How many tourists come here just to go to the straw market? They would be dissapointed if they did...knockoffs, cheap Chinese tourist souvenirs, non Bahamians serving them, dirt, rats, rows, filthy language. Sounds like a wonderful experience to me.

Green space would be a welcome change. Trees & picnic benches to eat under. Flowers to brighten up the dinge, a pavilion for Bahamian entertainers to perform.

Leave them where they are. Get rid of the tent. Build a decent structure. Monitor who sells and what they sell. Collect rent and national insurance. regularize the market. Sell authentically Bahamian Crafts & Art. Enhance the experience for tourists and Bahamians alike.

Do we really need more of the same?

How many tourists come here just to go to the straw market? They would be dissapointed if they did...knockoffs, cheap Chinese tourist souvenirs, non Bahamians serving them, dirt, rats, rows, filthy language. Sounds like a wonderful experience to me.
Green space would be a welcome change. Trees & picnic benches to eat under. Flowers to brighten up the dinge, a pavilion for Bahamian entertainers to perform.
Leave them where they are. Get rid of the tent. Build a decent structure. Monitor who sells and what they sell. Collect rent and national insurance. regularize the market. Sell authentically Bahamian Crafts & Art. Enhance the experience for tourists and Bahamians alike.
Do we really need more of the same?


Oh but there are those who expect us to traditionally provide flea market space for them to sell their goods for pennies a day rent. Anything but would be a big let down by the gubment to them.

The gubment dem is the friggin problem. They need to stop pandering to the ignorant and start thinking about our future. Provide adequate facilities and make the vendors come up to standard. Impose and enforce rules and regulations, start thinking beyond the next election and consider the future of this Nation.

What ga happen to the vendors if someone else buy the property? What ga happen if tourists stop coming? What ga happen if we don't realize we competing globally?

I live in Nassau and I don't want to go down town...judge those who spendin money ta come here.

I was so shame in DC on vacation and a friend of a friend & her boyfriend said they were here on a cruise in 1995 and had the most horrible experience on Bay St. that they just went back on the ship. I felt obligated to encourage them to come back so we could prove them wrong...but what I ga do??? Take them to a Family Island and show her the real Bahamas?

What happenin to Nassau?

The gubment dem is the friggin problem. They need to stop pandering to the ignorant and start thinking about our future. Provide adequate facilities and make the vendors come up to standard. Impose and enforce rules and regulations, start thinking beyond the next election and consider the future of this Nation.What ga happen to the vendors if someone else buy the property? What ga happen if tourists stop coming? What ga happen if we don't realize we competing globally?
I live in Nassau and I don't want to go down town...judge those who spendin money ta come here.
I was so shame in DC on vacation and a friend of a friend & her boyfriend said they were here on a cruise in 1995 and had the most horrible experience on Bay St. that they just went back on the ship. I felt obligated to encourage them to come back so we could prove them wrong...but what I ga do??? Take them to a Family Island and show her the real Bahamas?
What happenin to Nassau?
that sad thing is...both governments prove that they just don't care...to hell with down town...cause if it did matter, change would have been immediate...
yet we continue to wait.

How many tourists come here just to go to the straw market? They would be dissapointed if they did...knockoffs, cheap Chinese tourist souvenirs, non Bahamians serving them, dirt, rats, rows, filthy language. Sounds like a wonderful experience to me.
Green space would be a welcome change. Trees & picnic benches to eat under. Flowers to brighten up the dinge, a pavilion for Bahamian entertainers to perform.
Leave them where they are. Get rid of the tent. Build a decent structure. Monitor who sells and what they sell. Collect rent and national insurance. regularize the market. Sell authentically Bahamian Crafts & Art. Enhance the experience for tourists and Bahamians alike.
Do we really need more of the same?
The question here is...is the straw market important to Down town...are they one in the same...If it is important fix it...impliment rules...more and more, I am realizing that the straw market just aint important to us.

as far as i no, da straw market was like an historic landmark to some ppl and plenty tourist, i see no reason to take dat away from ppl, if it didnt hav so much useful purpose, why do so much tourist come here just to go to da straw market?

People actually come here to go into that rat-infested flea market? wow

People actually come here to go into that rat-infested flea market? wow
yep...
and buy the fake gucci bags too...

A greenspace in the heart of downtown will showcase a level of respect and appreciation for our natural environment...why everything gotta be gobbled up with a concrete eyesore to be considered valuable or essential (or god forbid not "stupid" ...think of what central park represents to new yorkers...and that is prime land!many others have given the arawak cay example as how vendors caucused and fruitioned their ideas... People always talk about anchor development and urban renewal and clearing and rejuvenating and urbanizing blighted areas well I say why not make some other back street of downtown area the new home of the straw market to spur growth and economic development in that area and make it pedestrian friendly too...nassau is more than bay street and with this move more of us will have the hindsight to see,later, this was the best step in the right direction...

lmao at bring alien back...
Mr newry you spoke candidly at the number of bahamiansand their focus groups who worked tirelessly on studies as to a blueprint for the strawmarket location (w a bit of dismay as you felt their work to be in vain given the announcement of the greensace)...can't those same ideas be used at the new site/venue for the straw market? If so, why can't they?
Change is essential folks...get down or lay down.