Bahamian Works Minister Calls for Adequate Infrastructure for Tourism Growth
Bahamian Works Minister Calls for Adequate Infrastructure for Tourism Growth
In his contribution to the 2011/2012 Budget Debate in the House of Assembly on June 7 the Hon. Neko C Grant, Minister of Public Works and Transport said ensuring that adequate infrastructure exists throughout The Bahamas to support the future growth of the tourism industry is vital.
Mr. Grant told Parliamentarians that over the past three years the Ministry of Public Works has played a pivotal role in “extensive” public infrastructure enhancements. “These projects were designed to provide employment while upgrading infrastructure in anticipation of the strengthening of the economy, and to improve the quality of life for Bahamians, Mr. Grant said.”
He described the Government’s initiative to upgrade public infrastructure as the most “ambitious” and “comprehensive” [one] that has been undertaken in the history of The Bahamas.
Many other countries have responded to the global economic downturn in a similar fashion, Mr. Grant said. He noted the initiatives in Jamaica, a country, “making significant strides in the tourism industry and significant financial investment in its infrastructure.”
“Like The Bahamas, they have launched an airport gateway project (theirs at a projected cost of $65 million) a road improvement project (theirs at a cost of $400 million) and a harbor dredging project (theirs at a cost of $140 million,” he said.
He said the dredging of the harbor has allowed The Bahamas to keep abreast of changes in the cruise industry with the introduction of mega cruise ships.
“There are many benefits to be derived from making our harbor accessible by these vessels as we seek to maintain market share and sustain increases (in the long term) in market share.”
Mr. Grant said from December 2009 (completion of harbor dredging) to February 2011 a total of 407,034 passengers have arrived by Genesis and Freedom class vessels of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, F2 Epic of Norwegian Cruise Lines, and the Disney Dream. He said the head tax total relative to these arrivals is $6.26 million and the passenger spend total is $33.6 million.
In the 2011/2012-budget year, the amount of $158,404,484 is provided for capital development expenditure under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Recurrent expenditure allocation totals $29,111,348 and $19,201,189 under the Department of Public Works.
