Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson encouraged attendees at the ‘Tourist Money Never Done’ workshop to create businesses relating to tourism.

Minister Thompson officially opened the workshop, November 1, at the Grand Lucayan. It is held in conjunction with the Bahamas Development Bank.

Minister Thompson said the Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama is pleased to partner with Bahamas Development Bank, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Small Business Development Centre in producing the workshop.

Grand Bahamians, he said, can relate to the role tourism plays in the economy as everyone has been either directly or indirectly affected by it. Tourism, he continued, is here to stay and therefore more opportunities need to be created for Bahamians to support Bahamian tourism entrepreneurial businesses.

Minister Thompson urged the attendees to focus on the need to create more tourism activities on the island and more opportunities to get increased numbers of cruise ship passengers off the ships and engaging in those activies. In addition, the benefits of technology should be utilized more extensively.

The government is ready to invest in the people by supporting and endorsing the workshop. “We agree that the strength of our economy is grounded in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.” The economy grows when small businesses do well, said Minister Thompson.

The Bahamas Develop Bank has been in existence for the past 40 years assisting Bahamian entrepreneurs with business ventures: Managing Director of Bahamas Development Bank, Dave Smith, says the bank will continue to do this but with more vigour. Collaboration on ‘Tourist Money Never Done’ was the brainchild of Patrick Rahming who approached the bank with the idea. The bank stands ready to support viable initiatives that can add value to the economy of Grand Bahama.

The Bahamas Development Bank, in conjunction with the Office of the Prime Minister, Grand Bahama, is currently hosting a ‘Tourist Money Never Done’ conference at the Grand Lucayan, November 1 to 3. It was officially opened by Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson (centre). Also pictured at the conference: Justin Stirrup, Assistant Managing Director, BDB (left); and Dave Smith, Managing Director. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson officially opened the workshop. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

By Robyn Adderley