GBPA WELCOME – GBPA officials graciously welcomed Kyle Hatcher, Economic Officer, United States Embassy, during his recent visit to Freeport. Pictured (left to right): GBPA President, Ian Rolle; Hatcher; GBPA-Vice President, Ginger Moxey; and Derek Newbold, Business Development Manager, GBPA.
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Freeport, Bahamas
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“We’re very much oriented towards building business ties,” stated Kyle
Hatcher, Economic Officer, United States Embassy to The Bahamas, during
his first official trip to Grand Bahama. His comments were keenly
welcomed by executives of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited
(GBPA) who participated in informative discussions with him.
“Part
of my portfolio is to do outreach as much as I can outside of Nassau.
Freeport is the economic engine and on an economic and political level,
it’s good for us to get out and build those relationships,” he noted.
GBPA-President,
Ian Rolle, was pleased at the level of discussions that ensued. “We
certainly welcome your involvement and want to see an even greater
United States presence,” he said. “Our whole city is a free trade zone
and Freeport is far better suited for growth than anywhere else in The
Bahamas. Our message is about using this unique situation in Freeport
to benefit the island’s residents and our brothers and sisters in the
entire Bahamas.”
Opportunities
for developing sister-city relationships between Freeport and key US
cities were discussed, along with prospects for establishing
Information Technology programmes or related businesses in The
Bahamas. “Elsewhere in the Caribbean, even the smallest countries have
burgeoning IT industries, and here you’ve got an incredibly smart and
educated workforce,” Hatcher commented.
Discussions
centred on possible economic opportunities available through bi-lateral
partnerships, as well as social issues. Citing his country’s deep
involvement in the fight against AIDS as an example, Hatcher encouraged
more non-governmental agencies (NGOs) on the island to take advantage
of available grant funds. President Rolle reiterated the embassy’s
invitation for NGO’s to apply for available grants between five and ten
thousand dollars to assist with at-risk programmes. The current call
for proposals expires on March 15 and parameters for the application
process are available on the embassy’s website.
“The
more partnerships we can foster, the better,” was President Rolle’s
summation of the visit which he described as extremely fruitful.
Visiting officer, Hatcher agreed. “There is much potential here, along
with expertise, willpower and governmental goodwill on this side,” he
concluded.
