The Hon. Kwasi Thompson. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)
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FREEPORT, Grand Bahama
– The Hon. Kwasi Thompson in a press conference
Wednesday assured residents of
Grand Bahama that the island is a top priority with the newly elected governing
Free National Movement with there being a State Minister, a Deputy Prime
Minister and the Prime Minister representing the island at the highest
level. The press conference took place
at the Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama.
Mr. Thompson was sworn
in on Monday, May 15, 2017 as Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office
of the Prime Minister.
During the press
conference, he said, he was grateful to
have been sworn in to his position, and it will be a collective effort between
all representatives: "It is a privilege to be appointed to the people's
Cabinet to do the people's business. I also express my commitment to the people
of Grand Bahama, to my Parliamentary Colleagues, Deputy Prime Minister &
Minister of Finance the Hon. Peter Turnquest; Minister of Youth, Sports &
Culture, the Hon. Michael Pintard; Members of Parliament Frederick McAlpine,
Iram Lewis and Pakeshia Parker-Edgecombe."
He said, "This
will be a collective effort to fulfill our commitment to the people of Grand
Bahama. The people of The Bahamas have given this Prime Minister and this
government a mandate of change."
Expressing that he
lived, went to school and returned from school to start his career, in Grand
Bahama, he said, "I will with God's help and guidance use my abilities to
perform this job with excellence and integrity."
Outlining his
portfolio, Minister Thompson said it is as follows: To have full control of day-to-day
operations of the former Ministry for Grand Bahama. Oversight of Urban Renewal,
and Hurricane Restoration & Repairs in Grand Bahama.
A final determination
will be made by the Minister responsible, the Hon. Lanisha Rolle with respect
to Urban Renewal, and he emphasized that the Ministry of Grand Bahama will not
be dismantled, but it will be incorporated with the Office of the Prime
Minister.
"The Ministry for
Grand Bahama has now been incorporated into the Office of the Prime Minister.
This is intentional and is more beneficial to the work performed in Grand
Bahama. First, Grand Bahama is very important to the Prime Minister who decided
that he would be the substantive Minister for Grand Bahama and I would be
responsible for the day-to-day running of the office in Grand Bahama. It is
also important and a fulfillment of our campaign promise to ensure a smoother
and more effective processing of investments for Grand Bahama. However, at all
times, the Prime Minister has oversight of Grand Bahama.
"It is also
important and a fulfillment of our campaign promise to ensure that there is a
smoother and more effective processing of investments for Grand Bahama. For
example, investments are processed through the Office of the Prime
Minister. When there was a separate
Ministry for Grand Bahama, while some of the work was done at the Ministry for
Grand Bahama, the bulk of that work would have been done and performed through
the offices in Nassau in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for
Investments.
"Major
investments would have been taken care of out of Nassau in the Office of the
Prime Minister. The intention is to bring the Ministry for Grand Bahama under
the Office of the Prime Minister so that when it comes to the processing of
major investments, it would be done smoother because it will actually be done
in the same ministry. We hope that this would lead to a quicker processing for
investments and if it is done quicker, that means that more jobs would be done
and be available at a more expeditious rate."
The new budget, he
added, has to be prepared and submitted for approval in about two weeks and the
government will seek to implement some aspects of their Manifesto in this
budget period.
"Today I will
begin the process of meeting with investors who will be vital in the economic
recovery of Grand Bahama. I have made
the creation of private sector long-term employment top priority for the Office
here in Grand Bahama. I will also follow the lead of the Prime Minister to be
open and transparent on how the people's money was spent and how the money is
going to be spent in the future.”