ILO REPORT ON CHILD LABOUR IN BARBADOS - International ...

4. Research Findings
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4.1 Characteristics of Locations Studied
Nassau and Paradise Island
Nassau is the commercial, business and financial capital of the Bahamas. It has a population
of 210,832 (2001). The population density is 2,635 per square mile making Nassau, the most
populated area of the Bahamas. Most government departments and commercial businesses,
have their main offices in Nassau with links to other islands. The city is well served by
physical amenities, telecommunications, air and sea transport. A state-of-the-art bridge
facilitates vehicular and pedestrian access between Nassau and Paradise Island and the two
islands are closely linked because of tourism. Paradise Island has several hotels and
attractions, but the Atlantis Hotel dominates in physical size and its economic impact. It was
described as a ‘Centre of Commerce’ rather than a hotel, because of the various commercial
entities that operate within its precinct and the business linkages to the rest of the economy.
The economy of Nassau centres not only on hotels, but a thriving cruise ship industry
supported by piers, harbours and shopping facilities. The city of Nassau is divided into two
main areas. On one side there is the main commercial and tourist section of the city with
several five star hotels, linked to international chains. This section of the city is residential for
very affluent citizens. In sharp contrast, ‘Over the Hill” is a gateway to poorer Bahamian
communities. Among the poorer areas are communities like Bain Town and Grants Town,
whose residents tend to have lower than average incomes, experience several social problems,
have a lower standard of living and housing and experience higher than average levels of
unemployment and poverty.
Freeport/Grand Bahama
Freeport is the second largest city in the Bahamas and the third largest island covering 530
square miles. According to the 2000 Census, Freeport has a population of 46,994 and the
population density is 89 per square mile.
The economy is based on tourism and industries, as a result of foreign investment in the
1950s. Developers were granted special privileges and duty free exemptions under the
Hawksbill Creek Act of 1955. This enabled Freeport to develop as a tourism resort with an
industrial complex hosting a wide range of industries. Today, several major hotel chains are
among the many hotels in Grand Bahama. Lucayan is a large complex for cruise and stop
over visitors. There is a container port, managed by the Port Authority, a cement company,
and an oil refinery, each representing major foreign investments.
At extreme ends of the island are Pelican Point in the East and the West End in the west. The
population of Grand Bahama is culturally diverse and is comprised of many migrant groups
including Bahamians, Turks and Caicos Islanders, Jamaicans and Haitians. Income levels
also vary in keeping with the dominant occupations of these national groupings. Eight Mile
Rock and surrounding communities is one of the very poor areas visited as part of this study.
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