Carnival Cruise Port groundbreaking in East Grand Bahama signifies investor confidence says DPM

#TheBahamas, May 12, 2022 – The Groundbreaking Ceremony for Carnival Cruise Port shows investor confidence in Grand Bahama, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. I. Chester Cooper, May 12, 2022. It was a festive atmosphere, with land cleared for the occasion. It was decorated with tents and carpet, the unpaved roads smoothed, music playing, and guests laughing and enjoying themselves to the local entertainment provided.

During his brief remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Cooper described the day as great day and week for Grand Bahama and added that with the announcement of a new buyer for the Grand Lucayan on Wednesday and the groundbreaking ceremony for Carnival Cruise Port on Thursday, it is “another step towards a Grand life for Grand Bahama.”

He said, “Today’s groundbreaking represents not only a major investment in Grand Bahama and The Bahamas, but also signals to the world that Grand Bahama is poised for the future and on the way to the forefront as one of the region’s premier destinations. It will tell the global community that if there was any doubt, Grand Bahama and indeed The Bahamas is open for business.” A

lso present for the ceremony were Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Minister of Housing and Transport the Hon. JoBeth ColebyDavis, Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Ginger Moxey, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Myles LaRoda, other senior government officials, officials of Carnival and officials from the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

In the past few months, said the Deputy Prime Minister, the government and Carnival went to the table and assessed their needs and got it done.

“We see this project on the island of Grand Bahama as a priority.” With Carnival, he said, it is mutually beneficial as there will be entrepreneurial opportunities for residents and not just jobs. Carnival understands, continued the Deputy Prime Minister, that success for them means success for Grand Bahama.

“Many have said there is not much to do in Grand Bahama, but Team Tourism has showed me otherwise. Today I have a better appreciation for the tourism product than I realized, and I want you to know that the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry for Grand Bahama will be working together, and we are going to tell our own story.

“With this development and others, Grand Bahama is poised to be a success story and the people of Grand Bahama have endured very much. But what I’ve found to be the case in Grand Bahamians is a resilience that I haven’t seen many other places. “

In the past two decades, I have gained renewed admiration and respect for the people of Grand Bahama. A renewed appreciation for the potential for Grand Bahama Island. You don’t give up here. You don’t fall to despair. You take your licks; you get up and you keep on moving.”

As a result of this, he added, residents get to celebrate events such as the groundbreaking for Carnival Cruise Port. The Deputy Prime Minister arrived in Grand Bahama for the press conference on Wednesday to announce that Electra America Hospitality Group will purchase the Grand Lucayan resort for $100 million and provide some 3,000 jobs between construction and full time.

Eighty percent of the jobs, he said, will be for Bahamians.

Header: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. I. Chester Cooper (left) is seen being greeted by Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe for the groundbreaking ceremony of Carnival Cruise Port on Thursday. Also seen are Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey greeting Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line as Arnold Donald, President and CEO of Carnival Corporation and other Carnival team members look on. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

1st insert: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. I. Chester Cooper described the Groundbreaking Ceremony of Carnival Cruise Port as a grand day for Grand Bahama. He is seen addressing the ceremony as Vice-President of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Sarah St. George and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Grand Bahama, Harcourt Brown look on. Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis and other members of the Cabinet were also present.

(BIS Photo/Lisa Davis