East Grand Bahama is poised for a $100 million cruise port destination, with the government signing a heads of agreement with Carnival Cruise Lines yesterday; a development Prime Minister Perry Christie announced will generate significant "entrepreneurial and employment opportunities" and have a major impact on the communities of East Grand Bahama.
During the contract signing at the Grand Lucayan resort, Prime Minister Christie said the agreement took "painstaking and lengthy negotiations between my government and the principals of the Freeport Harbour Company to negotiate a waiver of exclusivity agreement of their exclusivity rights on all ports in Grand Bahama, which had been granted by the previous administration".
The venture, coined the Shore Project, represents another phase of development for Grand Bahama, Christie noted.
Two hundred and twenty six acres of land in East Grand Bahama are expected to be transformed within two years after all relevant government approvals have been provided.
According to Christie, the new cruise port development will encompass numerous projects, including restaurants, pavilions, nightclubs, aquatic and other recreational and sporting facilities.
Additionally, the project will see the creation of nature and cycling trails, as well as interactive amenities such as stingray and dolphin encounters.
But central to the development will be the construction of a harbor town comprised of retail shops, a Bahamian art plaza, administrative complexes, utility services and a transportation hub, Christie said.
The prime minister noted this will also provide more opportunities for local taxi and tour operators.
"The projected impact of Carnival's cruise port on employment cannot be overstated," Christie said.
"Bahamian entrepreneurs operating at the new port will need to draw on a wide range of local vendors such as subcontractors, architects, landscapers, tradesmen, technicians, security, marine specialists, retail workers and other service specialists.
"As development of this new cruise port takes place, the government will work with cruise lines, owners of the harbor, other stakeholders, local entrepreneurs, taxi drivers and tour operators to make Freeport Harbour and the city itself more attractive to cruise visitors."
The prime minister pointed to Carnival's success with a 62 percent passenger repeat rate, and $6.8 billion in ocean vessels with another 48 ocean liners to be launched within two years.

Promise
The negotiated sale of the Grand Lucayan properties is progressing, Christie noted.
He said "other projects" are on the drawing board, seeking to show that his government's efforts in establishing an investment framework for long-term economic growth in Grand Bahama are "beginning to come to fruition".
"We are nearing completion on a number of other initiatives that will bring stability and economic certainty to the lives of Grand Bahama's residents and will enable its current and potential investors to view Grand Bahama with confidence," Christie said.
"Grand Bahama's future is bright and will indeed deliver much-needed economic benefits to its stakeholders and residents, and further enhance our country's reputation as a premier travel and tourism destination."
Last month, Christie said a letter of intent (LOI) was signed with the prospective new owner.
At the time, Christie said the resort's new plans are "compelling", but Grand Bahama's tourism product has spiraled downward since the passage of Hurricane Matthew.
The Nassau Guardian understands the new prospective owner to be Canadian real estate developer Paul Wynn.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian