We recently took a car trip north to Cooper's Town. Cooper's Town is a Bahamian settlement that does not see many tourists. In addition to being the home of the former Prime Minister of the Bahamas, it is the location of a new commercial shipping port being built by the Chinese.
The story is that the current port in Marsh Harbour is at capacity and this will provide expanded capabilities. Right now it is basically a construction site - no channel, basin, or docks have yet been built.
It is, however, being built and run by Chinese nationals, so it is a bit strange.
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| All the signs are in Chinese, then English |
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| Notice Chinese markings on the buildings |
For me, it is especially eerie in that I have just finished a couple of books ('Ship Breakers' and 'Drowned Cities') which are set in a United States that has descended into a 'third-world' state due to climate change. War-lords battle for control of territory while people live in bare sustenance.
In the story, however, the Chinese, have become the dominant world power. Their currency is the 'gold standard' that is desired by everyone, because it has a predictable value; they are the 'world-police' - in fact they had a failed peace-making military mission that attempted to stop the fighting in the States.
I know I am reading too much into it, but it is still strange to see a Chinese port, only a couple hundred miles from the US - just saying.
The few Bahamians that we have talked to about the new port are as confused as we are.
Tom
Docked Harbour View Marina
Marsh Harbour, Abaco
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