The government intends to spend millions of dollars to upgrade Prince George Wharf to the standards required by cruise ship operators, in hopes of maintaining The Bahamas’ competitive edge over regional competition.
On the local radio show Parliament Street, hosted by Jessica Robertson and Fayne Thompson, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin detailed the improvements that she expects will restore “Ole Nassau’s” charm.
She said that cruise ship owners advised the country to redevelop the dock, which has not had repairs since 1989, if it does not want Caribbean countries, including Cuba to attract the 1.8 million cruise ship passengers that visit the capital annually.
Additionally, Mrs Hanna-Martin said, cruise operators complained “bitterly” about tourist harassment in the Prince George Wharf area by numerous vendors, ferry boat operators, hair braiders, taxi drivers, motorcycle rentals, tour guides and independent “bead sellers.”
In wake of the complaints, the minister said, she met with the Bahamas Taxi Union to explore ways of ameliorating the situation.
Since the meeting, tour guides and taxi drivers were given a desk to operate within Festival Place, located at the dock.
“That desk should reduce some of the hustling that goes on out there. We can’t have people feeling that they come to The Bahamas and we hustling,” said Ms Hanna-Martin. “I can’t accept that.”
However, provision of the desk did not seem to have the intended effect, as the Guardian on a recent visit observed tour representatives shouting at tourists as they walked through the building and taxi drivers swarming around others.
Another requirement was the installation of rubber material along the side of the dock to protect cruise ships from damage, and replacing “bollards,” to attach ropes.
The cruise ship officials also wanted proper lighting at the dock along the boardwalk.
“They (cruise ship officials) have been extremely patient with us,” Ms Hanna-Martin said, “and that tells us that New Providence, in a lot of ways, is really a fabulous destination.”
She said that the Ministry hoped to incorporate the ship operators’ requests as a part of the Bay Street Redevelopment Project, which will begin with the reconstruction of the new Straw Market in June.
Night-time entertainment, including night clubs, and new restaurants in the Bay Street area were also envisioned, Mrs Hanna-Martin said.
“The approach we are taking is from a cultural point of view,” she outlined. “We need to start differentiating from any where else. The Bahamas is unique. We need to really start pushing that forward.”
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
