The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net PLANS for Bay Street's redevelopment were dealt a major blow last Friday when fire ravaged the Pompey Museum, with Downtown Nassau Partnership (NTDB) co-chairman, Charles Klonaris, telling Tribune Business the museum was key to an imminent green space development in the area. "We were ready to start on this public square. This was really our focus. The moment the straw vendors left the temporary tent and moved to the new Straw Market, the first thing we were going to do was to create this public square. They were going to call it Pompey Square because we felt the museum connected with this open green space that would become an area where we could celebrate the arts and heritage of the Bahamas," Mr Klonaris told Tribune Business. A massive blaze, which is believed to have started around 3am last Friday, destroyed the Pompey Museum, the temporary Straw Market site, displacing dozen of vendors, as well as the Balcony nightclub and the Suntan Shop. As to what impact the fire could have on downtown tourism, Mr Klonaris said: "It will have a serious impact because the Pompey Museum was very important to recapturing downtown's position as the centre of Bahamian culture and history. "It had a very historic and anthropologic importance. Historic Nassau is very significant in that it enriches Bahamian culture. What we wanted to do was create a downtown that was authentic for Bahamians and visitors alike. The Pompey Museum was extremely important to us and this nation, and it's a shame that we lost this historic building. It's really tragic to see this building burnt down." Speaking to the importance of the museum to downtown tourism, deputy chairman of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation, Dr Gail Saunders, told Tribune Business: "I think it's very important because tourists frequent the area, and are very interested in the heritage of the different countries they visit. Pompey has really been a boon for us. It's a part of Bahamian history of which we are very proud."