The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

A Grand Bahama business owner said Carnival Cruise Line’s Grand Bahama project is not providing adequate opportunities for local businesses.

During the question-and-answer segment of Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey’s keynote address at the Grand Bahama Business Outlook yesterday, a local jeweller said she and others operating in the Port Lucaya Marketplace were denied the opportunity to obtain a spot in Carnival’s new cruise port as the mega cruise line preferred to work with vendors “outside of Grand Bahama”.

She said many local vendors have not been given an opportunity to participate in the project and questioned why it was being flaunted as one that would boost local businesses.

Mrs Moxey said government officials have encouraged cruise lines to provide opportunities for local businesses but it is ultimately Carnival’s decision on which businesses they choose to partner with.

“I’ve been an advocate for Grand Bahama businesses, and so we’ve had many discussions with cruise lines on the same topic. But again, it is Carnival Cruise line’s prerogative to decide who they decide to have in the cruise port,” said Mrs Moxey.

“I continue to encourage them to ensure that Grand Bahamian businesses are represented. We have all, I would say, from the Prime Minister to the deputy prime minister, and all of us have been speaking to Carnival Cruise Lines and encourage for there to be much more Grand Bahama businesses that are involved. So again, it is based on their organisation and who they decide to have in the organisation. We are not involved at all in the selection process.”

The participant highlighted that from a business owner’s perspective the project has not made a meaningful contribution to Grand Bahama.

When questioned on what government is doing to ensure more local participation by foreign investors as Grand Bahama residents are not feeling the effect of the over $2bn investments in the island, Mrs Moxey said Grand Bahamians will always have top priority on the island and the Ministry for Grand Bahama has been communicating with Carnival to ensure businesses are kept up to date on any new opportunities.

“We’ve been meeting frequently on everything from contractors, contraction companies and the RFPs that go out to ensure that it’s communicated widely aware so that [businesses] are aware of these opportunities that that exist,” said Mrs Moxey.

“And yes, Grand Bahama is, and should always be, the priorities on Grand Bahama Island .And so I would say that we continue to advocate for and we’ll continue to address that, because, again, as business happens, as with all the millions that’s in the economy right now our people should be able to benefit from them, and so again, we will continue to advocate for and we strongly advocate.”