Wallace Groves: The Man who Launched Freeport, Bahamas

[bendolero]

... and even casino operations. Yes, they built infrastructure, but at the cost of freedom and self-government, with the added "benefits" of institutionalized corruption and racketeering. G.B.P.A. is simply a racket, with no government oversight available. Any elected office on the island is subservient to the company. Think of it as a small-scale role model for Dubai, but with alcohol. (G.B.P.A. = the royal family). And only 80 miles from the U.S.

[bendolero]

His company, Grand Bahama Port Authority, basically owns Grand Bahama Island, and controls all of its services - in true third-world style. Under something called the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, Groves purchased most of the island for little more than $2 per acre. He was given free-run to do whatever he wanted, and tax-free to boot. His company provides all the services normally provided by an elected government: water, sewer, utilities, security, administrative / financial functions...

[bendolero]

This film is a self-serving propaganda piece. Wallace Groves was a con artist & swindler. He spent 2 years in U.S. federal prison for fraud before he even heard of the Bahamas. He's right up there in the same gallery as Bernie Madoff, Sandy Weill, & all the other Wall Street crooks. He conned and bribed the Bahamian government, sold useless swampland to American citizens thru the 60's & 70's, and tried to run Grand Bahama Island as his personal thiefdom - a true low-class small-scale despot.

[byss89]

Dis is my home-island meeeeen!!! Ya dun kno!

[trebleclef1916]

Great concept DAVE.. Looking good Denise. LOL