community of Grand Bahama.” Referring to the Devonshire aggregate contract, which Gold Rock and its
THE MINISTRY of Finance’s top official yesterday said last week’s Federal Reserve rate hike had “a very small” impact on interest costs tied to the $2.317bn in foreign currency debt held by external investors.
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MICHAEL PINTARD
Simon Wilson, the financial secretary, told Tribune Business that the Government had issued most of its US$ foreign currency bonds with fixed interest coupons to mitigate against the risk of rate volatility on the global markets. He spoke after the Government’s latest quarterly public debt bulletin, issued for the three
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Super Value chief ‘thrilled’ at Ukraine supply restart By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net SUPER Value’s principal says he is “very thrilled” that Ukraine has begun to ship grain and related products again although it will be some months before Bahamian consumers see any food price benefits. Rupert Roberts told Tribune Business in a recent interview that Bahamian food stores typically order product some two-and-ahalf months out so it will take time before Ukraine’s supply resumption - and the fall in global wheat
prices and other staple commodities - makes its way into RUPERT ROBERTS the local food chain. Russia and Ukraine reached a late July deal for the latter to resume grain, wheat and other agricultural exports from its Black Sea ports, supervised by Turkey and the United Nations (UN). The hope is that the increased supply will help stabilise world food prices, with some products
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GBPA: ‘Nothing but spite’ drives Gold Rock closures • All-out war erupts between Port and Del Zotto family • Who say GB ‘most grossly underperforming island’ • GBPA: Deal gives ‘more equity’ for all contractors By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A FREEPORT concrete supplier’s battle with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) yesterday escalated into an all-out war as the two sides traded accusations of “spite” and “harassment” over the former’s imminent closure. Gold Rock Corporation and its owners, the Floridabased Del Zotto family, fired the first salvo in branding the GBPA as “the leaders of the most grossly underperforming island in The Bahamas” as they unveiled the shuttering of not just their concretemaking business but also
their Grand Bahama-based hardware store and furniture and home centre. Blasting Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority for “blatant disregard for the growth of this island”, Gold Rock and its principals alleged that they were victims of “continued harassment” by the GBPA - without explaining why - and asserted that they would “not be cornered, pushed or strong-armed” in negotiations with its affiliates for a new aggregate supply contract. That refers to the spark for the dispute, namely talks with the Grand Bahama Development Company (DevCO) for a
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