By Fred Sturrup , Freeport News
Ambassador Nicole Avant in a recent exclusive interview said "it is important for Grand Bahama to be successful." The interview took place in Nassau shortly after a visit to Grand Bahama by an Embassy team asigned by the ambassador to interact with business leaders and other affluent and knowledgeable residents.
"Grand Bahama is the country's second largest city. It's an industrial centre. I've been there just one time but I do need to spend more time there. It's the first of the other islands in The Bahamas that I travelled to since my ap-pointment and I just had the best time in Grand Bahama," said Ambassador Avant.
She sees the proximity to the United States, some 60 miles from the Florida coast as a key aspect and spoke enthusiastically about the prospect for investment and general success. The ambassador also noted the option for expanding further south for inroads into the U.S. market.
"I believe the southern states are a good market for Grand Bahama, places like North Carolina and South Carolina," said Ambassador Avant.
There definitely is a U.S. focus on Grand Bahama.
The ambassador said her team (Economic Officer Brooke Moppert and Public Diplomacy Chief Jefferson Dubel) came to Grand Baha-ma "to talk, to hunt, to make discoveries" and the process will continue because of the interest in getting to know the GB scenario. According to Ambassador Avant, the trip was very fruitful. She is of the view that with the team 'being on the ground' interacting with residents, such efforts are productive and enable the agents to advance appropriate ideas as a result.
There is conviction within the embassy that Grand Bahama is blessed with a lot of potential, socially and economically. The ambassador says the Embassy is prepared to support the island.
That pledge of course extends to the entire country. Ambassador Avant said as much when she spoke at Government House following the presentations of her credentials in October of 2009.
"During my tenure as ambassador, I will work closely with the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. In these challenging economic times, I believe that one of the most effective ways to ensure security and stability for our people is to partner on programs that promote economic prosperity, development and opportunity.
"Our economic partnerships are of course, rooted in the extensive tourism and business travel that occurs each year between The Bahamas and the United States." said the ambassador.
(Ambassador Avant was appointed to the the post in The Bahamas on June 16 of 2009 and confirmed on September 9 of that year. Her background includes being a political activitist, an actress and a music executive. She is an ardent Democrat and was one of the contributors in the network that carried Barack Obama to the White House. Other leading politicians she has worked with include former Vice President Al Gore, Senator John Kerry and fomer congressman Harold Ford Jr. The series continues on Monday.
