The Bahamas recorded a “major first yesterday when it was announced that a Bahamian company is set to acquire a cruise line.
Captain Jackson L. Ritchie announced yesterday that his company Global United, the largest ships’ agency of its kind in The Bahamas and the Caribbean, has signed a letter of intent with Rafael A. Ordonez, the owner of Discovery Cruise Line, to purchase the Cruise Line. The acquisition to be completed by June 2006 will make Ritchie the first Bahamian national to own both a cruise line and a casino.
After many months of negotiations, Chief Executive Officer of Global United Ltd, Captain Jackson Ritchie, said that his company plans to purchase the Discovery Land Cruise Line.
The announcement came during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on Cable Beach.
“I am proud to participate in this particular occasion-as this is a major first for The Bahamas and for Bahamians,” said Prime Minister Perry Christie.
“The fact that we have a Bahamian captain, Jackson Ritchie, who has now set the wheels in motion to become the first owner of a cruise line in our nation’s history is an important event. This now means that a Bahamian will take ownership of a vital sector of the Bahamian product and one of the main arteries of Grand Bahama’s tourism.”
A former employee of the Discovery Cruise Line [DCL], Captain Ritchie yesterday signed a Letter of Intent with Rafael Ordonez, the owner of DCL.
Captain Ritchie said during the press conference that his company has a longstanding relationship with Mr. Ordonez and Discovery Cruise Line as the port agent providing shore side support services to its vessels and also as its ticketing wholesale agent.
Although the final agreement will not be signed until June, Mr. Ritchie said that Discovery Cruise Line will continue to operate its normally scheduled route and that Global United intends to retain the management and staff of the Discovery Line in Miami.
“I am especially pleased that Mr. Ordonez has agreed to this transaction,” Mr. Ritchie said.
“I would like to state categorically for the record that once this transaction is completed there is absolutely no plans or intention to disrupt service between Fort Lauderdale and Freeport.
“Once the acquisition is completed, Global United will build on [DCL’s] effort to further provide Bahamians with [the] opportunity to participate in this venture, having regard for the strategic plans to expand the level and scope of services that we intend to offer in the future.”
Discovery Cruise Line has provided daily cruise services between Fort Lauderdale and Freeport since 1987. It has been an integral feature of the Grand Bahama tourism product, bringing more than 200,000 cruise passengers to the port each year.
Global United Ltd employs more than 250 people. The company is located in the Global United Maritime Centre in Freeport and at the Airport Industrial Park in New Providence. The company also has an office in the Miami International Commerce Centre in Florida.
By: Royanne Forbes-Darville, The Bahama Journal
