The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

VENDORS at Festival Place are asking to be given first preference to return to the port area following the privatisation of the Prince George Wharf.

Rory Dean, the lead spokesperson for the Festival Place Tenants Association (FPTA), said the group of approximately 30 vendors have no interest in lobbying for any management company to assume control of the port.

Instead, Mr Dean said vendors are open to collaborating with any group focused on transforming the property into cultural platform for the Bahamas.

In a statement last Friday, Mr Dean said the group wants the port to be a place that creates positive impressions on visitors, while generating as much economic impact as possible.

The government is currently considering a public-private-partnership for the day-to-day management of wharf.

Tourism Minister Dionisio D'Aguilar last week said the government is looking to place the entire cruise port in a "silo" focused primarily on the overall upgrade and upkeep of the site.

He said the government will formally issue a formal request for proposal once a determination is made on how best to service the property.

Addressing those comments, Mr Dean said his group will stand in full support of any proposal that presents the greatest line of success for the entire operation.

"We want the experience cruise visitors have at the port to contribute to them feeling inclined to spend money at this destination," Mr Dean said. "We want cruise passengers to have such a great experience while they are moving throughout the port, that they want to come a visit again and recommend the destination to all their friends."

Mr Dean said the key to making the port standout as different from any other is culture and how it is displayed.

He said Bahamians food, music, dance, language and art must always be on full display - insisting that these components often captivate tourist.

"That is where we feel that we come in. The vendors that make up the FPTA specialise in selling Bahamian products that capture the essence of Bahamian culture.

"That includes food and beverage offerings of locally made jams, jellies and spices, conch carvings and conch jewellery, Bahamian made clothing and apparel, books and other accessories.

"Where else in Nassau can you go and find such a varied and quality selection of authentically Bahamian products? I challenge anyone to show me another area in Nassau where you can find such a collection of Bahamian products," Mr Dean added.

He said the group decided to publicly state its position in the wake of recent media reports highlighting bids and plans for the property.

Mr Dean referred to a Tribune Business report, which detailed one group's plans to transform Nassau's cruise port into a "must call destination" that will attract an extra 1.3m visitors annually by 2028, concerns the FPTA.

The article reported that the majority Bahamian-owned Global Ports Holding group's planned redevelopment of Nassau's waterfront would involve the creation of open spaces, parks through the reclamation of land from the existing harbour - a proposal that would involve filling in the space between the existing frontage and nearest cruise berth.

It added that it plans to replace the Festival Place building with a new arrivals plaza that will function as a gateway to downtown Nassau, not as a retail centre.

Mr Dean slammed proposal, claiming if the government allows such a concept to proceed, it would effectively sever the connection between visitors and a true Bahamian experience.

While the move would benefit the Bay Street merchants, Mr Dean said it would limit tourist contact with small Bahamian businesses that authentically reflect and provide a true Bahamian experience.

"We are asking those persons that are currently part of the process of making up RFP's for the privatisation for the port to include in a requirement that the successful proposal provide a suitable space for vendors," he added.