FREEPORT, G.B. – Prime
Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie on Wednesday said that as a
nation, we must go beyond talk in achieving growth on Grand Bahama and
throughout our country.
Fresh from his visit
to Haiti for a Caricom Summit, Mr. Christie was in Grand Bahama for the opening
of the three-day Bahamas International Investment and Business Forum, being
held at the Our Lucaya Resort
The Prime Minister
said The Bahamas is a strategically positioned nation and must take advantage
of it. He also described The Bahamas as
a nation well respected, and with good friends and neighbours.
Participants from 27
countries are in Grand Bahama for the Forum which has as its theme: At
the Crossroads of 21. He told the gathering
that the theme speaks directly to the choices that must be made to achieve
sustainable economic progress. Also, that it is one that reminds Bahamians not
only of where they are right now, but also where they need to be looking in
mapping and planing the future.
Mr. Christie pointed
out that The Bahamas is almost literally located at the crossroads of the
Americas, and has access to both the traditional and emerging markets of the
world, straddled by the great North American neighbours and the emerging
economies to the south and beyond.
“It is good,
therefore, that a forum of this kind is being held right here in The
Bahamas.It enables to not only look
inward at the economic and investment opportunities that abound in our own
land, it also invites us to see this island and to see our country as a
springboard for investment; inward investment into The Bahamas, and outward investment
by Bahamians into the great, big world beyond,” he stated.
According to the Prime
Minister the country’s 40th Anniversary of Independence this July,
is a time of reflection and a time of action.
He said part of that
action is the reinvigoration of the tourism product, and the expansion of the
opportunity for various industries from around the world to find a home in The
Bahamas, especially in Grand Bahama, the industrial capital of The Bahamas
“Freeport is truly an
international centre, attracting major industries in areas like shipping,
petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, dry docking, and tourism,” he pointed out.
The Prime Minister was
keen on acknowledging the growth of the Grand Bahama Shipyard, which has become
one of the most outstanding facilities in the Western Hemisphere.
Mr. Christie was also
pleased to note how Bahamians have been exposed to the workings at the
shipyard, and stressed the importance of foreign companies training Bahamians
to run the businesses.
He said The Bahamas is
committed to its economic growth and development and has flexibility in its immigration policies
with respect to work permits, but that it is predicated on the understanding
that the investor understands that the training of Bahamians in the various
fields is equally important, as is the case with the Grand Bahama Shipyard,
which has graduated a number of workers in its training programme, which is
also tied to the government’s national training programme.
He described the
Island of Grand Bahama as having a superior infrastructure and modern town
planning, to which the government is fully committed.
According to the Prime
Minister, no better evidence of that commitment could be found in the creation
of a dedicated ministry for the island, the Ministry of Grand Bahama, headed by
Dr. Michael Darville. He said that the Ministry is one solely concerned about
the restoration of Grand Bahama.
He also took the
opportunity to inform of the Government’s plan to pursue medical tourism and
advised that an application in now pending for the creation of a stem cell
research facility in Grand Bahama.The
Prime Minister expects that to happen shortly, once the necessary legislations
are in place to govern such investment.
Mr. Christie also
touched on a major investment in the tourism sector for Grand Bahama, which he
spoke about a few weeks ago, and is now in its final stages of the
negotiations.
He also said that for
sometime he has stressed the need to properly brand Grand Bahama, which he said
has all the ingredients for the second home market, and entertainment centre,
while catering to industry and the various sectors of the tourism market.
The Prime Minister
also talked about the early days in Grand Bahama when one could find enjoyment
and entertainment throughout the island. He said Grand Bahamians are going to have to learn again how to enjoy
the island, and grow it into a place of entertainment and a place to have fun.
The country's leader
brought attention to the possible growth on the agricultural sector, and that
Bahamians must resolve to lift themselves in all the various fields.
Mr. Christie touched
on the high cost of electricity in Grand Bahama which he described as
intimidating to residents of the island, and pledged his continued commitment
to the reduction in electricity.
Overall, the Prime
Minister said there are “wonderful signs” on the horizon in terms of investment
for Grand Bahama and The Bahamas.
He also mentioned the
current expansion of the Panama Canal which will be completed in 2014, and how
it also presents an opportunity for companies involved in ship repair and
maintenance to station themselves at this favourable crossroads, on Grand
Bahama Island.
Freeport, he stated,
has a deepwater harbour which is the nearest port in the region, closest to the
United States, which makes it an ideal port to engage in business.
He also spoke to the
Freeport Container Port and the Grand Bahama International Airport, which are
both a part of facilitating international travel and transshipment of cargo.
