American business mogul and co-owner of the Miss Universe pageant Donald Trump praised the government on Sunday night for its part in hosting the international event in The Bahamas.

The real estate giant told reporters as he walked the red carpet at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island minutes before the pageant was aired to more than two billion people across the world that the government should be commended for its efforts.

?What?s happened to Paradise Island is amazing and even the roads coming in from the airport are in such great shape,? Trump said. ?The government should be very proud of themselves...because you know every country wanted this and we went with The Bahamas and we went with the Kerzners and we?re very happy about it.?

A massive public and private sector campaign was launched in recent months to clean up downtown Nassau in time for the arrival of the contestants in early August. A $2.4 million road work contract was also signed to ensure that streets would be repaired
along the routes the international beauties would be traveling.

Trump told the media that The Bahamas easily won the chance to host the pageant. He also praised the Kerzners for their efforts. Kerzner International owns the Atlantis Resort.

?They did a fantastic job and we had 18 countries that wanted to have it and we chose Paradise Island because of the Kerzners,? Trump said. ?Really, they wanted it very badly and we?re so happy they?ve been so professional and so good.

?...We are really happy with the treatment that they have given us. We went with The Bahamas and we went with the Kerzner and we are very happy about it. The place looks great and we?re having a great time.?

Trump is a former Paradise Island resort owner, selling his property to American television host Merv Griffin. It was later sold to the current owner, Sol Kerzner.

The woman who won the title of Miss Universe 2009 Sunday night said she enjoyed every moment of her time spent touring the islands of The Bahamas.

Speaking to the press through an interpreter after she won the crown, Venezuela?s Stephania Fernandez said, ?When I found out I was coming to The Bahamas, I told everyone I was going to enjoy every single moment. The people of The Bahamas are warm and friendly, much like my own people of Venezuela.?

As she walked the red carpet, reality television star and musical performer Heidi Montag said this was her second time visiting The Bahamas, adding that she was hoping to make many more trips.

?I came to The Bahamas one time before this but it doesn?t count,? said the ?Hills? star. ?So this is my official first time. I don?t want to leave. I don?t think anyone can get me off this island. I love it here.?

Andre Leon Tally, an award winning writer and editor, who was a judge at the pageant, added that he would take nothing but fond memories of The Bahamas when he returns to the United States.

?It?s been wonderful and this resort is amazing and what?s wonderful about Atlantis is all the Bahamians are so warm,? he said. ?It?s such a culture of warm people with beautiful smiles. You couldn?t be in a better mood being here.?