12/03/2024
Good day all. I wanted to share my thoughts on how SLICK the Nassau cruise port is being.
Here are 2 pictures of the “main entrance/exit” to the cruise port. The first one was in August last year and the second is the first week of March 2024. Notice how in the first picture the fence is further back behind the directory and pretty easy to see by those exiting off the dock. It actually had three gates in which they eventually opened two most days. Now in the second picture you can see that they moved it closer to the sidewalk and only have the one small gate for people to exit. Also notice how they tried to hide it from those exiting the terminal…it is exactly behind the directory sign!
Now as a disclaimer… I am and have been a small business owner downtown for over 20 years, and am a Bahamian. I know that most think that all of the businesses downtown are owned by foreigners, but that is not the case. Even though it was known in advance that the port was coming, and there as soon as should have made plans accordingly, it is amazing that the Nassau Cruise port is allowed to funnel tourists completely in one direction through their shopping area. They had said that they would open the entrance/exit on the east side, and then lo and behold try to hide it as if no one would notice.
You would imagine that our government would be fair even though they own a portion of the port, they collect taxes and vat from a lot more businesses outside of the port.
Also, the port can try and say that they extended the gate to minimize soliciting outside of the gate, but an intelligent mind would realize that that is not the real purpose. Besides, what goes on outside of the port should not be their concern.
