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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Budget Debate
By
Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin
Member Of Parliament For The Englerston Constituency
House of Parliament
Nassau, Bahamas
16 June, 2014
Mr Speaker,
I am privileged to stand in this Honourable House as a representative of the People in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Mr Speaker, This is no small duty: this is no minor task.
Mr Speaker, when I reflect upon how I came to sit in this House, I recall in particular polling day in the last General Election: I remember vividly the images of people of all ages, lined up, stretching back as far as the eye can see, standing in the blaring heat of the sun outside of polling stations: they wait patiently, oftentimes quietly, before entering the polling booth to execute a profound prerogative.
In the midst of the spectacles of electioneering and rallies and paraphernalia and competing political pronouncements there is a risk that we may minimize the solemn and specific exercise which is taking place.
In The Bahamas we have historically seen extremely high voter turnouts including the last election which saw a more than 90 per cent voter turnout.
Mr Speaker, Bahamians take their politics seriously: they are highly and hugely invested in the direction their country takes.
Voters consistently seek to dictate that direction by electing, re-electing or sending home governments: the decision-making is by and large based upon assessments and analyses, party commitments or the proposed political vision.
In some cases a decision is made on the simple premise that the presiding government must go.
It is through this deliberate process, however, this physical, patient, circumspect act, that of forming the line outside of polling stations and entering a private booth to mark a simple ‘x’, that I have come to be here: that is how we have all come to be here. It may appear benign on its surface but it is in fact a deliberate, patient and purposeful act.
Mr Speaker, I was elected by the good people of Englerston, a diverse community facing diverse challenges: these people are not a nameless, faceless cluster of voters and while there are important collective and community goals, each person has unique characteristics, personal hopes and individual aspirations.
They have placed their confidence in me: a confidence that through my involvement for and on their behalf there will be a greater realization of their hopes and aspirations.
I am here on their behalf. Indeed I am here on behalf of all Bahamians.
It is this truth, this solemn obligation that I keep to myself as a constant reminder in the pursuit of my public duties.
Mr Speaker,
Regrettably, our beloved country is today in many ways a place of lost equilibrium. Many countries worldwide are facing a similar dilemma.
The reasons for this in our case are multifold and in some instances very complex.
The indicators of this lost equilibrium are a cause for concern for all of us.
These indicators include high unemployment particularly among young people:
problems of violence and sustained levels of crime:
an economy which is trying to find a stable footing:
a heightened politically polarized environment which manifests itself in all quarters and in almost all things and is particularly pervasive in the media outlets and in public dialogue generally.
We are a nation which is experiencing significant noise, immense tensions and a degree of social dissonance.
We are also a country which is in the course of transition and change both generationally and culturally.
Mr. Speaker, this is a delicate time: a critical time, which requires us especially in this place to be highly sensitive to these realities: and to serve responsibly and faithfully.
We should never seek to capitalize upon these conditions or engage in raw-boned opportunism. It is in the midst of this social and economic environment that we as a government are seeking to restore balance: to institute peace and foster prosperity.
Mr Speaker the greatest disservice to our people in this Honourable place is the disingenuous political posturing, the engaging in this ‘raw-bone’ opportunism.
In my view it oftentimes represents a bogus attempt to manipulate and in effect “fool” the Bahamian people. But the Bahamian people are not easily fooled.
For example, how many would believe that from the few who now sit on the other side in Opposition that 3 of those members (today almost half of the Opposition) just two short years ago sat in a Cabinet which made serious decisions drastically affecting the wellbeing of this country: decisions which continue to resonate in their impact in our country even today.
For example, the Member for Central Grand Bahama is the veteran among them: It was his gigantic signs which apologized for the “inconvenience” of the now infamous road works: I do not need to rehash the in some cases devastating effect of those poorly-managed roadworks on the lives of Bahamians in New Providence. It was the stuff of which popular songs were made (you know the roads dem dig up” or the roads dem frig up); Indeed this was an issue in the General Elections
We have sitting on that side today the now leader of the Opposition, the Member for Killarney was then a first time serving MP and a senior Minister responsible for Health in the Commonwealth: he spoke glowingly about tele medicine but will recall the chronic shortages of critical medications or the inability to find beds on the Intensive Care Unit of the PMH; He would remember the controversy surrounding Physician’s Alliance or the United States Doctor they contemplated bringing here as part of their medical tourism initiative who had been struck from the list of registered Physicians in the United States for violating law and ethical standards and the Member for Long Island, then a first time MP, a junior Minister who by the end of that term would have served under two different Ministers: always an enthusiastic defender of the FNM policies no matter the twists and turns.
All the others (except the Member for South Abaco) are first time MP’s. East Grand Bahama is of particular interest to me as I am told that before the last elections he expressed political curiosity in the PLP with hints of even becoming a candidate for the PLP in the last General Elections but obviously opted instead for the Party then serving as Government over the Party then languishing in the Opposition.
It must be quite a rare luxury to have choices when faced with matters of principle. Mr. Speaker, let me say I am one who believes in a healthy and vigorous opposition to continuously test, challenge and keep on track any government. This is a key stone to our democratic process.
But, Mr Speaker, when I hear them say “you are in power now, fix it!” I hear the Member for North Eleuthera talking about: “soon, soon, soon come” These things may to them sound catchy and clever.
But there is a problem here: in these matters of which they speak, the Opposition members certainly cannot simply wash their hands of responsibility like the proverbial Pontius Pilate.
They know their position on VAT post elections was duplicitous from day one.
They know they did all the preparatory work and research and analysis and consultations to legalize the numbers industry
The 3 I spoke of presumably sat in the Cabinet. If they left a mess behind then logically there is a mess to be cleaned up: circumstances which must be corrected.
For instance, Mr. Speaker, If you borrowed the country into oblivion and mismanaged spending pushing the country deeper and deeper into debt: if you oversaw disruptive and harmful policies, If the rate of violence and murder drastically escalated for the first time ever and was sustained under your watch, If social circumstances rapidly deteriorated when you called the shots, if you made all the decisions when the equilibrium became upset, surely you cannot just walk away and pretend to be saints in the morning? I mean you who sit on that side of this House
You must remember that you gave away BTC, a company built over the generations by the hands of Bahamians and which served our archipelago, you gave that away, including the invaluable seabed infrastructure, the fibre optic cables, our window to the world plus cash in the bank: you gave it away for little or nothing to a foreign company seeking regional dominance: and when you came here you told the people’s House it is a “done deal” and there was nothing anyone could do about it. You told us that we were powerless in the business of our own things.
You remember Killarney?
You remember Long Island?
You sat right here in the People’s House and told that to the Bahamian people:
But you want the Bahamian people to forget that because as you say “election over” so now you can be saints in the morning, but things do not work like that. Your policies have created a ‘situation’
No one can doubt that the direction our country has taken is significantly due to the architectural governance, the philosophical tenets of the Free National Movement, its policies, leadership and direction or may I say “mis-direction”, who most recently ruled over the fate of this country for 15 of the last 20 plus years.
So Mr. Speaker, when we hear their protests, their sincere positions, we must recall from whence they have come…
Like I say I have no problem with the politics of vigorous opposition: it s healthy even though it may apply pressures it is for the greater good But it is the hypocrisy and disingenuous stance that I find disturbing.
Do we wonder why the Bahamian people are more and more becoming cynical towards and about the politicians?
They are cynical because they take their country seriously and they know flim flam when they see it.
Mr. Speaker, I recall when we took office in 2002: a new MP and first time Minister of the Cabinet, I was shocked at the terrible state of critical infrastructure in the country: I was amazed at the chaos left behind after 10 years of FNM governance:
I am still conscious of the immediate pressures which were applied to us which had severe implications to safety, security and the national economy.
I was therefore in disbelief at how dishonourable politicians could be when I found myself just a few months into a new government forced to defend that state of affairs: I came under attack from the then Opposition which had only months before presided over and in fact created these disastrous situations in the first place.
I could not believe it.
And then of course there were the press conferences afterwards when we lost office: I remember in particular the accusation that a cruise line contemplated pulling out because we had failed to dredge the harbour. I knew the facts. I knew that the scope of works had been completed and was set to go out to tender. They knew the facts too.
I also knew that in the 5 year period we served we were inundated with issues at Prince George Dock due to a holistic approach of neglect by the FNM government: giant tractor tyres lined the dock pretending to be fenders: bollards were losing structural integrity, insurance companies were threatening not to insure the mega vessels if they docked at our harbor. We spent millions and years correcting and rehabilitating.
I was hopeful that an investigative media would not simply perpetuate the disingenuous political posturing, would not simply be manipulated, willingly or otherwise, but would provide a contextual reality for the Bahamian consumer.
But it was not to be.
And so our national affairs both then and now continue to be clouded by confusion, hypocrisy, opportunism and a diminished public conversation.
This exacerbates and fuels the disruption in our social, economic and political equilibrium.
This is not responsible politics.
But Mr. Speaker, despite all of that the truth is that we have a lot of work to do. I can say it no more plain than that.
We are a small developing nation and with that comes its own inherent challenges: but we are developing at a time when world power bases are shifting, new cultural norms are being introduced and the globe appears to be in some form of transition. Years of industrial abuse to the planet has led to all manner of damage including global warming and climate change.
The excesses of capitalism have led to an ethos which supports moneyed interests at all cost, facilitating perverse economic policies on a platform of unadulterated greed which has led to a virtual collapse of many once powerful western economies and indeed has had an effect on our own economy.
Mr. Speaker, I do not believe nor do I accept (despite what those on the other side may pretend) that there is any neat playbook for a time such as this, we walk a delicate tightrope.
We must be circumspect and innovative because we are treading new ground in a treacherous environment.
And we in this House must be able to look beyond the base politics of power and to a higher understanding of this critical place in which we find our country.
Mr Speaker, it is my view that we must re-establish our equilibrium through the True Empowerment of our people - an objective for which our people earnestly yearn:
We must radically transform the delivery of quality service to our public:
We must properly position our country to secure our global viability by the enhancement of our economy and the preparation of our people:
We must abandon all forms of brutality either by act or omission, in word or in deed and purposefully cause for the reintroduction of civility and kindness and God’s love in all things thereby improving the Quality of Life for Bahamians.
Mr Speaker, we cannot sit in this House simply with a view to maintaining the status quo: and we do not come here to qualify the powerful.
We are mandated to be a voice of the people, for the people and by the people. We must always seek to uphold the cherished ideals of our nation: We must never allow (no matter the circumstances) for these cherished ideals to become drowned in a sea of woes: to be pushed out. Mashed down by our problems.
We must celebrate, uphold and promote our freedoms as guaranteed by the Constitution: and as a reminder these things were entrenched on our constitution because our forefathers knew that we were emerging from a history in which these freedoms could not be enjoyed (see)
we must not seek sterile conformity but nurture especially in our young people a spirit of bold creativity and enlightened intellectual growth: we must place the highest value on courage of conviction, we must always discourage narrow judgments in our national pursuits.
Mr. Speaker, In the worst of times we must celebrate the best in us.
In adversity we must not see only misery but instead, grand opportunity.
While certain circumstances may dictate constraints in certain limited areas we must by and large seek by policy and actions to cause for the powerful unleashing of our significant and incredible national energies and the absolute stimulation of our humanity.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot become discouraged no matter the mountains we face as a people. We must never allow our outlook to be darkened. Our roadmap for development must be shaped by a forward-looking optimism and a celebration of our huge potential and not simply driven in a response to our problems.
This new generation of Bahamian which is so talented, so energized, so expectant that he or she demands no less and deserves this and more.
And for those who contribute in this place and effectively do nothing more than talk down The Bahamas, I say shame on you.
That is not why you were sent here.
You have been elected to elucidate and improve not simply to moan and groan and criticize.
Anyone can do that.
Leaders, however, understand that they must do more.
And so Mr Speaker, this is my theme: we must reestablish our equilibrium and in the context of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation we have committed ourselves to do all that we can to establish that equilibrium insofar as it directly or indirectly impacts the quality of life of Bahamians: we are not here to tread water but work every day towards properly positioning our nation for effective economic growth and for succession to this new and emerging generation of Bahamian.
Mr Speaker,
Key to our economic resurgence is the state of the aviation network of our country not just because we are a tourism based economy but more importantly because we are an archipelagic people.
That aviation network has to be safe, secure, efficient and cost effective so as to provide the appropriate stimulus for economic growth and social cohesion.
This therefore requires a major transition from the old to the new.
The “old” which is the present state of our aviation sector is by and large an aging infrastructure which does not adequately meet the needs of the respective island communities and our national economy. You have heard members who represent these islands speak to these issues in this House.
The overarching structure is outdated and militate against the declared objectives of a successful aviation sector.
And so the National Civil Aviation structural framework in The Bahamas is undergoing radical reform such that within the next 24 months it will be largely unrecognizable based upon the present structure and initiatives currently underway.
A number of consultancies have within the last few weeks been completed.
The funding for these consultancies have been facilitated in part by an $80 million IDB Policy Based
Loan entered into in 2011 (a Loan mechanism which at the right place and time I will expound upon further for the Bahaman people). A reminder to those who sit over there and purport to speak about “transparency.”
Mr. Speaker, These consultancies seek to achieve two main objectives: the first is to advise the Bahamian Government on the model options for the restructure of Civil Aviation Regulatory Oversight and Function so as to assure the highest safety and security standards at airports and in aircraft standards: and second, to provide comprehensive, empirical data which will allow for evidence-based, decision-making to progress the aviation sector in each of our island communities. In this regard a nationwide audit of all 28 government-owned airports has now been completed. This audit has made a close study of all of these airports. Mr Speaker, there are many challenges.
In a few days there will be major policy decision-making on these issues which I will further update the Bahamian people as circumstances permit.
I am able to say at this time, however, that generally, the regulatory function of Civil Aviation, the arm which assures that safety standards are adhered to in aircraft operations and aerodromes and the entity which has oversight of aviation security at ports of entry and which is responsible for evolving standards will be completely separated from any other function of the Civil Aviation Department in the creation of a new Civil Aviation Authority.
Further, airport operations including airport security, crash fire rescue and commercial concessions will be incorporated into an airport operating entity such as Airport Authority which will be the holding authority for airports nationwide and which will oversee day to day operations.
This will cause for a more focused approach to purely operational issues at our airports and in particular the objective of making airports more commercially viable and economically sustainable and therefore less of a burden on the public treasury.
Also, a separate entity will be created for the independent investigation of aviation accidents and incidents.
The recently completed audit of the 28 Government-owned airports that I have spoken of will aid the Government in making knowledge-based decisions on the redevelopment of airports nationwide.
We will bring immediate focus on the larger, more busy airports such as Exuma, North Eleuthera, San Salvador and others but the State will also on a parallel basis seek to implement the appropriate strategies for the growth and development of the smaller airports such as Deadman’s Cay, New Bight, Great Inagua and others.
Mr Speaker, this is the beginning of a very dynamic, fast-moving process in airport development.
Mr. Speaker, I expect to meet with proposed airport planners within the next 7 days to map out a cost-effective but aggressive strategy to achieve infrastructural redevelopment: a review of terminals and runways. We will soon therefore make fundamental decisions relating to the more busy airports which are as we speak facing major logistical challenges caused by the increased traffic and aviation activity.
These airports have effectively outgrown their physical space and manpower complement.
Hence you have manpower challenges and logistical concerns in the screening of passengers and oftentimes at peak hours an overflow of passengers outside of actual terminals and on occasion subject to the elements.
Mr. Speaker, this complex and extensive state of affairs did not suddenly occur when we took office in May 2012 but Mr. Speaker, this will be the first time in decades that such a comprehensive overhaul has been undertaken of our aviation sector: This is without doubt a key component to our archipelagic health and vitality.
The expected outcome is a modern, efficient, accountable and responsive development model of our airports nationwide. This will have a most positive impact on the economies of respective communities.
Mr. Speaker, my Ministry has engaged for the first time ever aerodrome inspectors who are currently in training and who will have regulatory oversight of systems at airports throughout the country. These inspectors are but one piece of the overall picture of which I speak this morning.
Mr. Speaker, one of those major airports of which I have spoken is the Marsh Harbour Airport which you will know is now open and in full operation.
The opening comes two years into our term.
I would have spoken previously in this House about this airport by way of communication to parliament as to the myriad of issues and challenges we faced.
Suffice it to say in summary that the airport was completed over-budget and continues to provide logistical operational issues.
There are some un-pragmatic and irrational features which continue to pose challenges.
An example is the automated parking lot which is usually in the world of airports a significant source of revenue but in this case may pose a serious financial burden as it will require maintenance contracts which are cost-prohibitive and which we will have to modify and manage if it is not to be a significant drain and strain on the revenues at that airport.
As we move forward in airport development nationwide, it is lessons such as this that we must bear in mind. A series of “what not to do” examples in airport development.
Another example of the dilemmas faced is that there is no fire escape for the upper floors which have therefore had to be sealed off and the second floor which was intended to be a major commercial space has no restrooms: this completely undermines the commercial viability of that space and therefore the airport in general. We continue to seek a solution to these issues.
That area, however, similarly for the time being remains sealed off from public access.
Mr. Speaker another feature is the design of the area for security screening: the design is such that it will likely lead to significant delay during peak times in the processing of passengers: this is not a positive feature for a new airport.
Despite this, however, we have been able to overcome a number of hurdles to facilitate a relatively smooth, seamless transition into the new terminal from the old.
While we seek to find avenues to increase the revenue potential of that facility, we are also now obtaining advice on the length and capacity of the runway so as to maximize airlift opportunities at that facility to further fuel the economy of Abaco. I will say that and I think it is fair to do so that the prior FNM government had considered advice from airport planners. In short the advice was Not to invest further funds in that location for a number of reasons: a key reason was the runway – see attached
But all of that is now water under the bridge so to speak.
Mr Speaker, I am particularly grateful for the groundwork and tremendous effort undertaken by Vivian Miller who has now officially joined the team of Airport Authority having been a veteran managerial employee of Bahamasair for many years.
I thank the Minister responsible for Bahamasair, the Member for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador for agreeing to her secondment to us during the preparation period for opening and for releasing her to us full time.
I am also grateful for the work undertaken by two young Bahamians who came to us by way of consultancy arrangement with Vantage Airport Group which currently manages LPIA namely Messrs. Ben Arthur and Keith Gomez.
Mr. Speaker, you may recall that the training of a new cadre of airport personnel was a fundamental tenet in the agreement with VAG in the management of LPIA which was entered into shortly before we lost office in 2007. It was clearly stipulated that the scope of obligation of VAG would include not only the management of LPIA but also the training and exposure of Bahamians to specialized airport management and operational techniques
The value of this foresight is now seen in the fact that in 2014 we were able to source indigenous technical expertise in the persons of these two young men to assist in this major project in Abaco.
Before 2007 this expertise did not exist in this country.
This is a manifest lesson to us and must propel us as we move forward to continue to believe in the incredible potential and limitless talent that makes up the population of this country once the correct conditions are put in place and the proper stimulus applied.
And of course, Mr. Speaker, I must acknowledge the hard-working teams at the Ministries of Works and Urban Development and Transport and Aviation and in particular the Department of Civil Aviation and the Airport Authority which was responsible for the training of a new cadre of screeners in Abaco.
Mr. Speaker, another project left outstanding when we took office and which has now been completed is the Mayaguana Runway. This was in effect a stalled project for many years.
I was very proud to recently accompany the Prime Minister and the Member of Parliament for MICAL on the inaugural resumption of Bahamasair dash 8 aircraft service to that island.
You will recall Mr Speaker that I previously pointed out the policy position of this Government when we first served in office 2002-2007 was to install emergency landing lights at all government-owned airports to eliminate the use of the headlights of vehicles to light runways at night for emergency flights.
Before leaving office we had installed such lights in some 18 runways.
The prior administration, in what is to me an incomprehensible policy reversal, placed a virtual halt to that exercise.
I am able to now advise that the Tenders Board has approved a contract in the sum of $223, 243 to continue and complete this exercise by the installation of emergency lights at Stella Maris, Rum Cay, Ragged island and Mayaguana airports : additionally the lighting system at Deadman’s Cay and Fresh Creek Airports will be repaired. That work is to begin very shortly.
Mr. Speaker, our aviation sector which is in many ways a challenged sector is now in a period of modernization and reform: in the midst of these competing pressures we were subject to two major international audits in the last 12 months and have through the work and extraordinary effort of the Department of Civil Aviation been able in each instance to successfully surpass the intense scrutiny. This is admirable work, Mr Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, you will recall that we recently broke ground for the new radar system which will significantly benefit and enhance the air navigation capabilities of The Bahamas. Installation of the radar is expected to be completed next December/ January.
This innovation in technology is to be accompanied by the engagement of a cadre of new air traffic control officers to add to the current complement.
Mr. Speaker we have embarked on the preparation of airports for night flying. This will allow for international commercial flights to a number of our islands and will no doubt create new economic activity for those communities.
Bimini Airport was completed for night flights several weeks ago and similar work is now underway at Marsh Harbour, Exuma, North Eleuthera, San Salvador and Governor Harbour airports All of the approach design for these airports have been completed:The obstacle charts and new mapping are near completion: Communications have been established for aircraft operating within the area of the airports with direct link to Nassau approach. Additional preliminary work will be completed as we move forward the process expeditiously.
Mr. Speaker, we have begun talks in earnest with the United States of America on the issue of the management of The Bahamas’ airspace: Flight Information Region or FIR. This is an historic and significant initiative (I believe) in the interest of the Bahamian people.
You will recall these talks centre around the air traffic management of The Bahamas’ air space and the fees collected for the use of that air space which is currently collected, managed and controlled by the United States’ FAA.
A follow up meeting will take place in Washington DC in the next several weeks. We have formed a committee led by Mr. Loren Kline of the Office of the Attorney General which represents the interests of the Bahamian people.
It is my hope that the talks now underway will be favourable and fruitful and that an acceptable accommodation is quickly reached between the two countries and for the benefit of the Bahamian people.
You will recall that we had commenced this process when we last served from 2002 to 2007, but the process was effectively abandoned by the previous administration despite the fact that at that stage the United States had actually already made a fee proposal. I believe we are back on track.
Mr. Speaker, the construction of the various phases of the LPIA has now been completed: the culmination of a process that began in or about 2002 with significant groundwork over a 5 year period including the reconstruction of runway 1432, the renaming of the Nassau International Airport to the LPIA and finally sealing an operations management and construction project management contract executed in April of 2007 shortly before we lost office.
The construction phases spanned 2007 to 2013. And as fate would have it the member for Centreville was as Prime Minister called upon to open the final two phases of the 3 phased terminal construction.
The airport has since been voted the best airport in the Caribbean.
The final touch to this airport will be the erection of a statue in the likeness of Sir Lynden Pindling as previously promised.
A contract was entered into after a competitive exercise with Bahamian artist Peter Johnston in the sum of $65,000.
The work is now underway and just two weeks ago a team visited the Johnston foundry to view phase 1 of the statue creation. That team included members of the Pindling family and renowned artist Max Taylor.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of this effort because I am hopeful it is the beginning of state commissioned works of art to allow not only for the expression of our Bahaman artists in public places but also to visually and physically commemorate important moments in the lives of our people.
Mr. Speaker there has been some commentary in this House on the status of Nassau Flight Services, a 100 per cent government-owned ground handling company operating at LPIA and at San Salvador Airport. This company which employs some 235 persons has now looked to the State to inject funds to subsidize its operations. This is no doubt a matter of concern but is the result of a number of negative factors prevailing over a period of years which I will not detail today. Suffice it to say Mr. Speaker that the Company and the Board are working closely with the Ministry of Finance to seek to bring about an immediate reversal of this state of affairs through a number of strategies and new practices. I have had discussions with the AAAWU executives and intend to meet with the staff in the next few days to create a sensitivity to this critical state of affairs and I am confident that all stakeholders will work together to correct the path of this company.
Mr. Speaker, I would wish to give an update on the work towards the establishment of an Aircraft registry which both the member for Centreville and I have spoken previously to in this Honourable House. I wish to advise that the work of the Committee comprising public and private stakeholders has been completed with the recommendation of a company to make an analysis and give recommendations for the establishment of the Registry. This comes as a result of an RFP process and the scrutiny of a number of respondents by the Committee. In due course The Bahamas will be poised for the creation of this new paradigm in its aviation profile.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak about these significant strides in the aviation sector in our country without talking about Captain Patrick Rolle, the now former Director of Civil Aviation.
Capt Rolle came to Civil Aviation after a distinguished career as a Bahamasair pilot: He headed the newly formed Flight Standards Inspectorate which was formed in response of the devastating downgrade of our country from a category 1 to a category 2 status by the United States of America Federal Aviation Authority in 2000. He led the work which caused for the reinstatement of a category 1 status in almost record time.
He went on to become Director of the Civil Aviation Department and presided over an era of aggressive transformation and progress in the aviation sector in our country, the process of which is continuing even now.
He is a consummate professional and it has been a privilege working with him. He ceased holding office in April.
I am pleased, however, that we have been able to convince him to continue to contribute to this important sector as a consultant in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation. He will therefore continue to form a part of our team as we move forward progressively and aggressively to change the face of aviation in The Bahamas.
China Air Service agreement
Domestic connectivity
Mr. Speaker I began by speaking about the absolute necessity to reestablish our national equilibrium. One critical area for reform is the Road Traffic Department which is essentially a non-efficient, somewhat dysfunctional feature of our national life.
This Department is, however, the third revenue earner in the country.
It is therefore an important entity of the government.
Understanding this we are left to wonder why there has been to date no fundamental reform of this department which remains largely an antiquated manual system rife with inefficiencies and vulnerabilities which have spilled over in the most negative ways into our public life.
Before leaving office in 2007 and having regard to the importance of this department and understanding the problematic state of this department, a decision was made by the then government to automate and modernize the Road Traffic Department.
To this end a Request for Proposal had been prepared with several firms responding. We were on our way to redressing the negative challenges.
For some incomprehensible reason, the process was abruptly stopped and for the ensuing 5 years the antiquated system I have described not only continued but progressively declined to the great disadvantage of our country.
This decision effectively set back progress.
Mr. Speaker, I am relieved to say that we are now back on track and the Road Traffic Department is on course to improve its position over the next few years.
The modernization of the department is therefore the main thrust of the Government.
A new RFP process was put in train by the Ministry of Finance and proposals have been submitted which are now being reviewed by a committee established for the purpose.
The modernization will include a new system design that will feature a service bureau operation model, or turnkey solution model for the delivery of the government’s Road Traffic services.
It will involve the electronic processing of all Road Traffic services, inventory tracking, revenue collection, and reporting.
In addition Mr. Speaker, this system will interface with the General Ledger of the Government’s Financial Accounting System, as well as the cash Receipting System (currently under development).
The online services will interface with other government agencies, including The Bahamas Customs Department, to ensure duties owing on vehicles have been paid.
In addition, it will link with the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) for the purpose of investigating and reporting contravention of the Road Traffic Act.
Mr. Speaker, the Road Traffic Department will also interface with non-governmental organizations that provide third party information relevant to the services they provide.
Insurance companies will provide notification of purchased, cancelled, unpaid, expired or fraudulent policies.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say it is expected that the first phase of automation will be completed by November of this year.
With the many features of this system, the public will benefit from the implementation of this new and improved process.
Individuals will be able to process their personal driver’s license and register their motor vehicle at the same time.
There will be no reason to complete these processes at different venues.
The public will also be able to order and pay for driver’s license on line thus reducing the wait time for this service.
Mr. Speaker, the modernization of the Road Traffic Department will stream line operations, realize real cost savings, strengthen management control and oversight, generate increased revenue, and facilitate improved communications between the Road Traffic Department and external stakeholders. Importantly, it will eliminate gaps in revenue and create a buttress to fraud.
This is a major step forward in my Ministry. It is a major step forward for the country.
Mr. Speaker,
The revision of the Road Traffic Act has also begun.
While there have been some ad hoc amendments to the Act over the years since its passing in Parliament in 1958, a review is more than overdue to modernize and make more relevant its provisions which touch so many areas of our national life.
The services of a consultant have been procured by the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the Road Traffic Department in conjunction with the Ministry of Works and Urban Development to carry out a vigorous and in-depth review of the Act, including any subsidiary legislation and amendments.
The work of the consultant began on 13th March, 2014 and since that time the Transportation Planning and Policy Unit (TPPU) of my Ministry has facilitated workshops on 3rd, 7th and 10th April, 2014, with segmented stakeholder groups.
An Inception Report was submitted by the Consultant on 14th April, 2014 outlining the proposed approach to the review of the Road Traffic Act and the stakeholders’ role in that approach.
The TPPU acts as the secretariat for this initiative and has been very aggressive and diligent in its efforts to facilitate time management of this project.
Subsequent progress reports have been submitted monthly to relevant stakeholders.
It is expected that the first draft will be submitted by the middle of July and the final draft by the end of September.
It is my hope that not long thereafter I will bring to this Honourable House a Bill which will repeal the 1958 legislation to provide a modern framework for all road and transportation related matters in this country.
Mr. Speaker, this represents an important step forward for such an important area in our national life.
Mr. Speaker,
The unification of the public bus service is also a priority of the government.
The Progressive Liberal Party government under the leadership of the Rt. Honourable Perry Gladstone Christie is committed to this project.
The work to this end had advanced significantly during the period 2002-2007 but again was unceremoniously halted when we lost office in 2007.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think it necessary to go into fine detail on the state of our public bussing system: I believe the circumstances are such that it is common knowledge throughout New Providence and indeed our country what challenges are posed by the system.
I believe most know and understand how the current system undermines progressive social and economic advancement.
I believe there is now hope, however, of completing this process and it is the commitment from franchise owners and bus drivers that I have witnessed firsthand that provides the optimism for the realization of this programme.
We have engaged in numerous meetings with stakeholders over the last 24 months.
The accounting firm of Deloitte and Touche is contracted to provide a valuation of franchises and the industry in order to update the business plan/model.
The accounting firm is charged with the following deliverables for the bus unification project:
* Determining a compensation package for franchise holders and bus operators;
* Explaining the benefits of converting a 100% owned company to an International Business Company;
* Ascertaining a value for the industry and the business plan shares for franchise holders, according to the value of the franchise; and
* Re-evaluating of the bus routes to accommodate the Road Improvement Project and ensuring comprehensive coverage of public transport throughout New Providence.
Mr. Speaker, we are charting a course for a new Road Traffic Department. The unification of the bus system is expected to play a significant role in the transformation not only of that Department but in the social and economic life of our people.
Mr. Speaker, when I left office in 2007 not only did we leave in place a full complement of Road Traffic Supervisors but we implemented mobility in effecting regulatory enforcement in the creation of a motorcycle branch for Supervisors.
We had also initiated a number of initiatives to facilitate career development of Supervisors and build what was then a sagging morale.
I was shocked on returning 5 years later to observe the state of that critical area of the Department.
This neglect and deterioration has negatively impacted the Department’s ability to effectively enforce the rules; this inability has in turn led to the deterioration in standards in public transport generally which will include busses, taxis, liveries, tour etc which has reflected on the overall outlook of our national profile.
Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to improving regulation and enforcement as it relates to franchise holders and/ or their agents.
Additional Road Traffic Supervisors have recently been engaged (some 7 of them) and additional ones are in the process of being engaged for New Providence and ultimately for Grand Bahama and throughout the country.
It is our belief that when there is enforcement we uphold the highest of standards and maintain law and order.
Over the next three years the government will employ an adequate complement to ensure our public service industry is properly regulated and the reputation of the industry is fully restored.
We are also in continuous dialogue with stakeholders in the transportation industry. We do so to find common ground on issues affecting the industry. We are looking now at the dress code revisions and the enhanced scrutiny and the vetting process which has now been put in place for applicants for the issuance of public service licenses.
We are poised to begin a range of comprehensive talks for the overall improvement of the industry so as to take it to new levels in our country. And I will be able to report to this Honourable House in due course on the outcome of these efforts.
Mr. Speaker,
Road safety is also a priority of the government; since 2004, The Road Traffic Department has employed a national road safety strategy.
In order to give precedence to road safety, in 2013, the stakeholders from both public and private sector entities were enlisted to form the National Road Safety Committee.
It is intended that provisions that promote road safety will be incorporated into the new Road Traffic Act with the National Road Safety Council replacing the committee.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to make road safety a priority as it is a significant cause of death and serious injury in our country such that it is a major public health concern.
Last year 52 persons died as a result of vehicular accidents. As a significant punctuation to the end of that year was the 52nd victim - a 17 year old girl on a motorcycle
This year the Traffic Division of the Royal Bahamas police force has reported more that 900 road accidents for the year.
Nine of the victims succumbed to their injuries.
Mr. Speaker this Government is committed to creating a culture of safety on our roads. See attached
I wish to acknowledge the cooperative relationship that exists between all stakeholders in our efforts to achieve this objective and especially the Road Traffic Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and my Ministry.
Mr. Speaker as economic development takes place in our island communities accompanying that growth are oftentimes a number of new problems and challenges which must be addressed if the positives are not to be outweighed by the negatives. One of those issues is the traffic and transportation issues in some of our islands.
We are seeing such challenges in particular in Bimini, Hope Town, Abaco and Harbour Island, Eleuthera.
As a consequence we are in conjunction with the Traffic consultant in the process of reviewing traffic regulations for these islands but will insist that as we move forward with development plans nationally that traffic management issues remain at the forefront of planning in each instance.
In the case of Bimini a Traffic Study was commissioned by a firm engaged by developers of Resorts World Bimini Bay on the traffic trends in Bimini and my Ministry is in the process of analyzing these trends so as to put in place the appropriate safeguards to assure the quality of life is not threatened by these factors.
Mr. Speaker, one other issue I would wish to highlight under the remit of the Road Traffic Department is the surrey operations in New Providence.
I do so because not only is this a prominent feature in our tourism product but it is one which has been the subject of some considerable negative commentary nationally and even internationally.
Mr. Speaker, significant work is underway to reform, improve ad modernize the surrey industry
For the first time the Government agreed to a veterinarian chairing the Cabs and Hackneys Board which has oversight of this industry.
That person is Dr. Maurice Isaacs, a veteran public officer who has brought commendable leadership to this Board and which Board has overseen qualitative advancement in standards in the industry.
Mr. Speaker, the Board, understanding the underlying issues, created a plan of action to address the many challenges facing the surrey industry.
This plan has had the following effects:-
1) It has led to improved enforcement by establishing a clear protocol for the handling of complaints
2) It has facilitated the active implementation of the provisions of the Act,
3) It has foreshadowed a proposed raising of the fees that the surreys can charge, 4) It has outlined steps for reducing the cost of the operation of the surrey and horses by a proposed communal stable to share costs of housing the horses 5)It has identified strategies to reduce the cost of supplies and other inputs such as animal feed;
4) Surrey inspections which are carried out monthly have been enhanced through the improvement of forms to capture data as well as the taking of information on the horses every month to establishbaseline on the health of the animals. Data collected each month include weights, respiration and heart rate;
5) I am advised that there has been a marked reduction in the number of complaints including those about the condition of the horse because the horses are looking better and action is being seen to be taken on any complaints lodged
An annual monthly schedule has been established for the monthly inspections and a vigilant oversight by the Cab Board through regular monthly meetings.
Mr. Speaker, these improvements have come about as a result of three reports with recommendations for improving the surrey industry have been received and are being implemented- one report is by a visiting team of hoof health experts (farriers) who were brought in to assist with developing the expertise to provide good health care for the surrey horses.
The report included observations of their visit and recommendations.
The second was by an economist with the Road Traffic Dept., who reviewed the costs involved with maintaining surreys and their horses and made recommendations for an increase in fares for owners: the current surrey fares established in the Act are, and have been, well below what would be considered reasonable to provide for an income for the operators which would allow them to adequately care for their animals to keep them in good health and the surreys in good state of repair;
Additionally the Board has established a Stable Sub-committee to develop and possibly implement the establishment of a communal stable. The Sub-committee's mandate has been expanded to address a number of other issues including the foot care of the surrey horses; A site has been identified for the communal stable in consultation with the Ministry of the Environment which is responsible for the site.
The Stable Sum-committee with the financial backing of the Ministry of Tourism and a member of the sub-committee brought in a team of professional foot care experts (farriers). The farriers conducted demonstrations on foot care and presentations on foot health and care. They donated equipment and a copy of their foot care book to be used by Bahamian farriers.
Two young Bahamian men were identified to be trained as farriers to treat the surrey horses.
- The Bahamas Agriculture and Industrial cooperation (BAIC) as managers of the Fish-and-Farm store have also agreed for the store to bring in surrey supplies and equipment and sell at a discounted rate to the surrey owners; and the Board has engaged the humane organizations in a meaningful manner to assist in addressing the challenges.
Mr. Speaker, I believe these strategies have brought an unprecedented focus for the modernization and support of this age-old industry. I wish to especially thank the Minister of Tourism who has been highly supportive of this reform process.
Mr. Speaker, as you can see there is much new activity going on in the Road Traffic Department: this activity is in progress and is highly progressive in nature and will lead to a modernized Department which will impact our lives in many ways. Ways which I hope will help to restore equilibrium.
And Mr. Speaker a few weeks ago we were pleased to welcome Mr. Ross Smith as the new Controller of that Department, we expect him to be a critical catalyst in effecting the necessary reforms. I am pleased to say he has hit the ground running.
Mr. Speaker, the Post Office is also continuing its effort to become modernized in a competitive world reality with a more digital communications marketplace.
It is this technology reality which has challenged the economic viability of the Postal Service in our country and indeed in postal services worldwide
As in the case of other departments in my Ministry the Post Office is largely a place of manual record and the Post Office is now working with the Department of Information Technology to automate its counter services. This will also ensure a higher accountability in fiscal matters at that department.
Mr. Speaker, despite the challenges, the Post Office is determined to provide accessible mail services to every Bahamian throughout our archipelago as a fundamental tenet of our national life.
In an effort to seek new and innovative avenues to generate revenue: discussions are currently underway by the Ministry of Transport and the Post Office with various international entities in an effort to forge public-private partnerships to tap into the international express mail market.
This along with other strategies soon to be unveiled is expected to create new economic paradigms and make the postal service more relevant to today’s realities and more viable as a revenue earning government entity.
Additionally the Post Office is preparing to bring a focus on technical training of postal workers throughout the country. This training initiative is necessary not only to build morale but also to enhance the efficiency levels of the postal service and also to introduce staff to new skills and knowledge required to meet the demands of the proposed new services.
Mr. Speaker, a major hindrance to maximizing the output at the General Post Office on East Hill Street has been the deteriorating condition of that building and in particular the areas where postal services are processed. This has been a vexing and distressing issue which has been long in coming through a sustained failure over the years to maintain the Post Office Building. The result of this neglect is the crisis which we face today. This is very unfortunate because while we should be having an absolute focus on the growth and development of the postal service we are struggling with the basic issue of proper accommodation for public servants.
Mr. Speaker, in this regard My Ministry has been in extensive dialogue with the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour, Public Service and National Insurance for the relocation of postal workers from that building. This issue has frequently reached the public domain as more and more postal workers express their concern about this work environment.
As an interim measure workers have been placed on shifts of reduced working hours until such time as relocation can be effected.
Dialogue is ongoing now led by the Ministry of Finance for the acquisition of new premises which will lead to the relocation of staff. I am desperately hopeful that that process will very shortly be completed.
Mr. Speaker, as an archipelago the maritime sector, like our aviation sector, is an essential feature of our existence as a people.
The maritime sector is also the source of tremendous potential for the economic growth and advancement of our country. That potential has to date been largely unexplored in The Bahamas. In the establishment of our national equilibrium we must seek out our latent gifts and exploit them to the full benefit of our people.
Mr. Speaker, you may recall that I spoke two years ago about the intention to create a maritime policy which would provide a strategic framework for the sustainable exploitation of water as a natural resource in matters of science, technology, fisheries, shipping, industry and energy among other things. Further that it would guide the safe and orderly development of the maritime sector. I foresaw this as a being a major new plank in our economic development and for the creation of new industry and new career opportunities. That reality awaits us.
This work will ultimately, no doubt, tie in and facilitate the policy decisions of BAMCI.
I am pleased to say the draft Policy has been completed. This work is the product of a collaboration between international experts seconded to us at no cost to The Bahamas by the Commonwealth Secretariat and both public and private stakeholders throughout The Bahamas.
These experts and members of the Ministry of Transport and the Bahamas Maritime Authority travelled to several islands in the process of developing the framework.
A final review of the draft is being undertaken by select Ministries before the Policy is circulated for wider public consultation and input. I expect this public consultation process to begin within weeks.
As these efforts to improve the maritime sector are progressively underway, a committee comprising public and private stakeholders was formed and is currently meeting to make recommendations for a new, modern legislative framework for leisure craft to replace the current law. The recommendations will address basic standards which currently do not exist in our legislation such as lighting on boats, communication equipment, life-jackets etc
This is essential to promote a culture of safety in an important and widely-enjoyed aspect of our cultural life as a maritime people.
I am hopeful that the work of that committee will be imminently completed leading to public dialogue and ultimately culminating in draft legislation to be brought to this House.
Mr. Speaker, I also expect to bring to this House in the very near future a Small Cargo Vessel Code Bill which will legislate standards for mail boats and other small cargo vessels trading in our waters.
The draft Bill which is the product of a consultative process between the Ministry of Transport, the Port Department and mail boat operators among others and a review of regional legislation is currently lodged for scrutiny in the Office of the Attorney General.
This Code will mandate minimal standards for the safety of crew and vessels plying in Bahamian waters.
Mr. Speaker, the Port Department which has regulatory oversight for the maritime sector in this country is another example of a critical department which is still employing antiquated methods in registration and record-keeping. This impacts regulatory oversight and grossly hinders the ability of the department to maximize its revenue collection capacity.
Currently underway in conjunction with the Bahamas Maritime Authority and the Department of Information Technology is the development of a system of automation and custom-designed for the Port operations.
I am advised that there are currently 18,000 vessels registered with the Department which include mail boats, cargo vessels, commercial vessels, ferryboats and pleasure craft.
We believe the automation of the registration department of the Port will lead to greater efficiencies, increased revenue and a more effective regulatory oversight regime of vessels which is a critical safety issue.
The Port Department is now preparing to conduct an audit of private docks throughout The Bahamas so as to registration and ensure maximum revenue collection as it is believed that this is a significant source of outstanding revenue to be collected.
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken previously to the issue of abandoned and sunken vessels strewn in waterways throughout our archipelago. The removal cost to the State is prohibitive a direct demand on the consolidated fund and as a result the Port has been unable to adequately meet its mandate in clearing waterways of such vessels.
This is serious as these vessels in some instances create risk to navigation and are oftentimes an unsightly feature of our beautiful harbour landscapes nationwide.
A cross-ministerial committee met over a period of months to review and discuss the issues relevant to this problem and made a series of practical recommendations which have now resulted in the removal of a number of wrecks and abandoned vessels at no cost to the public. These standard operating procedures will guide the ort Controller in the way forward and enable him to more effectively carry out his duty. The Port is now in the process of establishing a register of Approved Salvors who will be enlisted to carry out the removal of wrecks and abandoned vessels at no cost to the Bahamian people. The process will be governed by Standard Operating Procedures promulgated by the Committee.
Mr. Speaker the Port has improved and intensified its inspection process for mail boats and ferries and other commercial vessels in particular so as to ensure a greater compliance with safety regulations.
Additionally workshops have been conducted with owners and stakeholders in both the mail boat and ferry industry. We have engaged in a number of meetings with stakeholders in the water sports industry to find common place on industry standards. Many challenges remain but the Port has increased its vigilance and has enlisted the support of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to assist in enforcement protocols. There will soon be undertaken a review of the current legislation governing commercial water craft as the Ministry is faced with the proposed introduction of newer products in the industry.
Mr. Speaker a greater focus has come to bear on foreign yacht charters by the Port Department and a more aggressive enforcement regime of regulations.
This was effected after the New Providence Authority summoned and met with international stakeholders to assure greater coordination in this effort. As a consequence I am advised that we can forecast greater revenue collection emanating from this activity.
You would have heard the Member for Centreville speak to a proposed Yacht Registry: a public/private sector committee was established to review the industry and to make recommendations to create the yachting industry as a significant economic plank in our economy. The work of that Committee has been completed and Cabinet will now consider the recommendations. It is intended that a new and vigorous thrust be deployed in this sector as a new generator of revenue.
Mr. Speaker, the major Port facilities in the country are Prince George Dock, Potters Cay Dock and the Marsh Harbour Port facility. These are the hubs of major commercial maritime activity in our country.
This budgetary year improvements will continue to be made to Prince George Dock. In this regard the Ministry of Transport works in close concert with the Ministry of Works and Urban Development and the Ministry of Tourism.
Among the intended works is the installation of additional cctv coverage at Prince George Dock
This facility continues to pose an array of challenges which included in the last year the need for additional dredging, dock engineering work, the completion of the installation of new bollards, refurbishment and repairs to fenders damaged by hurricane and the effort to provide more logistical operations at the Welcome Centre.
The Government has committed to a review of the PGD with a view to making it a more efficient and commercially viable port facility. The Ministries of Tourism and Transport have been tasked with that undertaking.
As it relates to Potters Cay Dock Mr. Speaker you may recall that I previously spoke to a committee formed comprising of various governmental agencies including the Ministry of Works and Urban Development and the Ministry of Agriculture, marine affairs and Local Government.
The Committee was formed to review and analyze the maritime operations at the eastern end of that docking facility which is the primary docking locale for mail boats and to make recommendations for and to oversee its redevelopment.
The work to this end is now set to begin.
Mr. Speaker, as it relates to the Marsh Harbour Port facility when I last served as Minister it received certification for the first time ever as an ISPS Port facility a mandate of the IMO.
I have to confess to being very disappointed, however, upon taking office two years ago to see how the facility had terribly deteriorated.
Mr. Speaker we are now on a course of revitalization and restoration of that facility: A Port Officer with advanced maritime training has been dispatched to that Port to manage all operations.
Within the last several weeks cctv has been installed to enhance security at that Port and contractors will install lighting to that facility over the next few weeks.
Attention is now set to reinstatement of fencing and refresher ISPS training of port officers. The new Port Manager has also been mandated to assure the proper revenue collection from all operations connected with that facility. In this regard he is overseeing the rehabilitation of a port vessel to facilitate movement between the mainland and the Abaco cays to maximize revenue collection.
Draft legislation is now being prepared by the Office of the Attorney General for the enforcement of the ISPS Code, an IMO mandated security regime for sea ports of entry worldwide and which despite implementation in 2004 was never incorporated into legislation in The Bahamas. This gap is now being rectified.
This draft was the result of a recent collaborative effort between the Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Transport, the Port Department, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the United States Coast Guard.
Mr. Speaker, regular meetings have been held between the Port Department and the Ministry of Works to create an audit of the state of repair of docks throughout the country. That work has been completed and the Government now has a comprehensive snapshot so to speak of its priorities in dock repairs.
Mr. Speaker, an important component of The Bahamas’ maritime profile is the Bahamas Maritime Authority.
Mr. Speaker it is expected that the BMA will make contributions to the Consolidated Fund in excess of Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00) for this fiscal year;
The BMA will also continue to support maritime education and training with a budget of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00); this funding is utilized to support the maritime cadet corps and the provision of scholarships for further technical and tertiary maritime education internationally.
Mr. Speaker, the Maritime Cadet Corps programme has been an incredible intervention in our country and an important training ground for career development of young Bahamians. The programme was launched in June 2003 and started out with 12 students received their STCW certification at the RBDF base.
Today there are some 241 cadets in Nassau, 105 in Grand Bahama, 65 in Abaco and 20 in Inagua, for a total of 431 cadets.
The programme will now be extended to Eleuthera in 5 Eleuthera High Schools this coming September with a total of 50 cadets.
Last year the Corps graduated 56 cadets in Nassau, 38 in Grand Bahama, 9 in Abaco and 4 in Inagua for a total of 107 cadets in June, 2013.
This brings a total of 578 graduates since inception which began with those 12 cadets.
This year it is expected that some 150 young people will graduate in June, 2014
To date, 389 cadets have completed full STCW basic training.
Mr. Speaker, the opening of the LJ Mortimer Maritime Institute in September, of this year provides more options for graduates. Already provisional acceptances have been received for many of this year’s class and from prior years.
152 maritime corps students have graduated from Holland College in Canada since inception and another 20 students are expected to enroll there in June, 2014.
Mr. Speaker
There is a worldwide shortage of seafarers and the BMA has over 1500 vessels under its flag so students and cadets (once qualified) find placement as deckhands and officers at home and abroad, acquiring invaluable exposure to world trade patterns and cargoes, which serve them well when they eventually take shore side jobs. Almost all shoreside jobs and disciplines are also needed at sea as the vessel is virtual floating cities.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank and commend the work of Dudley Martinborough who has been the one constant in this programme and who has spurred, inspired and mentored hundreds of young people and directed them into new careers never before contemplated.
Mr. Speaker,
The BMA has offices in Nassau, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and New York.
Week before last as announced by the Prime Minister the BMA opened an agency in Piraeus, Greece
Mr. Speaker, I understand that while that office was being opened in Greece an Opposition member in this House in his contribution to this debate urged the Government not to proceed with its announced intention to open this office in Greece.
Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of that member and for the benefit of all Bahamians, I point out the following:-
1. The Bahamas Maritime Authority (the BMA) is a great asset to the people of The Bahamas. Apart from the sponsorship of new careers and opportunities for hundreds of young Bahamians thereby fostering new thinking and new paradigms, the BMA administers one of the world’s largest international ship registries. And it contributes significant income every year to the people of The Bahamas. Since the Authority’s inception, the BMA has remitted close to Seventy Million Dollars to the National Treasury.
Greece is the world’s largest ship owning market in the world; it is also our largest shipping client base: we therefore need to be there. All of our competitors are there.
The Greek office is not a major expense and we anticipate that it will be a net contributor to the National Treasury, producing new income streams for The Bahamas, and defending our existing income streams from our competitors.
The BMA is a national asset that has always enjoyed strong bipartisan support. The Bahamas
Flag flies proudly over the world’s largest passenger ship fleet, the world’s largest fast ferry fleet, and hundreds of other modern vessels. The Bahamas has become a major influence at the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for setting maritime policy that is adopted into law all over the world.
The maritime sector in its many forms is a major employer for The Bahamas. And through seed initiatives such as the Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps, we are working with our Bahamas Ship owners Association to promote increased direct employment opportunities for Bahamians aboard ships.
We need to defend and to grow our income and our activity from the international maritime sector – a strong asset for The Bahamian people. The establishment of our office in Greece represents the single greatest opportunity to help us achieve that.
Mr. Speaker, just to share some vital facts about Greece
2. Greece is the largest and most active ship-ownership block in the world. The Greek-owned fleet is at a record high, comprising some 3,700 vessels totaling 265 million deadweight tons. Greece is the biggest market, and The Bahamas needs to be able to serve this market directly.
3. The Greek-registered (Greek flag) portion of the Greek-owned fleet accounts for just 23 percent of the total Greek-controlled fleet. The vast majority of Greek-owned vessels, some 77 percent, flies the flags of non-Greek nations, principally Open Registries. This is a vast pool of business for us – the largest such pool in the world. The Bahamas Registry has to have direct, local access to this market to attract its share of these vessels to our Flag.
4. Greek-owned vessels are the largest single ownership block of Bahamas-flagged vessels. They are our Number One clients. We need to have a permanent presence in Greece to grow new business for The Bahamas registry and to serve and advise our many existing Greek ship-owner clients. Our major competitor Open Registries all have offices in Greece – Marshall Islands, Panama, Liberia, Cyprus, etc.
5. The BMA’s Greek office will advise Greek-based ship owning and business interests regarding our ship registration and maritime services, and promote other forms of investment in The Bahamas: this latter point is critical in establishing this office in Greece and is absolutely critical in terms of (1) the potential reward to The Bahamas of capturing a growing share of the massive Greek-owned merchant fleet – that means growth in income for The Bahamas; and (2) the risk to our flag, and to our future revenue stream, if we did not so – that means defending a major revenue stream from the competition of other registries that have already established their offices in Greece.
6. Mr. George Pateras, a member of a prominent Greek shipowning family and the President of the Bahamas Shipowners Association, has conveyed strongly to us (1) the importance to the Greek shipowning community of the establishment of our office in Greece, and (2) the risks to The Bahamas flag of our failing to do so.
An Efficient Operation
7. The Bahamas Maritime Authority is run with fewer personnel and at lower cost than our major competitor Open Registries. Our Greek office will be an economical operation which we project will (a) help grow our revenue, and (b) be a net contributor to our revenue. The Greek office was fully outfitted - under budget – at a cost slightly in excess of 120,000 Euros (plus v.a.t.). The base rent will be only fourteen hundred Euros a month.
In Summary
8. The establishment of an office in Greece is The Bahamas Maritime Authority's single greatest business-enhancement opportunity.
It will (1) consolidate our hard-earned position in the world’s single largest maritime market, and (2) have the potential to significantly accelerate our growth in registered tonnage and revenue.
Our Greek office will afford and facilitate:
· enhanced presence for The Bahamas in the world’s largest single shipping market;
· enhanced demand for The Bahamas’ services;
· enhanced revenue generation for The Bahamas – money in our Treasury; and ultimately,
· enhanced capturing of business, leading to new employment opportunities for Bahamians.
Our maritime presence in Greece is a significant asset for The Bahamas.
I trust this now provides the Member for East Grand Bahama with the factual basis upon which he will purport to speak to this issue.
In short, we did not open an office in Greece to have a flamboyant repertoire but because it is absolutely strategic and in the interest of the Bahamian people to do so.
Mr. Speaker, in September the Bahamas Ship owners Association will hold its annual meeting here in Nassau. This is an excellent opportunity for The Bahamas.
The meeting will focus on key aspects of our local shipping industry in collaboration with the BMA, the Mail Boat Association, the Maritime Cadet Corps and the Port Department.
Mr. Speaker, last year when I attended the Ship owners meeting in London where the President of that Association intimated to me that at this upcoming Ship owners meeting in Nassau he will make an important announcement as to a major initiative to be offered to our high school students: this initiative, he says, will lead to a training regime which in turn will lead to guaranteed employment for young Bahamians on ships on the Bahamas flag.
Mr Speaker,
As we are more immersed in the hurricane season and the weather patterns become more and more erratic our national focus centres more and more on the Department of Meteorology. Last year the long-serving Director Mr. Arthur Rolle retired. I wish to take this opportunity to commend and thank him for his stellar and invaluable contribution to the development of meteorology services in The Bahamas where tremendous growth occurred under his leadership. He is also considered an invaluable resource at the WMO level. The Meteorology Act which he advocated for is currently under review and will soon be introduced to this House.
Mr. Speaker in closing one of the biggest challenges we face in my Ministry is the deteriorating physical plant which constitutes the work place for hundreds of workers.
This is the consequence of years of sustained neglect and the proverbial ‘kicking the can down the road’ and deferring the necessary action to fend off what is an inevitable outcome. I have spoken to this in relation to the Post Office Building on East Hill Street which progressively deteriorated without any real or significant maintenance intervention. In the case of the Clarence Bain Building where the Road Traffic Department is headquartered oftentimes the bathrooms do not work, the air conditioning system continuously breaks down; the premises have been outgrown by the voluminous operations of the Road Traffic Department. We are seeking resolution to these concerns by the relocation of the Road Traffic Department to new premises.
Met and CAD workers who continue to work in the former LPIA terminal in unsatisfactory conditions, however, fortunately we are advised by the end of this month staff and their operations will relocate to new building on Blake Road.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that we have concluded industrial agreements with BATCU, AAAWU, and BPSU. We are preparing to execute the concluded agreement with BPSU relative to the Airport Authority within the next few days.
I wish to thank the leadership of those Unions. To say a special thank you to Roscoe Perpall who served as President of BATCU for 20 consecutive years and to congratulate the new President Mrs. Lashan Gray.
Finally Mr. Speaker while this is not Ministry of Transport related, I would be remiss if I did not mention the recent Special Call Meeting of the CWP Caribbean, Atlantic and Americas Region. Mr. Speaker we saw delegates come from throughout the region to participate in what became a highly productive meeting. First, a steering Committee for the region was created: second, a strategic action plan was formulated and finally the groundwork put in the place for the creation of a constitution to govern the regional body which heretofore was non-existent.
There are so many people to thank but in particular the staff members of the MOTA, the Minister of Tourism, the MOF, the PM, my Parliamentary Colleagues especially those who were delegated, the RBPF, RBDF, MOFA Protocol Division, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
The effort is to procure a more proportionate representation of women in the halls of Parliament based upon the premise that this promotes greater democracy and further that the voices of women, in concert with the many voices of men in this place in this place of power will inure to the greater good of our country.
Mr. Speaker, I end as I began:
We must re-establish our national equilibrium. A focus must be brought to bear upon our young people, the inheritors of our country. As servants of the people we must never lose sight of our obligations to our people and the sacred trust we hold. Those of us who serve in this place must be single-minded in our determination to create balance: to remove injustice and to cause for equity in all things. We must never lose sight of those people, those so called ordinary Bahamians, who lined up in the heat of the day to give us their consent to govern. We must do so honestly and fervently without fear or favour.
Mr. Speaker I support this Budget.
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