The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) sets new records every year and has done so without any changes in the Bahia Mar property since its inception 58 years ago. This is admitted to by the Marine Industries’ President: “The economic impact of FLIBS dwarfs the Super Bowl, and it happens year after year — contributing to the sustainability of 136,000 marine jobs and $11.5 billion to the economy in the region,” MIASF executive director Phil Purcell said. “It’s important to note that since 1961, FLIBS has consistently provided the critical economic certainty and job growth that our community and state want and need.” So if the Boat Show is so successful “year after year” why develop the property in order to improve the Boat Show? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it! The Tate Developers have put a contractual “gag order” on Marine Industries to not comment on or criticize the Development Plan. Marine Industries Association Of South Florida owns the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show which is promoted and managed by Informa (a UK based company that took over from Show Management in 2017). The Boat Show is held at the Bahia Mar Resort and Yachting Center under an agreement with Jimmie Tate and Partners who Lease the property from its Owner, the City of Fort Lauderdale under a long term lease. Tate and Partners are proposing to develop Bahia Mar which requires approval from the City Commissioners. Tate and Partners in their new Boat Show contract with Marine Industries required Marine Industries to agree to not comment on the proposed development plan. WHY THE GAG ORDER? And why did the Marine Industry President agree to it? It flies in the face of common sense that the proposed development is going to help the Boat Show when the Boat Show clearly doesn’t need any help. Something doesn’t add up here folks!