This once overlooked Island is now an oasis of peace , prosperity and charm.

For those of you who have not yet experienced the delights of this fascinating Island I offer a brief background.

Freeport is situated on Grand Bahama Island, the northernmost of the Bahamian Islands and only 60 miles from Palm Beach.  It is nearly l00 miles long and part of the 700 Islands of the Bahamas known in the main as “cays”     The beaches on the south side consist of seemingly endless bountiful bays of soft sifting silver sand with the ocean ranging through shades of ultramarine, turquoise and palest blue.

The idea for “free port” was first conceived in the l950’s by Wallace Groves, a Virginian businessman, who had initially taken over the Abaco Lumber Company, modernized and expanded it and begun an extensive logging operation in an area known as “Pine Ridge” on the North side of Grand Bahama Island.    The Company prospered with a payroll of around 2,000.

In 1954, Lord Ranfurly was appointed Governor of the then colonial Bahamas and it was he who offered the moral support to enable Wallace Groves to begin the incredible task of creating a new city from the pine barrens of Grand Bahama.

With Lord Ranfurly’s  encouragement and co-operation  the historic Hawksbill Creek Agreement was signed on August 4th, 1955.   The provisions of this Agreement were momentous and far-reaching and for comprehensive details please see the Web page Welcome to Freeport/Lucaya, Grand Bahama. http://www.cpscaribnet.com/destin/granbaha/granbaha/htm

Under this Agreement, the government granted the  Port Authority land to develop a community and industrial complex including a harbour.   The  Government agreed to waive customs duties on non-consumable goods and relax excise, stamp and export taxes for 99 years..   In addition, in exchange for 2,000 acres of land American Magnate, Daniel Ludwig, dredged Freeport Harbour to a depth of 30-ft.   It has since undergone massive changes and is now one of the western hemisphere’s premier trans-shipment container ports.

Due to these  amazing concessions Freeport prospered during the l960’s almost beyond comprehension.   This was a decade of great prosperity for overseas entrepreneurs but it did little to help the native Bahamian for whom change came too slowly.

Thus, in the l970’s a new and liberal minded government established a tide of change.  Gone were the free-wheeling entrepreneurs and in their place we experienced a period of stable but cautious Government that did not wish to see Grand Bahama exploited and its beauty destroyed by the over-development that took place in most of Europe and the U.S.

In the place of the initial boom we experienced a settled period of slow but steady growth with great emphasis placed on better education for Bahamians.   This was vital since, although I am British, I am forced to admit that the British Colonial administration frequently neglected to ensure adequate education for their Colonies.   During this period the Bahamas was granted independence on the 10th July, 1973.   Independence came effortlessly to this gentle Island Nation without trauma or violence of any description.   The Queen is still widely respected throughout the whole of the Bahamas and visited the Island in March, 1994 when she was received with the greatest of goodwill.

A few years after Independence, having complete confidence in the Bahamians and their Government, we commenced the construction of our 3 acre estate known as Tukaltoo.  The derivation of this name stems from the fact that my husband, Seymour Harris, had been commissioned in the l950’s by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia to design a complete new city and hydro electric power on the shores of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile.   At that time the local round thatched huts in Ethiopia were called Tukals.  When my husband built his now renowned “round”  house on the banks of the Beaulieu River in England he named it “The Tukal” in whimsical memory of Haile Selassie who had lost his life in a Communist coup d’etat  in l968. When we built our present home on Grand Bahama a logical progression was to name it “Tukaltoo”.   See www.tukaltoo.net

Beginning in 1992 the Island began to benefit from new government that was now anxious to see more investment and also to encourage tourism.   The Harbour was deepened and in 1996 Hutchinson Whampoa established their container port    The Lucayan Strip was completely revitalized and hotels operated by Westin and Sheraton are now running to capacity.

The Isle of Capri is a new 20,000 sq.ft. Casino that has recently opened adjacent to Our Lucaya Westin Hotel.    It has 400 slot machines with 21 tables and features an upscale restaurant with seating for 110.   The Casino Company is very active and originates in Biloxi, Mississippi where it is rightly famed for its riverboat gambling cruises.   The Company operates 17 riverbank, dockside and land based casinos.

Our delightful new airport, built in traditional Bahamian style, is now open. It is a joint venture between Hutchinson Port Holdings and the Grand Bahama Development Company.

Gold  Rock Creek Enterprises Ltd. – a Netherlands Investment Group  - have signed Agreements for the construction of a permanent motion picture, television and recording facility with related theme park at the now disused Air Force Base approx. 20 miles east of Lucaya.   The lack of noise and other related pollution on Grand Bahama tremendously facilitates this.

On Grand Bahama we undoubtedly have one of the  best climates in the world.   To supplement this we have all the benefits of Island living and none of the congestion or pollution both from noise and traffic, that so haunts our big cities..     We have the benefit of new highly sophisticated ocean front  hotels such as  the Westin Group’s Our Lucaya and Sheraton coupled with the charm of  quaint shops at Port Lucaya offering imported European goods and restaurants to suit all tastes.   Port Lucaya  is also a full service world class Marina with facilities for yachts to 190-ft.   This is a Port of Entry and Immigration and Customs Officials are available at all times.

One should never leave Grand Bahama without a visit to the lively Market Place at Port Lucaya with nightly music and dancing.

Our water supply is abundant (unusual in the Bahamas) and  can be drunk from the tap   Due to the fact that our climate is only semi-tropical and, because  we have no stagnant water in the form of lakes or ponds, we have very few mosquitoes or insects of that ilk.

We have an infrastructure designed for 250,000 but only 50,000 inhabitants.

Our political system based on that in the U.K. gives us effective universal suffrage and  our Islands are too small or of  little consequence to be a target for terrorism.

The Bahamas are an English speaking Nation with a judiciary based on British law.

The off-shore sailing waters of the Gulf Stream  team with fish and are a paradise for yachtsmen.

The Island has five 18 hole golf courses and four first class marinas.

In addition we have Pine Tree Riding Stables and the world famous Under Water Explorers Society where you may swim with the dolphins.   Also available are eco-adventures such as kayaking, hiking, reef and cave diving and parasailing.

Freeport/Lucaya has been termed “the Singapore of the Atlantic” for its vibrant free market economy and “Queen of Clean” for its beautifully maintained highways and byways.

To summarize, we are indeed blessed and live in one of the most favored countries in the world.

The three acre luxurious estate “Tukaltoo” with its indoor/outdoor living and, delightful pools and sparkling fountains is for sale.  Please click here. for description and photos.