City’s ‘turned the tide’ without Central Bank

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE DOWNTOWN Nassau Partnership’s (DNP) co-chair says the city has “turned the tide” on its revival despite the Central Bank’s decision to terminate development of its new headquarters at Royal Victoria Gardens.

Charles Klonaris told Tribune Business that while the multi-million dollar project would have provided a confidence boost for downtown Nassau’s prospects, and enhanced the area’s overall appearance, there was sufficient “momentum” behind Bay Street and the city to prevent any

“disruption” to their continued progress.

With the Nassau Cruise Port’s $322.5m overhaul already attracting a record 28,000-plus passengers in a single day, he added that this presents “for the first time in a very long time” significant economic opportunity for Bay Street merchants, restaurants, tour and excursion operators, straw vendors, taxi drivers and all other sectors reliant on the cruise industry.

And, while acknowledging that downtown Nassau had generally been locked in a 20-year “downward spiral” prior to COVID-19, Mr Klonaris told this newspaper that fresh investment

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