Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development, the Hon. Philip Davis delivering the keynote address at the 4th Annual Andros Business Outlook. The event was held on Thursday, July 23, at Daniel’s Dream Centre. The theme for this year’s seminar was ‘Securing Andros through Planning, Partnership and Productivity.” (BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay)
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NICHOLL’S TOWN, Andros – The Government of the Bahamas has commenced
work on a sustainable development plan for the island of Andros. The
project is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, led by
The Office of the Prime Minister and supported by the Natural Capital
Group, a researcher of the College of The Bahamas and local consulting
firm.
In the absence of Prime Minister, the Right Hon.
Perry G. Christie (who was traveling), Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Works and Urban Development, the Hon. Philip Davis delivered
the keynote address at the 4th Annual Andros Business Outlook. The
event was held on Thursday, July 23, at Daniel’s Dream Centre. The theme
for this year’s seminar was “Securing Andros through Planning,
Partnership and Productivity.”
Mr. Davis said that the project would serve as a pilot project for all other development Master Plans throughout The Bahamas.
Locals from the public and private sectors gathered at Daniel’s Dream Centre in Nicholl’s Town, Andros, to participate in the 4th Annual Andros Business Outlook seminar. The event was held on Thursday, July 23. (BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay)
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He
said: “This project augments the work which is ongoing for the National
Development Plan. The Andros project involves a $600,000 grant to The
Bahamas to carry out 4 major activities:
• The
measurement of the economic value of Andros’ ecosystem services,
inclusive of its coastal and marine ecosystems, pine forests, mangroves,
sea grass beds and tidal creeks – all of the natural areas that
Androsians use to make a life for themselves;
• The development
of realistic development scenarios in consultation with Androsians,
taking into consideration the well-being of the residents of this island
and the entire Bahamas;
• An assessment of the various alternative development scenarios for Andros; and
•
The development of a proposal for a viable physical development plan
that optimizes the economic value of Andros’ natural capital.”
Mr.
Davis said that a team from the Office of the Prime Minister, the IDB
and Natural Capital (the country’s technical advisors) began its tour of
Andros and held several town meetings this week. The team visited
North Andros, including the BAMSI facility, Mangrove Cay and South
Andros. The team will visit Central Andros towards the end of the
month.
“The staff of the Office of the Prime Minister has
reported the preliminary outcome of the meetings. Throughout the
communities, there was a feeling of concern that development had not
been happening around Andros,” said Minister Davis. “It was noted that
Androsians in the South felt cut off from the development in the North
due to a lack of affordable water transportation. These are important
market opportunities for astute business persons.”
Ministers and officials on visit to North Andros, July 23, visited the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI). (BIS Photos/Peter Ramsay)
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Mr.
Davis also mentioned the important role that that the new Bahamas
Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) will play in the
country’s sustainability. He said that the government plans to
investment upwards of $20 million for the creation of a world-class
agricultural and marine science school which will equip Bahamians and
others alike to feed this country in a sustainable manner.
As
it relates to eco-tourism, he said that there are plans to support the
development of small lodges which engage in activities that support
economic development for Andros and its people, and are also friendly to
the environment.
“We have tremendous bird watching,
hunting, fly and bone fishing potential here. We must harness these
opportunities,” he said.
“We also plan to explore how we
might best use, in an environmentally sound manner, the deep-water port
in Morgan’s Bluff in North Andros. The potential for redevelopment of
that area is high.”
Finally, he said that as part of
Andros’ Sustainable Master Plan project, the focus is on building
capacity via familiarizing technical staff in the public service with
the techniques and research principles which consider the environment,
nature, bio-diversity and the real lives of the human beings living in a
place, before making development and investment decisions.
“We
are grateful for the partnership, thus far with the IDB and Natural
Capital. We have invited the district administrators and chief
councilors of Andros to become a part of our various committees along
with the representatives from the various chambers of commerce on Andros
so that the voice of Andros is truly heard in the development planning
process.”
Ministers and officials on visit to North Andros, July 23, visited the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI). (BIS Photos/Peter Ramsay)
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