The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday said Grand Bahama Shipyard’s $600m dry dock ground-breaking should boost investor confidence in the island.

James Carey, though, told Tribune Business he is still awaiting to learn how many construction and full-time jobs the project will produce. “It would be nice to know if it’s going to accrue 500 jobs or 5,000 jobs and tell us what the situation is going to be,” he added.

Prime Minister Philip Davis KC said during the ground-breaking that the project will “catalyse quality career paths for Grand Bahamians”, but did not articulate the type of jobs or how many will be created. Grand Bahama Shipyard executives said final numbers were still being determined.

“They have said how much that is going to be spent and some of the other things, but they have not given definitive information about the employment. Employment has to come with it,” Mr Carey said.

“But it’s very encouraging that all of that negative talk is gone, and hopefully for good, and we can see the Government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) trying to work together. Negative talk does not engender anything good. I am very happy about it, it feels good. Grand Bahama is starting to feel better, and hopefully that will accrue the good stuff and good money on the ground in due time.

“I think it will boost investor confidence in Grand Bahama. It’s not so much about the GBPA, but about boosting investor confidence in Grand Bahama and because people tend to hold back if it’s negative. So we’re anticipating, because there’s a number of projects out there, hopefully it will spark them to get going.”