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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works & Urban Development, officially launches the Urban Renewal website (BIS Photo / Derek Smith). (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis officially launched the new website of Urban Renewal Foundation and Urban Renewal Commission, thereby putting the broad community initiative in touch with the world. The launch took place on Saturday, August 20, at Centre Court, the Mall at Marathon.
The Deputy Prime Minister said: "This website will catapult the Urban Renewal 2.0 Programme into virtual space; and the Government welcomes the worldwide exposure and attention in the promotion and marketing of this programme."
He said that in order to implement the myriad of projects and undertakings in urban and traditional communities, Urban Renewal requires funding from private individuals and corporate citizens who believe in this most noble and worthwhile endeavour.
"The website will therefore be used to further promote local and international partnerships, urging partners to be generous in giving financial donations to fund Urban Renewal programmes and projects. Urban Renewal is all about transforming and empowering residents in our traditional and inner city communities, and rehabilitating the physical environs of these communities. The website will further promote the transformational work of the Urban Renewal 2.0 Programme," said DPM Davis.
Urban Renewal Band. (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)
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Mr. Davis spoke about social transformation -- from the way things were, to how different they are now, stating: "Today, the internet gives us instant communication across our global village. With a computer or a mobile phone, we are able to communicate with persons anywhere in the world, even in Timbuktu. For my generation, it was not too long ago that we had no computers, no cell phones, and no internet. I can even remember when there were no televisions and no telephones in houses. How did we manage back then?
"This generation cannot conceive of such a world without cutting-edge and ultra-modern communications systems. They were born into a technically advanced, technically savvy, world. They were born into an ‘instant’ age.
DPM Davis added that it is the norm to sell your business to the world and to promote any initiative to the world, and that the worldwide web has enabled these things.
"E-Government offers persons ease, efficiency, and timeliness in doing business with government agencies. Social Media has taken over the world.
“In 2014, the Urban Renewal Commission Co-Chairs and Urban Renewal Foundation Council Members started discussions that would lead to the creation of a website to promote and market the Urban Renewal 2.0 Programme," said DPM Davis.
Pinewood Urban Renewal. (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)
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He continued that in 2015, His Excellency Paul Andy Gomez, former Urban Renewal Foundation Council Member, now Bahamas Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, took it upon himself to advance the Foundation’s website with the engagement of a website designer, D’Asante Beneby.
DPM Davis said that His Excellency, Paul Gomez, deserved appreciation and thanks for using his personal funds to engage Ms. Beneby to design the Foundation’s website.
"This is also an opportune time to commend him for having his Accounting Firm, Grant Thornton Bahamas, serve gratis as the accounting firm for the Urban Renewal Commission.
“I am told that the launch of the website was postponed twice this year, so I am pleased that we have finally arrived at this point of the actual launch," said DPM Davis.
He invited the guests to view the work of the Urban Renewal Centres and Urban Renewal Band at the Exhibition showcased at the Mall.
He advised web designer Ms. Beneby of the importance of keeping the website updated, and looked forward to many visitors to the site, particularly young people.
Urban Renewal Co-Chairs Cynthia "Mother" Pratt and Algernon Allen sit in the audience next to DPM Davis. (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)
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