The Tribune

A Nassau cruise port bidder says its offer to take over the facility’s management has been backed by vendors at the nearby Straw Market.

Global Ports Holding said executives from the Straw Business Persons Society have declared their support for its proposal, submitted under the name Nassau Cruise Port Ltd, and offer to operate Prince George Wharf that is now being examined by the Government.

“We are not seeing as many tourists in the Straw Market as we used to,” said Reverend Esther Thompson, president of the Straw Business Persons Society. “We need foot traffic. We have 500 stalls in our Bay Street market right now that have the potential to provide for 500 families.

“A mega project like this one can do miracles for all 500 business owners and for our entire economy, considering that new money is injected into our economy daily through sales from these businesses. Additionally, this is an avenue that will contribute to the stability of our foreign reserves once it’s done the right way. That’s why the Government needs to choose the best partner for the project.”

Reverend Thompson added: “We believe that the Global Ports Holding plan will help address many of the challenges that our members and other downtown merchants are facing. We’re very impressed by their background and the amount of success that they have achieved worldwide. Simply making the port more efficient will not be enough. We want real change and we believe they can deliver. Our livelihoods depend on this.”

Colin Murphy, Global Ports Holding’s head of business development for the Americas, said: “We’re very pleased that the Straw Business Persons Society has seen fit to support us. If we are selected as the preferred bidder, it will be in everyone’s best interest for us to collaborate with stakeholders like the Society to make this project a success. We want to understand their issues and be helpful. It’s the only way that this venture can make the kind of impact that will truly benefit Bahamians.”

Global Ports Holding operates 15 cruise ports, and two commercial ports, spread across nine countries in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Asia-Pacific regions. It serves over eight million passengers at its cruise ports, and handles more than 300,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and about five million tons of total cargo at its commercial ports.