The Tribune

A cement manufacturer yesterday branded 2023 an “amazing year” for construction as it focuses on expansion to the Family Islands in 2024.

Alejandra Rivas, country manager for CEMEX Bahamas, told Tribune Business that the company’s increased Family Islands interest is being driven by the multiple construction-related projects planned to take place outside of Nassau.

“We have the big bags in Freeport, so Freeport is producing the big bags of cement,” she said. “So we are trying to get into the Family Islands and have everybody with these big bags of cement for the construction projects. Before we used to call the US, or call the Dominican Republic or Panama, but right now we have it [cement] at home.”

CEMEX’s factory in Freeport has helped Grand Bahama rebound from Hurricane Dorian in 2019. “We want to protect the Bahamian market and all of the Family Islands, because when they import the cement they are motivated by the level of investment in the country,” she added.

“Because of the tourism industry we are receiving the cruise ships and 100 percent [hotel] occupancy. We are very busy building commercial centres, building parking lots along with hotels and restaurants, so this year has been really, really good.”

Next year will be a “continuation” of projects already underway that have engaged CEMEX, such as the new US Embassy in downtown Nassau as well as Albany and, potentially, the GoldWynn development. There are three CEMEX plants in The Bahamas where the company produces and bags cement.

All cement bags are reusable and, when used, are given to Junkanoo groups to assist with making their costumes for the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades.

Ms Rivas added: “CEMEX, in the whole Caribbean, has the green cement. It is environmentally friendly. The process of production of cement is different. So we are one of the first countries in the Caribbean that we are fully with a green cement. So we try to take care about the environment.”