The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Downtown Nassau businesses have not complained about Junkanoo bleachers impeding Christmas trade yet even though there is still “some room for improvement” over their set-up.

Senator Randy Rolle, the Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation’s global relations consultant, told Tribune Business that Bay Street merchants have a vibrant What’s App group and “no one” has voice concern about the bleachers yet.

“We spoke about it in the initial stages, but the putting up of the additional bleachers later than they usually do, that was to give the merchants as much time as possible to take advantage of the Christmas rush,” he added. “We’ve gotten better, and there is some room for improvement, but it is something that we are aware of that has affected merchants for a very long time now.”

George Mousis, Athena Café’s general manager, said the bleachers add to the “overall chaos” downtown already. “We already have a shortage of parking, we’re already having issues with the vendors delivering inventory because of no parking. So we can’t get our inventory and the bleachers add to it,” he added.

The level of potential obstruction varies by business, with much depending on where they are located. Retailers on side streets off Bay Street have been having “no issues”, one general manager, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

Another from Cariloha, speaking under condition of anonymity, added: “We mainly get tourists coming in from the cruise ships, so they aren’t blocking traffic for us because the people don’t come from the direction where the bleachers are. They don’t have to walk into the front of our store. They can walk directly from the cruise ship to our store because they are coming from right across from the cruise port.”

Mr Rolle added: “My understanding is that every year, bleachers go up only as far as Frederick Street on both sides of the street. They said they are erecting the bleachers in a phased approach. The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is also working with the Central Police Station, and so there is an effort by all of the stakeholders in the downtown area to ensure that process gives minimal impact to the parties involved.”

Meanwhile, the demolition of derelict buildings downtown is continuing with the pace set to accelerate in the 2024 first quarter as three buildings on East Bay Street are targeted for demolition. The Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation has received the go-ahead to raze them.

Mr Rolle said: “We have another building that we are waiting for the all clear on. This is the building that is opposite the Bethel’s Estates building, and there’s also three other buildings that we’ve identified and, hopefully by the first quarter, we will be able to continue along with some initiatives.

“We plan to make green spaces out of all of the open spaces we have created downtown. This will give the businesses some time to make up their mind to do something with their property in the meantime.”