Is all this possible in one place? Yes, it's all there on Grand Bahama Island. Only 70 miles from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Grand Bahama is in the crystal clear, offshore sailing waters of the Gulfstream, teeming with game fish.

The Bahamas and especially Freeport, Grand Bahama, are in the early stages of a resurgence brought about by the pro-investment new government that has cut red tape for foreign investment and residency with no strings attached. Foreigners may buy homes and land with the same rights as Bahamians. There are no property or income taxes in Freeport.

Recently the chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the private corporation that developed Freeport, talked about the multitude of developments in the pipeline for Grand Bahama. 

"If only 50% of these plans come through, there will be a big boom," and he described 1998 as the best year in the past 20.  "The curtain is going up and the economy is about to take off."

A 220-unit community is also planned at the Sir Charles Hayward Yacht Club, complete with 130-slip marina and homes priced from $160,000 to $200,000. Also planned are reasonably - priced condos on the championship Ruby Golf Course. Projected pre-construction prices for 1 bedroom, fairway view condos are from $79,900. 

Freeport is called the Singapore of the Atlantic, for its vibrant,  free-market, economy; and Queen of Clean, for the island's squeaky-clean highways and byways. Freeport, begun in 1955 as planned community was the dream of American Wallace Groves. 

There are four first-class marinas and many waterways to explore including the Grand Bahama canal which bisects the island and offers direct access to the Abacos to the NE.

To travel around the world in minutes, see Freeport's International Bazaar. This collection of 80 shops and restaurants features virtual-reality settings in Paris, Spain, the Greek islands, Denmark, Hong Kong and about 10 other exotic locales.

Nearby Lucaya boasts Port Lucaya Marketplace, a waterfront six-acre shopping, dining and entertainment complex with island motif and a bandstand at Count Basie Square. 

The legendaryjazz pianist built a home at Freeport. Entertainment includes jazz, rythym and blues, limbo, raggae, fire dancers and more.

Renovation and innovation at the harbour, airport and hotels indicate serious tourism development. A two-year cruise ship development plan will facilitate the over one million cruise ship visitors/year that come to Grand Bahama by sea. The harbour can now handle the world's largest cruise liners and container ships.

Much of the new economic activity is the result of a major investment by Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), a subsidiary of $30-billion Hutchison Whampoa of Hong Kong and the world's largest port operator.