E-Malt.com News article: Bahamas: Construction of Bahamas Brewery ready to start

In early June, James Sands announced plans to build a $15 million beer brewery in Freeport by the following year. Sands is continuing in the footsteps of his father, Everette Sands, who was in business in Grand Bahama for decades, having created and traded as Butler & Sands.

Today, Sands is very pleased that his efforts are coming to fruition. The brewery land is cleared and construction is almost ready to begin, The Freeport posted August 30.

"I am thrilled we have started construction, it is hard waiting for your project to start when you know it's going to be so great for the island." Sands said.

"I am also really pleased with the local companies we have hired in Grand Bahama, both Burton Miller of MECO as our engineer and project manager and Bruce Silvera of Freeport Construction have helped to make it happen and happen fast."

Sands has also hired a brewery plant engineering company, Brewtech from Hamburg, Germany, that will be helping supervise the construction of the brewery plant with the Bahamian crew.

"Brewtech has experience in building breweries throughout the Caribbean and we want to make sure that our brewery is top of the line so we can sell our Grand Bahamian product nationally and internationally," Sands said.

James Sands is very pleased to be headed back to Grand Bahama. He realises the economy in Grand Bahama is not at its best, but he says, "You know Freeport – up one day, down the next – I know it will raise again and I want to be a part of that."

It is hoped that the brewery can contribute both directly and indirectly to employing many Grand Bahamians. As a 100 percent Bahamian owned business, Sands said, "We want our company to be 'truly Bahamian' like our first sign says.

"This is something that is very important to me. Bahamians can build and maintain large companies and we need to work together to put Bahamians first."

Grand Bahama's new brewery will be approximately 40,000 square feet, and construction on the 20 acres of land located at the intersection of Queen's Highway and Grand Bahama Way began three weeks ago.

"I am also pleased that we are being environmentally smart about our construction as all the trees that have been cut down to accommodate our facility for the construction will be turned into mulch to create 'green areas' around the building and the beer garden for the tourists," Sands said.

The plans are for the garden area to hold a restaurant/bar and retail theme park attraction and outlet, which the company hopes will add to the tourist attraction in Freeport.

Sands is looking for construction to be completed in the new year and notes that assistance from the Port Authority is helping to make it happen.


31 August, 2006