Thursday, May 18, 2023
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune News Editor
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
CENTREVILLE MP Jomo Campbell said he is concerned tourist attractions downtown will lose visitors and suffer a slow death after the Nassau Cruise Port opens.
He also questioned when the company would “fulfil its obligation to invest $8m towards the beautification of downtown”, calling this essential.
The $300m port is expected to officially open on May 26.
Mr Campbell noted the facility is in his constituency.
“I fully understand the need to provide a welcoming environment for visitors to our country,” he said as legislators debated amendments to Antiquities Monuments and Museum Corporation (AMMC) laws.
“As the world’s second most popular cruise port, Nassau must have a terminal that complements our tourism product. However, we must remain concerned that certain tourist attractions in the downtown area will receive less visitor traffic and, as a result, may die a slow and painful death. We must do everything we can to ensure that this does not happen.”
Mr Campbell noted some of his constituents work as straw vendors.
“Straw vendors have been selling products in Rawson Square since the 1950s,” he said. “The Straw Market and several straw market vendors have played significant roles in our nation’s history. While we can all agree that there are perhaps some improvements needed in the Straw Market, I truly hope that straw vendors see an increase in business and not a decline.”
Mr Campbell also expressed hope that the port’s opening will encourage owners of buildings downtown to renovate and clean up their properties.
“Far too many of the buildings in the downtown area have been abandoned, neglected, and are in a state of terrible decay,” he said. “To the visitor exiting the Nassau Cruise Port, the sight of these dilapidated structures could not be attractive.
“As I have said before, developments that involve historical sites and are of great national value, such as the Nassau Cruise Port, must complement national growth. These developments must be rewarding for all stakeholders and, most especially, the Bahamian people.”
Comments
BahamasForBahamians says...
It's only business Jomo. The only way the Nassau Cruise Port will kill Bay Street is if Bay Street fails to move with the times and revolutionize.... The ball is now in their courts to ante up and upgrade their assets to complement the new port. Otherwise, suffer a slow death, as you say Minister, after raking in millions from tourist and rent for years with no major capital investment or real competition.
Posted 18 May 2023, 9:40 a.m. Suggest removal
Dawes says...
Government kills bay street. Every other week they close it down. Then they do not enforce any parking rules, so no one can get there. most parking is for Government employees.
Posted 18 May 2023, 10:33 a.m. Suggest removal
moncurcool says...
Bay Street is already dead. Businesses and people move from that being the place to shop long time. Amazing how so many clueless on that.
Carmichael Road has already become what Bay Street use to be.
Posted 18 May 2023, 1:57 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
Howthever, --- Centerville MP Jomo Campbell ---Needs, first define --- Precisely, the --- remaining --- certain tourist attractions in the downtown area that will receive less cruise passenger visitor traffic. --- The downtown core --- Bay Street, ---- Starts at the foot of Bay Street (British Colonial Hotel) and runs till you reaches ---Mr. Russell's ---StopN'Shop. --- No No Yes Yes?
Posted 18 May 2023, 4:35 p.m. Suggest removal
John says...
Let me get this right… a cruise ship passenger sails all the way to The Bahamas and spends all his/her time at the port ‘ chilling and does not venture out to experience/ explore Nassau. A Bahamian goes all the way to Florida and hangs out in the airport until it’s time to come home? Doesn’t sound logical. BUT the tourist product does need much more tweaking, polishing and fine tuning to ensure this does not happen. Exit surveys say ‘tourists want more things to do in Nassau, more excitement and more activities. And they want to experience more Bahamian. And that is the problem. Bahamians need to be more included in the tourist experience. And not in an artificial way.
Posted 18 May 2023, 6:22 p.m. Suggest removal
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