The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A Grand Bahama restaurant manager yesterday welcomed the $500 relief package unveiled by the Government but said businesses require more help to recover from the twin blows inflicted by Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19.

Janet Wilson, assistant manager of Outriggers Native Restaurant at Smith’s Point, told Tribune Business that while grateful for the “immediate relief” package being provided for Port Lucaya, Eight Mile Rock, Smith’s Point and Farmer’s Market vendors, it does not go far enough.

Ginger Moxey, minister for Grand Bahama, told media ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting that vendors will receive an “immediate relief package” some time later this week. She added that after touring the Port Lucaya Marketplace with the deputy prime minister, she went back to Cabinet and received an assistance package worth a collective $177,000. This will be spread among the vendors at the four locations, and works out to an average $500 per vendor.

Mrs Moxey said of the vendor split: “Port Lucaya has about 127. There are 188 in the Harbour, 10 in the Eight Mile Rock fish fry and twenty or so in the Farmers’ Market downtown.” This rounds out to 345 vendors who will be assisted but, while the $500 is something, it is unlikely to have a meaningful impact on the long-standing financial needs of many entrepreneurs.

“I don’t know how many vendors there are in total, but I know everyone would appreciate it,” Ms Wilson said. “I know it should have been more than that. It could have been more than that under the circumstances and what we went through with Dorian and the pandemic. I don’t even know if that could pay a light bill. My light bill is higher than that a month.”

Mrs Moxey, meanwhile, added of the Port Lucaya area: “We are now working with the Ministry of Tourism, in partnership, to develop a beach access that is secure. We’re going to also create other vendor opportunities for that area. So we’re working to do that, as well as to ensure that guests actually come into the marketplace.

“So we’re speaking to the cruise lines. We’re also working in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism to have something called the Taste of Port Lucaya. That makes it more attractive. So we are working on all cylinders, just trying to ensure that business comes to that area.

“Guests come to that area to provide opportunities for the vendors there. So it’s been a challenge, but we are pushing forward doing everything we can to bring some relief to those vendors, and I believe they’ve received that well.”

As for the derelict buildings blighting downtown Freeport, Mrs Moxey said that is one of the “immediate” things her ministry is looking at. “There are some environmental bye-laws that the Port (Grand Bahama Port Authority) has presented, but outside of that there are so many other issues that are going on,” she added.

“I know the Attorney General’s Office and lawyers from the GBPA have been in direct contact trying to make progress with it, but that’s one of the major things we are looking at right now and we’re working on it.”

Replying for Smith’s Point, Ms Wilson added: “We have had adequate beach access at Smith’s Point ever since they put the sea wall up. You can get to and from the beach with a stairway from the beach to the vendors. We have a main staircase near us, and then you have two or three more further down, going down to the other fish fry, so there is access to the beach.”