Posted by: Editor on Aug 01, 2006 – 10:06 AM
newsandinfo The new commercial and container-shipping terminal in Southwest New Providence will cost up to $200 million.
Frank Comito, Executive Vice President of the Bahamas Hotel Association, revealed the massive scale for the project when he gave an update on the new Bay Street redevelopment complex.
“The major focus of the plan, and most expensive, calls for the relocation of all the current commercial/container shipment terminals and docks to a new site in southwest New Providence, close to the old Clifton Pier site,” he said.
Sources close to the project believe the port would open up opportunities for commercial enterprise. The new port should also be welcome news to major cruise operators who have been advocating for improved and expanded port facilities.
Among some of the major infrastructure improvements, the plans for the Bay Street face-lift map out the transformation of the foreshore stretching the length of Arawak Cay all the way to Fort Montagu.
The redevelopment is also expected to have a favourable impact on tourism. Operators of some of the major cruise liners that sail to The Bahamas have complained for years about the unkempt Bay Street surroundings. In a recent Guardian editorial, one observer commented, “Bay Street is seedy, rundown and hard on the eyes of anyone over 40, 50, or 60 who feel the pain of having known it in better times.”
Prime Minister Perry Christie said recently that with the new facelift promised for Bay Street, the popular tourist strip commonly referred to as “Downtown” will become the next tourist Mecca that will bring an economic boost to the public and private sectors.
Mr Comito, said, “We have made considerable improvements during the past few years, including a cleaner Bay Street, the provision of more public toilets, the refurbishment of six of the “dirty dozen,” almost derelict buildings, new lamp standards, benches, planters potted shrubs.
Recently, the Nassau Economic Development Commission was established to oversee the Bay Street project which was drawn up by EDAW, a design and planning firm chosen by Mr Christie.
Source: The Nassau Guardian