Friday, May 2, 2025
A MASSIVE fire that broke out downtown last night has not disrupted the visitor experience, according to Tourism Director General Latia Duncombe.
Mrs Duncombe spoke to reporters shortly after she and her team walked along Bay Street to assess the affected area firsthand.
At the time, firefighters were still working to extinguish lingering blazes that damaged several Bay Street buildings and displaced dozens of people.
Officials could not yet confirm how many businesses were affected by the fire.
“We knew that the fire occurred, but we also wanted to be sure that there was no impact to the visitor experience. And so together, we walked Bay Street, and it's still bustling. We see the cruise ship passengers. It's vibrant. The tours are ongoing, as was expected.”
She acknowledged there was some discomfort due to lingering smoke, but said it was anticipated given the nature of the fire.
“It's having, at this time, no impact on the visitor experience,” she added.
According to Mrs Duncombe, vehicular traffic in the area has been diverted in keeping with regular safety protocols, and efforts are underway to reopen the roads as soon as possible. Cruise port officials and cruise lines were also notified of the situation.
Comments
TalRussell says...
Walk up any tourists' to confirm the perfect definition of an asinine Tourism Director General. -- Yes?
Posted 2 May 2025, 3:14 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
"*we walked Bay Street, and it's still bustling. We see the cruise ship passengers. It's vibrant. The tours are ongoing, as was expected.”*
This is so tone deaf. The "visitors" havent been affected? They likely cant tell the difference between the damaged structures and the buildings still standing. Hopefully she expressed some concern for the 29 families whose lives have been turned upside down
Posted 2 May 2025, 4:44 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
@Comrade ThisIsOurs, me read and reread and nowhere found where 'she' - nor anyone mentioned the 29 families whose lives were affected. -- Yes?
Posted 2 May 2025, 5 p.m. Suggest removal
bogart says...
While the visitors might not be affected, the greatest concern is the amounts of PMH critical care medical professionals who tend to reside in nearby residence accommodations like the destroyed apartments now have to deal with them being homeless.
Its the medical care of the Bahamian patients and the medical personnel personnel and residents who lost their residence which is the important issue.
Had a subsidized hostel built and been utilized, there could have shelter for the personnel. Had there have been repurposing the then Collins House to assist family island family with patient flown in, then some of those rooms could have used to keep the important care medical professionals near their patients. Somewhere in the early 70's the political visionaries in the govt saw the future need to expand the PMH and purchased the Collins House with its 6 acres to expand PMH.
Posted 2 May 2025, 8:09 p.m. Suggest removal
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