Despite "inconveniences" caused by the temporary shutdown of West Bay Street to accommodate the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, Arawak Port Development Ltd. (APD) President and CEO Mike Maura yesterday said that he expects only minimal impact on business at the Nassau Container Port (NCP) for the duration of the festival.
Maura told Guardian Business that while he does not believe a series of early closures would have a noticeable impact, the full shutdown of operations on Saturday, May 9 represents a larger inconvenience for the container port.
"We typically stop receiving traffic at 3:45 p.m., so [the early closures are] only a 15-minute inconvenience. On the Saturday it is an inconvenience in that we're closed for the day. Usually we handle 40 to 45 containers on a Saturday on average, so that would have more of an impact," he said.
APD issued a notice earlier this week notifying clients that the port would slightly curb its operating hours today; Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, during which the NCP will close at 3:30 p.m. However, the port will be closed all day on Saturday, May 9.
"Many of the events of the festival will take place in areas surrounding the port. Consequently, the Road Traffic Department has notified of its intent to close portions of West Bay Street to facilitate the celebration.
"On May 1, 7 and 8, by 4 p.m. at the latest, all trucks must be off the NCP premises and the areas of West Bay Street designated by the Road Traffic authorities," read the notice.
However, Maura said that the NCP's customers, most notably Baha Mar, had already been notified and had accommodated the temporary closure after the Road Traffic Department issued its notice.
"We've already communicated with the market in terms of the carriers have notified their [customers]. People are being provided with necessary notice so that they can plan to get their cargo out on Friday and on Monday we're open as usual," Maura said.
Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will be held May 7 to 9.
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