EXUMA, Bahamas - A new business will soon open at Stocking Island, Exuma due to government assistance, said Exuma entrepreneur Daron “Big D” Tucker.

Mr. Tucker, the proprietor of Big D’s Conch Shack at Steventon, said the government has made two and a half acres of land available to him to open another location of his popular eatery. In addition, he will use a “conch tour” to teach Bahamians and visitors about the popular Bahamian food, all due to the government’s assistance.  

“That has allowed me to have my own business, my own spot to do what I want to do - to do the conch tour, to attract more tourists to venture out into the Stocking Island area,” Mr. Tucker said. “What I have noticed over the years gone by since Sandals came here, most of their people like to go across the water (to Stocking Island).  So at my other business in Steventon, people were not trafficking down there that much.”

Mr. Tucker said the small businesses in Exuma are also getting assistance with marketing. The Tourist Office on the island is actively promoting them with media and other high-profile visitors.  

The local Exuma Tourist Office has been working with a lot of young entrepreneurs right now to get them out there on the market on the worldwide scene,” he said. “When people come here, once they get on the site they see (recommendations) to check this place or that place.”  

Mr. Tucker said his goal is to promote the sustainability of conch as a food source.  His conch tour will explain how long it takes for conch to reach maturity and when they should be harvested.  He got the idea for the tour due to constant questions that visitors to the island had about the conch.