Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera

... the most sheltered harbour in the Bahamas.

Aerial overview of Hatchet Bay              Animated view of entrance

Entrance to protected harbour           Aerial overview of Hatchet Bay

The Bahamas is a well-developed country. In 2002, the country had the highest standard of living, per capita, in the entire Caribbean .   The prosperity of any country - especially a developed country - is derived from a thriving, entrepreneurial, innovative and productive private sector that is intent on, and capable of, generating wealth. This, in turn, requires an environment that encourages individuals and businesses to make decisions that optimize value from investments in people, capital, and ideas.

 

A cornerstone of successful economies is maintenance of an open economy, so assisting the movement of ideas, people and capital, as well as goods and services. Openness fosters competition, innovation and knowledge transfer, encouraging firms to specialize in areas in which they have competitive advantage.   Government policy in The Bahamas has, and will continue to promote an open economy consistent with enhancing the micro-economic foundations of the economy.

 

Solid micro-economic foundations are necessary to ensure strongly rising national prosperity. The Bahamas has solid micro-economic foundations and it is a prime role of the Ministry to ensure that these foundations evolve, as required, to facilitate economic development. However, rapid economic development requires more than just solid foundations. The fact that The Bahamas has had solid foundations but has grown more slowly than other developed countries testifies to this.

 

Successful countries are characterized also by a high degree of social cohesion. Social cohesion is an important aspect of sustainability, which also incorporates environmental and other aspects. The requirement for policies to result in sustainable outcomes is an important part of the context in which policy-making must, and does, occur.   By enhancing national prosperity, sound economic policies can contribute both to a higher rate of economic development and to sustainable social and environmental outcomes. The most successful countries in the world have achieved these outcomes.

 

The Eleuthera Economic Development Board

Established in October 2001, the Eleuthera Economic Development Board incorporates members of the Harbour Island and Eleuthera shipping, farming, construction, information technology, new media, cultural, local government, tourism and business development community.   Our outputs are hence very diverse and contribute to economic development across a broad spectrum. Many of them may be considered as providing the foundations for sustainable economic development on which higher growth rates may be built.

 

Others contribute more specifically to the Government's active promotion of growth and innovation.   In order to encourage the further development of a skilled computer-literate workforce on Eleuthera that would attract quality business investments, several community technology centers have been built on Eleuthera in the towns of Bluff, Hatchet Bay, Gregory Town, James Cistern, Lower Bogue and Palmetto Point to date.

Hatchet Bay Marina Development

Diversified development of Hatchet Bay will improve the fabric of the North Eleuthera community by providing jobs and training across the board.

• Local government will benefit from the introduction of monies gleaned from related duty taxes specific to the costs of managing the complex, and the area National Insurance Board will benefit thanks to the influx of employee/employer revenues.
• Airlines flying into the three international airports on Eleuthera -- North Eleuthera/Governor's Harbour/Rock Sound   -- will benefit from the added demand for their services.
• Related tourism personnel taxi drivers, boat drivers, golf cart rental coordinators, bike rental shops, area restaurants, nightclubs, tour operators will benefit from the added traffic to their shores.
• Local entrepreneurs will be encouraged to showcase their businesses in support of the sailing community expected to enthusiastically return to Hatchet Bay 's protected port.
• Local artists writers, musicians, storytellers, painters -- will be invited to participate in regular cultural outreach programs promoted and produced by the developed area.

"Man On Boat" - Eddie Minnis, local artist

For more information:

info@networkbahamas.com