The island of Abaco is said to be experiencing unprecedented growth and is now the third most active economy in The Bahamas with significant contributions from agriculture, fisheries, tourism and construction.
According to Joan Albury, President of The Counsellors Ltd., these positive economic trends are the driving forces behind their plans, in conjunction with the Abaco Chamber of Commerce and its sponsors, to hold the first ever Abaco Business Outlook. The one-day event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17th, 2003 at the Abaco Beach Resort.
An October of 2002 study revealed increases in revenue intake from tourism, particularly cruise tourism; average nightly room rates among all-inclusive properties. Real estate is also contributing significantly to the growth in the construction sector, and in agriculture, Abaco has the largest concentration of export generating activity for The Bahamas, to the amount of some $15 million in citrus alone.
The first Abaco Business Outlook features John Rolle, Central Bank’s Senior Economist, who will present the opening address on the topic, “Perspectives on the Abaco Economy”, based on an original study.
A centrepiece of every successful Bahamas and Grand Bahama Business Outlook continues to be a vision statement for that island. President of the Abaco Chamber of Commerce, Michael Albury will discuss, “My Vision for the Abacos.”
Senator the Hon Dr. Marcus Bethel, Minister of Health and Environmental Services; Hon Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation; Ms Agatha Marcelle, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism; Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Director General of Tourism; Craig Symonette, Chairman, Bahamas Fast Ferries; Dr. Pandora Johnson, Vice President of Planning & Development at the College of The Bahamas; Michael Albury, President of the Abaco Chamber of Commerce; Jackson Burnside, Architect; and Betty Roberts, Managing Director, SG Hambros Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd, are also among the slate of speakers.
Abaconians Roswell Sawyer, John Hedden and William Swain are well positioned to individually speak to Abaco’s three fastest growing economic pillars, i.e. Fisheries, Agriculture and Construction. Mr. Sawyer, president of Bahamas Seas Ltd will speak to fisheries; Mr. Hedden, President, Asterix will speak to Agriculture, and Mr. Swain, President of Bill Swain & Sons Construction Co. Ltd will speak to construction.
The Counsellors Ltd., has held 12 consecutive and successful one-day Business Outlook conferences in Nassau, five in Grand Bahama and will soon hold the first such business forum in Abaco. Persons can register by calling Andrea Myers at 322-1000; Anita Knowles at 367-5822, or they can register online (see web site below).