Your New Beginning

By -





What was it about the "good ole days" of Grand Bahama that people want to return to?

 When we hear about them we here about all the restaurants, the nightclubs, events.

 Someone pointed out recently a book entitled "Inside Grand Bahama" by Dan Buettner in which tell about what to do in Grand Bahama and where to go. It was written in 1990.

 In the section under activities, a friend noted that while in 1990 there were 16 night activities/clubs open, today there are only two. 

 Wanna count: 

 In the 1990s, we had Panache in Holiday Inn; Sultan's Tent in Princess Hotel; Palace II on East Sunrise Highway; Electric City on East Atlantic Drive; Freeport Inn (Old Folks Home/Safari); Capt Kenny's on The Mall Drive (old Sir Winston Churchill Pub); Pub on the Mall, The Brass Helmet at Unexso; Britannia Pub; Pusser's in Port Lucaya; as well as Casinos at the Lucayan Beach Hotel and at the Princess; one Cinema theatre, one Theater for plays and the Bowling Alley on Queen's High.

 Of them, we have kept the Regency Theatre only and another Cinema has been brought on the scene. 

 Also in the 1990s, there were 71 Restaurants open, but today we have about 12 in Freeport. 

 Then there were 12 hotels and now we have three, according to my friend, but I must say that some of the places that were once used as accommodations for tourists have changed .. .like Lakeview Manor, Channel House, Sun Club.

 Others are no longer in existence, like Bahama Princess Resort and Country Club, Freeport Inn, Atlantik Beach Resort (which was imploded and made part of the Grand Lucayan) Holiday Inn (also part of the Grand Lucayan; Lucayan Beach Hotel (the third which is part of the Grand Lucayan); Silver Sands Resort, Caravel Beach Resort and Xanadu Beach and Marina Resort. 

 What was critical for most of these places and activities? People!

 Without the people to patronize the businesses, they had to close, as well as poor management for some of them.

 The "good ole days" won't come back but new things are on the horizon.

 Flipping Grand Bahama is looking at ways in which we can revive the economy and we are looking to our readers to help. So stayed tuned for what's to come.

 It's not all doom and gloom.. some light can be seen at the end of the tunnel.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Freeport in the 70's and 80's.

By -
Image
In a recent discussion with an acquaintance who is a long time resident of Grand Bahama, he said he hopes Freeport turns around to which I quickly reminded him of the days when we thought Freeport was going down. After the rush of the 50's and the 60s that ushered in a lot of constructions and the building of Freeport which pushed the natives to the outer areas, there came the 70s and the smaller investors leaving quickly. However, in the late 70s and early 80s there was still a lot of activity here. There were over ten big hotels on the island and two casinos. Also there was Sir Laker who came in to add Laker Airways to the airlift to this island. The industrial side was holding its own but things were beginning to taper off. Around this time there were calls of a diversification of industries in the country and to stop relying only on Tourism. Some complaints were flying that there were too many foreign croupiers and well qualified Bahamians who could do that same job Th
Read more

"Bend or Break speech"

By -
Image
"Bend or Break speech" On July 26, 1969, Sir Lynden O. Pinding, then Premier of The Bahamas, delivered this speech during an inspection tour at the official opening ceremony for the new Bahamas Oil Refinery Company (BORCO). This speech in history has been called the "Bend or Break Speech" and has long be said by officials in Grand Bahama to be the reason the lights went out at the "Magical Fair" that was the spark called Freeport. Here is the entire speech: “I am certainly delighted to be here this morning because what I see beginning on this site is not only the erection of an oil refinery but also the real true birth of a petro-chemical industry in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Islands. I am delighted to be here because, if the industry develops as the proprietors hope it will be and I hope it will, not only will The Bahamas be able to meet from within its shores its own presently small needs of kerosene, gasoline, diesel and oth
Read more

A pictorial look at Freeport 1950-1960s

By -
Image
Before hitting the great days of the 70s and 80s I found these photos of Freeport on Oldbahamas.com and thought to share them. Remember that unlike Nassau, New Providence, Freeport, Grand Bahama did not have the history. What history we have now is the growing up of Freeport and the entire island due to the formation of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement,  the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Grand Bahama Development Company. A boom of energy and a vision that was all set, but later side tracked by the thought of sharing the profits was what we were left with and little though of how to recover and move on with proper legislation to assist all. Next week we look at the promises fulfilled by the G.B. Port Authority. Thanks again to Oldbahama.com. If you want copies of these photos just contact them for reprints.
Read more