As Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. (NCPL) advances the transformation of one of the busiest, most dynamic seaports in the region, the Port of Nassau, one of the steps prefacing the redevelopment’s opening is the establishment of an “Authentically Bahamian Advisory Committee”. As the redevelopment aims to infuse authentically Bahamian elements and experiences into the port offering, including an Authentically Bahamian Marketplace, NCPL and BAIC have invited key public and private stakeholders, representing a variety of relevant organizations, to sit on the advisory committee.
Well known culturalist, Pam Burnside, who is an active member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and President of Creative Nassau, will chair the committee along with other members, namely: Ed Fields and Amanda Freedman, Nassau Cruise Port Ltd.; Debbie Strachan, BAIC; Suzanne Pattusch, BHTA/Tru Tru Bahamian; Samantha Rolle, SBDC Access Accelerator; Kirk Deleveaux and Eldena Cartwright, Festival Place Association; Janet Johnson, TDC; and Bernadette Bastian, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. The Committee’s overarching mandate is to develop, implement and maintain organizational infrastructure including operational guidelines, protocols, quality and authenticity standards to ensure the Authentically Bahamian marketplace showcases the best representation of “home-grown” Authentically Bahamian offerings and depictions.
One of the first tasks that the Committee has embarked upon is an Authentically Bahamian Trade Fair, a collaborative effort with the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), which will showcase a variety of high-quality Bahamian-made products designed and produced by Bahamian artisans.
The Trade Fair will be held in The Grand Ballroom; located in the Convention Center at Atlantis, Paradise Island on Saturday, December 11th and Sunday, December 12th 2021, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fair will connect the entrepreneurs who will populate Nassau Cruise Port's Authentically Bahamian Marketplace with suppliers and producers of Bahamian products: e.g. artwork, crafts, straw goods, jewelry, wood work, sundry items, clothing, shell work, to name a few. The event will also facilitate networking and engagement opportunities between artisans, market entrepreneurs, and wholesale producers from the hotel and cruise industry with owners and operators of tour companies, attractions, restaurants and the like. Family Island participants are especially encouraged to take part in the Authentically Bahamian Trade Fair to showcase their unique, Bahamian-made products. The Trade Fair will be open to the public so that Bahamians, visitors, and residents can stop, see and shop for themselves amongst the vast, diverse array of high-quality authentically Bahamian products handmade in The Bahamas by talented and creative entrepreneurs.
