With a firm belief that Freeport will remain a centre for investment in tourism, industry and transshipping of goods, the retiring president of the Grand Bahama Port Authority said his 31 years were challenging and he has no regrets in leaving.
For 26 of those years, Sir Albert J. Miller was president, longer than any of his predecessors. As president, he had the opportunity to associate with a cross-section of Bahamian and foreign investors, which include Hutchison Whampoa and the Southern Co.
“It’s always nice to deal with a prospective investor who, if they come, will not only create a new business in the port area, but also create employment for Bahamians and that, too, is a bit of excitement,” he said.
“The existence and the extension of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement qualify me to humbly say that the Grand Bahama Port Authority over the years and today, remains the heartbeat of Freeport’s growth,” he said.
In an exclusive interview with the Freeport News, Sir Albert said the time had come to step aside, slow down the pace and do some things for himself.
Already in the process of setting up a private office, the businessman says he does not have much planned for his future, but is anxious to learn what it is like to be retired.
“In other words, to go when you feel like and then when you do not, not do anything,” he said. “It’s really working leisurely. That’s what I see and that’s the way I would like it to be.”
Sir Albert will continue to be active in the life and business of Grand Bahama as a director of GBPA and chairman of the Grand Bahama Power Co. Ltd., and as a consultant to the group.
In celebration of his outstanding contributions to the Grand Bahama community, more than 400 people attended a farewell banquet Saturday, at the Our Lucaya Ballroom in Freeport.
At the banquet, Minister of Financial Services & Investments Allyson Maynard-Gibson spoke highly of his service to God, country and family.
“Not only is he a person whose friendship cross all sectors of society, he is hardworking and he always tries to find ways that others can benefit from his decisions.”
In 1998, Sir Albert was appointed co-chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, taking on additional responsibilities while maintaining his position as president.
Later that year, Albert Noel Miller was honoured by the Chamber of Commerce as the Business Person of the Year, and recognised as a profound, noble, determined, well-trained and ever-resourceful person doing business on a global scale at the helm of the country’s leading corporate firms.
He had volunteered his time and financial resources to assist in the development of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce.
As one of the first police officers to be knighted, Sir Albert’s knighthood came in January, 2002, and he was later honoured by the RBPF for this achievement.
Sir Albert’s journey began when he joined the Royal Police Force in 1943, from which he retired as deputy commissioner in 1971.
During his tenure, he made a Member of the British Empire, and received the Colonial Police Medal and the Queen’s Police Medal. In 1994, the honour of lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order was bestowed on him.
He joined Bahamas Amusements Ltd. as vice-president, and became president in 1974.
He was selected as chairman of the Freeport-Lucaya Promotion Board and appointed to the board of directors for Solomon Brothers Ltd.
In 1976, he was appointed president of Freeport Commercial and Industrial Ltd., a subsidiary of the International Diversified Corp.
After his appointment as president of the port authority, Sir Albert was named to the board of directors of Bethell-Robertson and Co. Ltd.
In June, 1991, Sir Albert became president of Pepsi-Cola (Bahamas) Bottling Co., owning about 70 per cent of the company at the time. He reportedly started the company over from scratch.
In October, 1992, he was elected chairman of the publicly-owned Bahamas Electricity Corp., and later became part of a group of chairmen who headed the Public Service Utilities. His affiliation with utilities continued when he became chairman of the BaTelCo board.
Deputy chairman/general counsel Willie A. M. Moss, has been appointed to replace him.
By Lisa Albury, The Nassau Guardian
