THE U.S. Embassy in Nassau has purchased approximately five acres of land in the “Nassau city centre” for the relocation of its downtown outpost.

The new embassy site will be located off Shirley Street, East Street and Sands Road, according to a statement yesterday from the American embassy, which added that the land purchase was finalised by the U.S. Department of State on June 15.

However, the American embassy said construction of the new “multi-building campus” will not commence for a “few years”.

Last year, it was rumoured that the American embassy was searching for a new property after China Construction America (CCA) purchased the British Colonial Hilton and broke ground on a neighbouring luxury development, The Pointe.

However, a well-placed source refuted the speculation and explained that the embassy’s operations had outgrown its current location.

At the time, embassy officials confirmed to The Tribune that the mission was searching for a new property to relocate, but did not confirm the reason for the planned relocation. Nonetheless, embassy spokesperson Neda Brown told The Tribune that the mission would remain at its Queen Street location until a new property was secured and a new embassy built.

Yesterday, the American embassy’s statement said its relocation will “accommodate our growing U.S. mission to the Bahamas”.

“The new multi-building campus will allow us to better achieve U.S. foreign policy objectives as well as better serve both American and Bahamian citizens,” the statement said.

“While construction of the new facility will not commence for a few years, this site acquisition symbolises the U.S. commitment to the Bahamas and to a U.S. presence in downtown Nassau for decades to come.”

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