The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Writer

jsimmons@tribunmedia.net

VENDORS at the Nassau Cruise Port have been having difficulty in promoting and selling authentically Bahamian products, it was asserted during a press conference held by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday.

Yvette Prince, president of the Festival Place Association, said vendors are reporting low sales and experiencing difficulties exclusively selling authentically Bahamian products at the Nassau Cruise Port.

Ms Prince said authentic merchandise is expensive to purchase and produce and many cruise passengers are not willing to pay for authentic items. She added that because vendors are outdoors tourists are often put off by the high prices.

She said: “It’s hard because authentically Bahamian products are expensive to make and also to buy. And so to make an authentically Bahamian product and to sell it in that environment is not conducive to be able to sell that product.

“If you are in a store, like the port store, for instance, with air conditioning, everything people expect to pay more, but out in those little, I call them tool sheds, they’re not going to pay that kind of money for them. We don’t have the proper environment to be able to sell those things properly.

“And so to support other Bahamian artists, the costs of buying products is expensive, those tourists are not willing. I’m not saying they won’t buy any of it, they will buy some of the small items, they’re less expensive, but they’re not willing to pay the money that it would cost to sell the items for and so the tourists are always looking, but they go elsewhere.”

Ms Prince said tourists are often looking for inexpensive items and the Nassau Cruise Port had initially promised to make a logo to promote the goods.

She said: “Some items will be sold, small items, but tourists are basically looking for inexpensive items and handmade Bahamian items are not cheap. They encouraged us to make as many Bahamian-made products as possible and we were committed to them. And they said that they would create a logo to promote that product as an authentically Bahamian product. So that is the premise in which we agree to.”

Thelma Miller, a vendor at the cruise port, became emotional as she explained the challenges she has faced in sourcing materials to make authentic straw products, that often do not sell. She noted there have been days that she has made only $5 in sales as she can no longer sell other items to compensate for times when sales of straw goods are low.

She said: “My concern right now is we sell Bahamian products. I sell straw work, it is beautiful but its not available because of the straw. A lot of the ladies who used to 20 years ago supply me with the straw have retired or died. And so when we were in Rawson Square, we used to sell other things to offset, so we were able to make moneys from the cheap items. But now they telling us we can’t sell it anymore so I don’t know how we are going to survive, because right now I made $5… $5 can not help me.”

Ms Prince added that the long hours she invested in authentically Bahamian products, low sales and harsh working conditions have disheartened her and “taken the joy” out of her career.

She said: “They don’t want me to sell T-shirts after 20 years, but the other stores are being allowed to sell it and some of them are foreigners. You know, like for instance if you go on the port store… they said that it would be authentically Bahamian and there’s nothing authentically Bahamian in those stores, but they want us to be the slaves and be up all night making items to make crumbs while the other store owners make 1000s of dollars every day, and it’s not fair and that’s why we’re here.

“It is not fair. I mean, you go inside the port store, and they have air condition, but you have Bahamian people staying up all night making things and until morning and then you come here and make $116. You know, it’s not fair.

“It’s just hard. Everything is hard, you know, takes the joy out of going in to work. I love tourism, but it takes the joy of going to the point it feels like you’re going to a plantation and people would be offended that you’re actually saying that but, you know, that’s how I feel.”

The Nassau Cruise Port released a statement yesterday, saying they are committed to supporting local artisans and entrepreneurs and creating a ‘culturally enriched’ experience for visitors.

“The Authentically Bahamian Programme is a testament to Nassau Cruise Port’s commitment to supporting local entrepreneurs, artisans, and businesses while elevating the cruise port experience to new heights. By championing Bahamian authenticity, Nassau Cruise Port strives to create a more immersive and culturally enriched experience for cruise passengers visiting Nassau.”

The statement went on to note that the port has been in discussion with tenants for the past three years and that tenants were aware that merchandise is required to be authentically Bahamian.

“Majority of the tenants within the Port Marketplace at Nassau Cruise Port are legacy tenants from the former Festival Place. In 2003, the Ministry of Tourism sought to create an authentic market featuring Bahamian artisans. The requirement that the majority of products offered for sale needed to be authentic was fundamental to the original lease with Ministry of Tourism.

“Over the years, product lines became less and less authentic, and more mass-produced. Three years ago, Nassau Cruise Port began comprehensive engagement with each of its legacy tenants and Nassau Cruise Port executives held one-on-one meetings with each individual tenant to understand their businesses and to discover the impetus of their business becoming selected as a vendor at Festival Place, some of which have been operating in the port space since 2003.”