Freeport, Grand Bahama- Construction of the Grand Bahama Arts and Crafts Centre is progressing, officials say, and an August date is estimated for the official opening.
Yesterday morning, Baha-mas Agricultural and Indust-rial Corporation (BAIC) executive chairman and Member of Parliament for South Abaco Edison Key toured the site off East Sunrise Highway, near the Jasmine Corporate Centre.
Key noted that the project was slightly delayed, but said he was confident that it would be completed within the next few months.
"It's coming along very nicely. It's a little bit behind schedule but there were some legal things in the contract that had to be sorted out and once that was completed, then we went full scale on the project," he said.
The 5,000 square foot centre is being built to accommodate the offices of BAIC as well as a training centre for craft classes and a display area for finished goods. The concept was to create a tourist attraction where visitors can see how the souvenirs and other craft items they purchase are actually created.
The Centre will provide a tremendous boost to Grand Bahama, Key said.
"The BAIC offices which are downtown will be moved here and then there will be training facilities here ... so this will be a good addition to Freeport in general. I'm sure once we get into the training aspect of the program with the handicraft, a lot of the training that's done will be right here for Grand Bahama."
Since his appointment as BAIC chair, Key said more than 1,000 Bahamians have graduated from the various training programs and the Corporation hopes to see that number multiplied significantly in the future.
"We import almost $300 million in souvenir items annually but there's no reason why we can't produce a good percentage of that and keep the money in the country and create employment."
Contractor Chris Harris, president of Pyramid Cons-truction explained that work is currently being done on the roof and the exterior, and said he looks forward to seeing the finished product.
"The marketplace is design-ed with an all wood, pine ceiling, very high walls and big arched doors. It's a very modern, attractive building. The office building as well has a very high ceiling in the centre and it has a very nice, unique architectural design to it. I think it's going to be a beautiful building."
The GBPA has partnered with BAIC for the Centre. The government has contributed a total of $300,000 to the project, while the GBPA will provide the remaining $350,000 to fund it.
The ground-breaking for the Centre took place on the two-acre site last August.
