Environment Minister Marc Bean has visited a redeveloped port in the Bahamas to see how a similar project might work in Bermuda.Mr Bean was shown around the $83 million Arawak Port Development, a waterfront being reconstructed after the cargo port was removed from the country’s main city street.He made the trip while in the Bahamas with Permanent Secretary Derrick Binns, to take part in a conference on renewable energy and liquefied natural gas technologies.“The Ministry recognises the commonalities that exist between Bermuda and the Bahamas, and particularly note that, like us, they have sought means to remove their cargo port from their main city street,” said an Environment Ministry spokeswoman. “The Ministry saw this as an opportunity not to be missed given our own interest in developing our waterfront. We are grateful to the Arawak Port Development organisation for their kind hospitality.”Government released that statement last night in response to an article in the Bahamas Weekly, which reported Mr Bean and Dr Binns “were keen to see the facilities because the Government of Bermuda has a similar desire to relocate shipping interests from the Country’s downtown district”.Dr Binns was reported as saying: “As Bermuda considers the redevelopment of its own waterfront, the lessons learned from the Bahamas will place us in good stead.”Reacting last night, Shadow Transport Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin asked if taxpayers would end up footing the bill for such a project in Bermuda.“It is not unusual in the investigative stage of decision-making that similar jurisdictions might be looked at with a view to mimicking their model,” she told The Royal Gazette.“While it was beneficial to look at the Bahamas model in conjunction with another purpose for the trip, my main concern would be the actual relocation carried out in the Bahamas and the parallel for Bermuda.“Was the purpose of their relocation intended to enhance their aesthetics? Was this a private enterprise, where the construction cost of $83 million would be borne by its shareholders? Or was this is a governmental initiative with the taxpayer footing the bill?“From a Bermuda perspective, there is no money in the kitty, I would be loath to place any kind of priority on such a project.”Mrs Gordon-Pamplin said that with no small cruise ships reportedly available to come into Hamilton, Government’s scattershot approach had left the tourism product “in the toilet”.She said: “The relocation of the Hamilton docks at this time for the redevelopment of the waterfront for visitors that aren’t coming seems to be a misplaced priority, especially when Government is asking workers to take a decrease in pay, Government is contemplating not paying in the workers’ pensions, and every available penny is being taken up with paying interest on the existing debt.”