The Tribune

The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has given its backing to the development of a comprehensive National Maritime Policy for the Bahamas.

The visit was a preliminary ‘scoping’ mission towards formulating a comprehensive, integrated National Maritime Policy. The initiative will examine all aspects of the country’s marine resources and legal infrastructure, with a view to integrating existing policies for promoting sustained economic development and environmental preservation.

Mr Rolle expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, adding: “We understand that during the initial phase, the collation of spatial data will play a significant role in formulating a preliminary ‘situation analysis’ for the Government.

“GBPA’s GIS spatial database has the most comprehensive and advanced information for Grand Bahama, and we are pleased to make it available in support of this timely initiative by the Government. How we manage the country’s resources today determines what will be available for future generations.”

Commodore Rolle and Dr Roberts toured a number of industrial, maritime and eco-tourism based sites on Grand Bahama. These included the Freeport Harbour and Freeport Container Port properties, as well as BORCO, the Grand Bahama Shipyard, the Grand Bahama National Park and touristic sites in the Eight Mile Rock and West End settlements.