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PM: Bahamas On the ‘Right Track’ With BAMSI
Mar 5, 2015 - 2:29:31 PM

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NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The Bahamas has ‘gotten the message’ and is on the ‘right track’ for sustainability: these are the words expressed by the Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Mr. Guy Ryder, during the two-day meeting held in Nassau, at the British Colonial Hilton March 3-4 under the theme ‘Decent Work for Sustainable Development.’

The Director General was referring to the creation of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).

Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Perry G. Christie, who officially opened the meeting, concurred with the ILO Director General and said that BAMSI is the government’s response to assisting the nation feed itself and create jobs and opportunities for its citizens.

Mr. Christie referred to sentiments he expressed during the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations meeting February 23-25 in Nassau followed by the 26th Inter-Sessional CARICOM conference held at Melia Nassau Beach Resort February 26-27. Mr. Christie said he was pleased that the country played host to these meetings, which brought important issues challenging the region to the forefront, particularly youth unemployment.

“The Bahamas has been pleased to host three consecutive CARICOM meetings over the past week-and-a-half,” said Mr. Christie. “All of these gatherings demonstrate a strong desire on behalf of the CARICOM community to advance the integration process in matters of functional co-operation.”

During the two-day meetings, delegates focused on pertinent labour matters, including: ILO and CARICOM’s collaboration to implement the Decent Work Agenda in the Caribbean; regional tripartite social dialogue mechanism; creating job opportunities and developing skills for youth employment and productivity in the Caribbean; and Climate Change.

Prime Minister Christie said that the theme, ‘Decent Work for Sustainable Development’ is most appropriate as world economies grapple with the challenges associated with labour. He stressed that it is incumbent upon all in the region to continue to be relentless in the pursuit to address pressing concerns related to that issue.

Mr. Christie outlined the country’s commitment to the objective of reducing challenges in labour and said that the Bahamas took the lead in the region to become a signatory to an ILO Initiative. “On April 10, 2008, The Bahamas became the first Caribbean nation to sign a Decent Work Country Programme. The three priorities of our Programme are:

1. To reinforce the Department of Labour so that it can lead efforts to put the goal of achieving “Decent Work For All” on the national development agenda, and deliver high-quality services to tripartite constituents and the public;

2. To make tripartism and social dialogue central to the making of public policies that have bearing on the world of work; and

3. Improving labour legislation and rights at work.

Mr. Christie said that he was also pleased to announce that the National Tripartite Council Bill that was passed in Parliament, just two weeks ago, would be assented to during the course of the week by the Governor General.

“This object of this legislation is to institutionalize the ILO Convention 144 on Tripartite Consultation which allows the social partners to be consulted on national issues impacting the world of work,” said Mr. Christie.

The Government of The Bahamas in conjunction with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is presently reviewing its Labour Market Policies (LMP) with the view to refocusing and redoubling it efforts to decrease the levels of unemployment with particular emphasis on reducing unemployment among the youth of the country.

In 2013, the Bahamian Government established the National Training Agency whose mandate is to:

• Build a competency-based training and job placement system that is flexible and responsive to the actual requirements of the work place via a network of suitable training institutions, organizations, and programmes involved in the process of supplying qualified and skilled labour for The Bahamas and

• To provide for the allowance of job creation through training and employment schemes including internships, special job projects, entrepreneurial opportunities and the expansion of the modern national apprenticeship programme in keeping with the Government’s policy on apprenticeship training.

Mr. Christie noted that there are also other significant youth enterprise and entrepreneurship programmes that are conducted through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

“As a region, and as a part of the global environment, we must all continue to unite to fight youth unemployment by establishing positive youth development training programmes (such as the NTA), investing in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and by supporting and promoting entrepreneurial initiatives for the youth of our nations,” said the Prime Minister, and that the Government also continues to pursue local and foreign direct investment, to create new employment opportunities for Bahamians.

“Within a few weeks from now, the much anticipated 3.5 Billion Dollars Baha Mar Resort on Cable Beach will open its doors and, over time, will provide employment for thousands of Bahamians,” said Mr. Christie. “Our efforts are also evident in our Family Islands as we continue to grow their economies.”


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