Press Releases

Embassy Organizes Briefings on Downtown Redevelopment for Bahamas Government and Private Sector Stakeholders 

March 18, 2008

In meetings on March 13 and 14, Bahamian private sector stakeholders, executives of the Nassau Tourism & Development Board (NTDB) and Bahamian government officials met with leading South Florida civic leaders to exchange perspectives for the redevelopment of Downtown Nassau.  The South Floridians' visit, hosted by United States Ambassador Ned L. Siegel, promoted a vigorous and open discussion on the proposed redevelopment of downtown Nassau.

Jeff Perlman, former Mayor of Delray Beach, Florida and Thomas E. Lynch, President of the Plastridge Insurance Agency, Inc, and a former Mayor of Delray Beach, provided firsthand examples and success stories of cultural, community and historic preservation initiatives implemented in Delray Beach to revitalize the downtown area into what is today -- a bustling picturesque city thriving on a robust tourist economy.

On Friday, March 14 Kelly L. Smallridge, President of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County joined the Florida representatives and Ambassador Siegel in a follow-on breakfast meeting held at the Hilton Hotel with Frank Comito, Director, Nassau Tourism & Development Board, Charles Klonaris, Chairman, Nassau Tourism & Development Board, John Bethel, Bethel Estates, Richard Coulson of RC Capital Markets Consultants, and Peter Webster, General Manager, British Colonial Hilton.  To gain a better appreciation of Bay Street and the Woodes Rodgers Walk area, the group took a downtown walking tour led by Charles Klonaris and Frank Comito.  

The Florida representatives and Ambassador Siegel also met with Earl Deveaux, Minister of Works, William Allen, Senior Finance Advisor at the Ministry of Finance, and Minister of State for Tourism and Aviation, Brenville McCartney and other tourism officials.  The South Florida leaders remarked on the vast potential of the Bay Street waterfront area, discussed how Delray Beach property values have soared, and noted how crime has dropped and vitality returned to the heart of Delray.

 

Caption:

Photo shows the group meeting at the Ministry of Tourism:  Seated from left:  The Hon. Branville McCartney, Minister of State, Ministry of Tourism and Aviation; U.S. Ambassador Ned L. Siegel; Kelly L. Smallridge, President, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.  Standing from left:  Dan O’Connor, Chief/Political, Economic & Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy; Lorraine Armbrister, Under Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Aviation; Jeff Perlman, Mayor, Delray Beach, Florida; Wendy Grant, Personal Consultant to Ambassador Siegel; Thomas L. Lynch, President of the Plastridge Insurance Agency; Janet Johnson, Director for Strategy and Special Events, Ministry of Tourism; Ruth Forbes, Development Administrator, Antiquities & Monuments Corporation, and Anne Marie Bain, Commercial Assistant, U.S. Embassy.