Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis has restated the government's intent to revise zoning laws in Downtown Nassau to stimulate economic growth in the area. While Davis told Guardian Business that property owners have not necessarily met the government's plans for redevelopment and rezoning with resistance, he said that downtown stakeholders are still struggling to reach a consensus on the way forward for Downtown Nassau.

"It is in ongoing discussions because a lot of the property downtown is privately owned with a mix of some government-owned [property]. There have been some plans put forward with the advent of the redevelopment of the Hilton hotel and the possibility of again entering into a public-private partnership for that redevelopment, including the reclamation of about 100 to 200 feet of the seabed from Prince George Dock to near the bridge," said Davis.

In January, China Construction America (CCA) Senior Vice President Daniel Liu said the redevelopment of Downtown Nassau has long been a "deferred promise" that runs the risk of damaging The Bahamas' brand if it is not addressed in short order. Liu called on the government to step up to the plate and make a decision on the area's redevelopment plan.

Liu at the time hoped that CCA's purchase of the British Colonial Hilton in October 2014 would serve as a catalyst for redevelopment, which CCA hopes would include waterfront condos and hotels, which would necessitate rezoning the area to allow for taller structures.

The proposed rezoning has also received a fair share of support from local businesspersons, who have argued that the move would revitalize economic activity downtown by creating a residential component.

In the meantime, Davis hopes that smaller infrastructure and revitalization initiatives, such as those conducted by the Downtown Nassau Partnership (DNP), would breath new life into the area.

"There's also the revisiting the rezoning of downtown to allow taller buildings and of course there are [myriad] views on that and the question is trying to reach overall consensus of how that's going to be.

"I think it's just traditions and traditional thinking [regarding] the original plan as to what downtown should be like. The question is should we disturb that vision.

"I think it's in ongoing discussions but it will happen. We've seen some of the improvements to downtown [such as] Pompey Square and the sidewalks. Those are some of the low-hanging fruits that we have picked," he said.

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