Minister of Trade and Industry, Leslie Miller, said on Tuesday that the proposed incorporation of the straw market with a handicraft and souvenir centre will provide Bahamians with the unique opportunity of having their wares on display at all times.
“The place that we envisage will be second to none and will be a state-of-the-art building. You will not see what is happening now or in the past, happen at this new centre. It will be ran independently and will be a business,” said Minister Miller, who was speaking at the British Colonial Hilton.
According to Mr Miller, the government envisions a development which will become a magnet for visitors and residents alike.
It will completely transform the downtown waterfront with restaurants and nightclubs along the wharf and areas where pedestrians can leisurely stroll, shop, dine, relax and be entertained, he said.
“We envision a project which will be a natural extension to Festival Place. A project that will create more business and employment opportunities for Bahamians. We envision new outlets for showcasing Bahamian art, crafts, foods, music and culture. We envision a project which will fully complement the historic architectural charm of downtown Nassau,” Mr Miller announced.
The Trade and Industry Minister said also that in addition to re-constructing the straw market on its old site, another building will be constructed that will extend from Bay Street to the waterfront and will house some 450 vendors. The temporary site that is presently occupied by vendors, he said, will house handicraft and souvenir manufacturers.
“We will also incorporate this site (temporary site) as a heroes centre, where you will see the history of persons such as Sir Lynden Pindling and the first Premier of The Bahamas, Sir Roland Symonette. The tourists will be able to get a good overview of the historic elements that make our country what it is. We are looking at two distinctly different sites with the necessary facilities,” he said.
Discussions were also held about whether the proposed buildings should have two or three stories, Mr Miller said, with realtors asked to offer ideas on what sells and what does not.
“We have had everybody involved on the project from the ground level, so that we are on the same page from start to finish,” he said.
Mr Miller also announced on Tuesday that Bahamian architects are being asked to submit designs for the next straw market and the development of Bay Street by entering an open competition. Architects are being asked to submit designs that will incorporate some 500 stalls at the former straw market site.
Chairman of the Nassau Tourism & Development Board, Mr. Frank Comito, said a separate development task force has also been appointed to examine all development and financing options for the next straw market. “This particular group will have quite a job ahead of them and comprise of volunteers and public servants,” he said.
Meanwhile, veteran straw vendor and member of the development task force, Mrs. Telator Strachan, said on behalf of all straw vendors that she is very delighted that the government is ready to move ahead, through firstly informing the community of their intentions, with regard to the construction of the new market.
She noted that there are many requests that vendors would want the government to incorporate into their plans, mainly a daycare facility on the premises of the new site.
“This will allow young mothers who have children coming to the market after school to have somewhere to bring their children. This is one of the key things that we would like to see introduced, because it will be helpful to the younger vendors who have to leave their children at home with others,” she said, adding that vendors are looking forward to larger stall areas.
Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe, who was also present at the press conference, said The Bahamas wants to put more emphasis on its tourism product and at the same time, become more competitive in the craft industry.
“We want to have a fresh, clean and unique product to present to the world. The symbolism is there on Bay Street and we need to ensure that when Bay Street is presented to the world, it is presented in such a way that tourists will get a taste of all that we have to offer in this country,” Mr Wilchcombe said.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
