Ian Rolle, president of Grand Bahama Port Authority; Minister for Grand Bahama Michael Darville; touring the Reef Village Hotel renovations with Project Manager Turnquest. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)

FREEPORT, Sept 23, 2013 (Tribune) — Renovation projects at the Reef Village and Grand Bahama airport’s domestic terminal are on schedule, underpinning the creation of hundreds more jobs.

The Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr Michael Darville, along with a Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) team, got a first-hand glimpse of construction projects underway at both venues during recent site inspections.

Demolition work at the Reef Village is nearing completion, with finishing work set to begin on 500 rooms that will comprise the five-star resort set to be leased by Sunwing under the Memories brand.

Pictured: Minister for Grand Bahama Michael Darville; Ian Rolle, president of Grand Bahama Port Authority; Project Manager Turnquest; Derek Newbold, business manager; and Ginger Moxey, GBPA vice president. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)

Mr Darville said some 150 to 170 construction workers were employed on the project, with that volume expected to increase to morethan 350 within a few weeks.

“I’m very pleased with how the work is progressing and I anticipate that the projected completion date will be met,” the minister said. “The management team for Sunwing is on the island and they are quite satisfied with the progression of the work.”

The GBPA’s president, Ian Rolle, added: “We think that this is one of the most significant projects happening in Freeport for a few years to come.

“This is only one of many projects that will materialise over the next 12 months. It’s very important for us to focus on creating jobs at the moment, causing activities to happen in our economy and this is a very, very significant moment for Freeport.”

As Sunwing gears up to begin operating direct flights from Canada in January, and the all-inclusive Reef prepares to open its doors, more than 1,000 permanent jobs will be created.

Pictured: Minister for Grand Bahama, Michael Darville checks at the airport, with his team from the Grand Bahama Port Authority. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)

To facilitate increased air arrivals, construction work at Grand Bahama International Airport’s domestic terminal has already begun. This will provide adequate facilities for thousands of visitors in transit to and from Grand Bahama.

This is an excerpt from Tribune242 as it appeared on September 26, 2013. For updates or to read the current version of this post in its entirety, please click here.

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