Under the theme, “From Sister Cities to strategic partners: Building trade, investment and economic opportunities together,” the City of Freeport Council hosted a welcome reception for the Sister City Commerce and Investment Mission delegation from Riviera Beach, Florida, at Pelican Bay on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
The reception marked the beginning of a week of engagements and activities aimed at strengthening ties and exploring opportunities for collaboration between officials from the City of Freeport and Riviera Beach.
In attendance were members of the Riviera Beach delegation, including Mayor Douglas Lawson, council members from Riviera Beach and West Palm Beach, representatives of the West Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, as well as local business and civic leaders.
Mayor of Riviera Beach, Douglas Lawson expressed optimism about the opportunities for collaboration, noting that the delegation hopes to strengthen existing relationships, promote economic development and support businesses in both Freeport and Riviera Beach.
Chief Councillor of Freeport and Local Government representative for Marco City, Kendal Culmer also highlighted the importance of strengthening the relationship between the two cities and closing the gap to create greater opportunities, stating: “With the Sister City, there’s a lot of economic value, a lot that we can learn from each other.”
Culmer further explained that the delegation included investors who were brought to Grand Bahama to explore opportunities for partnerships between local and international businesses.
He noted that the goal is to identify ways to connect businesses, encourage investment and create opportunities that will help businesses grow while contributing to the expansion of Grand Bahama’s economy.
