The Tribune

The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) has awarded Patrick McDonald Construction Company the contract to complete building and retrofitting work on the Grand Bahama Arts and Crafts Centre.

The facility is to be used as an attraction for locals and tourists to experience the Bahamas’ culture through arts and crafts, and as a training centre that facilitates arts and crafts production.

BAIC executive chairman, Arnold Forbes, said: “BAIC is in the business of building infrastructure so that we can put Bahamians back to work, whether it is Grand Bahama, whether it is New Providence. We are about ensuring that our people can get back to work.

“This craft centre and its renovation is one of the key components of what we plan to do here in Grand Bahama.”

Mr Forbes added that BAIC understood how arts and crafts played a major role in expressing Bahamian culture to the world.

“Therefore, BAIC, whether it’s here or in New Providence, or any other island, is about building new infrastructure so that Bahamians can express themselves through art, through culture, through agriculture,” Mr Forbes said.

After reassuring that BAIC was 100 per cent committed to the renovation project, Mr Forbes presented Mr McDonald with a mobilisation cheque to begin the work immediately.

Dr Michael Darville, minister for Grand Bahama, said the centre will positively impact the revitalisation and promotion of Grand Bahama.

He pointed out that at completion, the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government, BAIC and the Ministry of Tourism will coordinate various programmes at the facility to generate revenue for BAIC and keep it in a working condition.

“It is anticipated that the centre will be included in the itineraries for tour operators in Freeport as an attraction where visitors can have a cultural experience, observe Bahamian craft production and purchase authentic Bahamian arts and crafts,” he said.

Dr Darville added that it will be used for the packaging and housing of Bahamian crafts for showcase and sale, creating much needed employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for local artisans.

The estimated date of completion for the renovation work is set for early next year.