The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie said he met with principals from the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and Hutchison Whampoa to discussed the expansion of the Freeport Container Port.

Mr Christie said: “In London we had extensive meetings with the principals of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Hutchison Whampoa group, the owner of the Freeport Container Port and the largest developers on the island.

“Hutchison itself will be undergoing some changes in terms of corporate leadership, and the executives who I met and spoke with are significant persons in that regard. We had very important and deep discussions about the extent to which Hutchison, the Government and the Port ought to be cooperating on the way forward in our country.

“We agreed to continue the dialogue, which I expect in the not too distant future to resume. We were discussing ways forward in being able to expand the product offered by Grand Bahama.”

Mr Christie added: “When we spoke to Hutchison, this was part and parcel of work done by the Attorney General in seeking legal opinions to cushion some of the decisions we have to make. When we spoke to them, we spoke to them about expanding their Container Port. “

Mr Christie said he also participated with the Bahamas Ship Owners Association, the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Financial Services in the start of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) council.

“We discussed a major promotional event to be held in the Bahamas next year to attract and provide financial assistance for a large number of young Bahamians to pursue careers in the maritime industry,” he added.