Executives of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited present proprietor of Sheldon Saint Studios with a check for the upcoming Derelict Buildings Enhancement Project.
Photo from (L-R):- City Manager, Troy Mcintosh; Sheldon Saint Studios Proprietor, Sheldon Saint; GBPA President, Ian Rolle and Group Corporate Affairs Senior Manager, Kimberley Miller.
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Freeport, Bahamas - In keeping with the vision of The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), its executives officially launched
a derelict building enhancement project on Grand Bahama.
The
initiative will involve some eight buildings in high traffic areas
about the island where President Ian Rolle says are burdened with the
unsightly structures.
“A
part of the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s vision plan is to create a
greater impact on the community of Grand Bahama and one of the
initiatives that we are about to launch is the beautification
of some of the dilapidated buildings in the community. The structures
are sound and therefore we have issues with demolishing these particular
buildings. So, what we intend to do is make something negative into
something very positive. These buildings might
be unsightly now, but we intend to make them into attractions, “he
said.
City
Manager, Troy Mcintosh also weighed in on the major undertaking, noting
its importance and present issue of a large contingent of abandoned
buildings that are in need of gaining more
artistic appeal.
“The
idea is to spruce up the buildings and somewhat clean up the
landscaping and what we did was identify an artist who provided us with
renditions of the proposed because we didn’t want
it to come across as graffiti, but more so to just provide an appeasing
aesthetic of the existing dilapidated buildings,” he said.
The
proposed buildings will be comprised of a number of mesmerizing
depictions inclusive of pastel colors and according to project lead,
Sheldon Saint a local artist of some 20 years revealed
his thoughts on the inventive development.
“I
would like to thank Mr. Rolle and Mr. Mcintosh for this opportunity to
actually assist with beautifying our city here in Freeport. I do
believe that it is something that will be enjoyed
by the residents here in Grand Bahama, and the visitors as well,” he
said.
Saint said each building will take approximately two months to complete.
Also
adding some excitement to the venture, Group Corporate Affairs Senior
Manager, Kimberley Miller said the public will also play a role in the
upcoming assignment.
“We
definitely want the public involved in this process because it is a
community venture and we know that everyone will not be able to see Mr.
Saint paint these buildings stroke by artist
stroke of his brush so, we have a Go Pro device that is now a part of
our arsenal and we’re very excited about it because it actually has a
chest harness that thankfully Mr. Saint agreed to.”
Miller
said the entire process from start to finish will be captured on video
and will be launched to the public via social media upon the completion
of this task.