We decided to share this article with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. Eyewitness News published this article by Natario McKenzie on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
NASSAU, BAHAMAS- The Government has placed Grand Bahama at the centre of its economic transformation strategy, unveiling an expanded vision to turn Freeport into a regional hub for trade, logistics, tourism, and industrial investment.
In the Speech from the Throne, the Davis administration has outlined a redevelopment agenda that positions the island as a strategic gateway for the wider Caribbean economy.
“Grand Bahama will become the gateway to the Caribbean for trade, tourism, and investment,” the Speech declared, signalling a renewed focus on long-term revitalisation of the island’s economic base.
At the heart of this transformation is a series of major development projects, including the Afro-Caribbean Marketplace and Logistics Centre, the MSC Cruise Port, and the Xanadu Beach Project. Together, these initiatives are intended to reposition Freeport as a multi-sector economic zone combining tourism, shipping, retail, and logistics.
The strategy also includes a reorganisation of governance and investment structures linked to the Grand Bahama Port Authority, a move widely seen as critical to unlocking stalled development potential.
“My Government will continue to promote fundamental transformation in Grand Bahama through enhanced investments and economic development, reorganisation of arrangements with the Grand Bahama Port Authority, and strengthening of opportunities with key stakeholders,” the Speech noted.
The Government said it will also continue to prioritise the development of the Family Islands through a more structured and coordinated national approach. It plans to consult island communities to develop individual Family Island Development Plans, which will guide targeted investments and infrastructure upgrades across the archipelago. Ongoing initiatives such as the Family Island Airport Renaissance and Infrastructure Clinics will continue, while the Government also intends to introduce a Family Island Development Act to address critical needs and support more balanced regional growth.