This day in The
Bahamas Parliament
Parliamentarians
met at
10am on Wednesday, 27th January 2016 to conclude debate on
the resolution on the $33 million Public Financial Management System and
Performance Management Project and the $20 million Citizen Security and Justice
Program, both being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The Minister of
Health, the Hon. Perry Gomez began statements by Ministers by delivering
a House communication on the Zika Virus. He said that the virus is carried by
the aedes aegypti mosquito, the same mosquito that carries the dengue and chikungunya
virus.
The
Minister advised the House that to date there is no reported case of a Zika
viral infection in The Bahamas but listed the 20 countries in the region with
confirmed cases of the viral infection.
“As
of Friday January 22, 2016, Mr. Speaker, the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO) reported twenty (20) countries and territories with laboratory confirmed
case(s) of Zika Virus including Colombia, Suriname, Puerto Rico, French Guiana,
Martinique, Panama, Cape Verde, Brazil, Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico, Haiti,
Guatemala, El Salvador, Bolivia, Saint Martin, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Barbados, and
Guyana” said the health minister.
He
also revealed that there was no specific treatment for a Zika viral infection
including no vaccine, but if infected, the public was advised against the use
of aspirin. According to Dr. Gomez, the symptoms of the infection include
fever, skin rash, joint pain and headache with one in four infected persons
developing symptoms of the disease.
“Persons
with Zika virus infection most commonly have fever, skin rash, and
conjunctivitis (red eyes). They may also have muscle and joint pain and
headache. Symptoms usually begin 2 – 7
days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Only one out of four to five
infected people develop symptoms of the disease. Among those who do, the disease
is usually mild and lasts 2-7 days” said Dr. Gomez.
The Prime Minister
and Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie updated the House
on a number of current topical issues including CLICO, the Hawksbill Creek
Agreement and the stalled Baha Mar project.
The
Prime Minister was wrapping up his debate on a resolution to borrow $33 million
to finance the Public Financial Management System and Performance Management
Project.
The
Prime Minister foreshadowed a public/private sector steering committee to
provide supervisory oversight of this project and to ensure its successful
completion. Mr. Christie said this was very important to ensure accountability
and transparency instead of the government acting “incestuously” with the use
to public servants alone. He said that by doing so, his government was
“institutionalizing transparency and accountability.”
According
to the Prime Minister, an Inter-American Bank (IDB) report indicated that The
Bahamas scored 0.8 out of 5 on an assessment measuring ‘Managing for results.’
Mr. Christie said that this public financial management and performance
monitoring project is designed to address these institutional weaknesses.
“Both
programs at this juncture are vital to transforming the Bahamian economy” said
Mr. Christie as he concluded his debate. “And it is my belief that the
implementation of these projects will achieve the desired results considering
the support of the government and people of The Bahamas for change” said Prime
Minister Christie.
The
Prime Minister’s statement on CLICO is as follows:
“The
previous administration at the onset of the liquidation of CLICO proposed to
provide a conditional guarantee of $30 million to any entity which would have
purchase the insurance operations of CLICO.This guarantee was conditional
on the sale of the book and while affording comfort to a potential purchaser
did not actually guarantee that the policyholders would be made whole.
“For
two main reasons: namely concerns with respect to the information system; and
the conditional nature of the guarantee (i.e. it was unclear what event would
have triggered the calling in of the guarantee) was unsuccessful in the sale of
the portfolio.
“The
liquidator has proposed and the Government has agreed a plan to make all
existing policyholders whole.This plan involves the creation of a special
purpose vehicle to assume the insurance operations of CLICO and to pay out the
policyholders who have been unable to receive the full pay out of their
benefits subject to the policy not lapsing during the period of liquidation.
“In
short order the Insurance Commission and the liquidator will announce the
details of the plan including pay out dates.I know that there are many
persons impacted by CLICO and these persons have grown impatient waiting for a
solution but rest assured a solution is at hand.
“The
transaction being proposed is complex and required time to ensure that all
stakeholders, which would be the Insurance Commission, the policyholders, the
liquidator and the Government arrived at a consensus position.This has
now been achieved.”
National Security
Minister the Hon. Bernard Nottage foreshadowed the establishment of Citizen
Security Councils in criminal hot spots to provide a measure of supervision and
to assist in the reduction in crime in those neighborhoods under the Citizen
Security and Justice program. The Northern Pastor Alliance in the Kemp Road
area headed by Rev. Dale Moss is a good model to replicate said the Minister.
He
made this announcement during the first reading of a resolution to borrow $20
million from the IDB to fund a Citizen Security and Justice program being
spearheaded by the Ministry of National Security.
The
Minister pointed out that the rate of incarceration in The Bahamas stands at
379 persons per 100,000 persons, well above the Caribbean average of 277
persons per 100,000 persons. Nottage also noted that the rate of recidivism was
on the increase and must be arrested.
He
provided a breakdown of the four components of the program as follow:
-
Social
crime and violence prevention in New Providence ($4.8 million). With 70% of
the population residing in New Providence, the program seeks to improve behaviors
for non-violent conflict resolution in New Providence and includes
evidence-based interventions (delivered in association with local NGOs,
schools, and others local partners) in order to prevent violence in some of The
Bahamas’ most troublesome communities. The program is heavy on social
re-engineering, public private sector partnerships and community involvement.
-
Youth employability,
employment training and strengthening of the Public Employment Services ($4
million). This
component
aims to increase
employability and employment among at-risk youth in The Bahamas (15-29 years
old).
-
Strengthening of the
justice administration system ($5.5 million). Institutional
strengthening and capacity building seek to address systemic bottlenecks and inefficiencies
in the administration of justice. These inefficiencies sometimes prevent the
successful and timely prosecution of and sentencing for crimes.
-
Rehabilitation and reintegration of
offenders ($3.3 million). This program component establishes a
parole system complete with assigned parole officers. The objective is to
improve the effectiveness of the Bahamian correctional services in reducing re-offenders
or the rate of recidivism.
Dr. Nottage assured the House that the Citizen Security
and Justice Programme also reinforces the ongoing work being undertaken by the
Ministry of Legal Affairs and Office of the Attorney General to strengthen the
Swift Justice Programme, which has seen widespread success in improving
efficiencies in the administration of justice. These developments are helping
the country move towards a safer and Stronger Bahamas.
Referring
to the success in the Ministry of Education in securing bipartisan support in
crafting a national education plan, Minister Nottage invited members of the
opposition to reach across the aisles and work with the government on this
national anti-crime and social development effort in the interest of all
Bahamians.
Gibson: Resolution to “increase
employability and employment of at-risk youth”
Debating
the resolution to borrow 20 million dollars from the IDB for the Inter-American
Development Bank funded Citizen Security and Justice Programme, Labour Minister
Gibson pointed out the five overarching objectives of the program as follow:
- Lead to a
reduction in Crime and Violence in The Bahamas.
- Promote
non-violent conflict resolution in New Providence
- Increase
employability and the employment of at-risk youth
- Strengthen
institutional capabilities of justice services
- Reduce the
recidivism rate among inmates at the Bahamas Department of Correctional
Services.
On the $4.08 million jobs training and employment
component of the program that will fall under his portfolio, the Minister told
the House that 2,600 at-risk youth between the ages of 15 and 27 will be
positively impacted by this program.
“The Department of Labour,
with the help of several non-government agencies, will identify 1,000 people between the ages of 15 and 27, who will be
enrolled in an apprenticeship program hosted by the National Training Agency.
Once participants have acquired new skills, they will have the opportunity to
work at local businesses engaged by the Department of Labour and the National
Tripartite Council.
“Secondly, the Department of
Labour in conjunction with the National Training Agency and the Bahamas
Technical & Vocational Institute will identify an additional 1600 young
people, who will participate in a comprehensive training
program with special emphasis on the Hospitality and Retail sectors” said
Minister Gibson.
NHI Bahamas
Secretariat unveils new NHI website
At
a press conference
on Monday morning at the National Health Insurance (NHI)
Bahamas Secretariat, Permanent Secretary Peter Deveaux-Isaacs and NHI project
coordinator Dr. Delon Brennen updated the media on some significant milestones
in the implementation of National Health Insurance as the new website was
launched.
The
website address is
www.nhibahamas.gov.bs
The compelling evidence for NHI exists in the
fact that 70% of Bahamians do not have health insurance said the NHI
Secretariat. Further, only 47% of Bahamian households were found to have at
least one insured person according to recent statistics and with households
spending approximately $2,300 per annum on healthcare, accessing quality
healthcare is beyond the reach of too many Bahamians resulting in premature
deaths and high rates of non-communicable diseases. Research has shown that
over 700 Bahamians die annually from preventable diseases and The Bahamas has
the highest rate of diabetes in the region.
“Not
being able to afford healthcare can result in illness and even death” said the
NHI Secretariat. “Severe illness can be prevented often with a simple visit to
the doctor, health education, and prevention activities. Modernizing our
current health care system is essential to improving the health of our
population.
“The
new (NHI) program ensures that all legal Bahamian residents – no matter your
income, age, island of residence or current health status – can receive health
care free of cost at the point of service. Cost of health care is paid for in
full or in part, by Government” said the NHI Secretariat.
Contract signed for
maintenance of east Paradise Island Bridge
Prime
Minister Christie, Deputy Prime Minister Davis and executives from the Bridge
Authority met at the Hera Room of the Convention Center in the Coral Towers of
Atlantis
on Monday morning to execute a contract for the refurbishment and
maintenance of the east Paradise Island Bridge.
The
$5.359 million contract signed with local engineering firm Island Site
Development is for the ‘immediate, comprehensive refurbishment of the eastern
bridge with a scheduled replacement in 2042.’
“This
is a very significant part of the mainstay of our country” said Prime Minister
Christie during the signing ceremony.
“It
is important that we pay attention to it and it is important that the hotel
owners over on Paradise island, the properties on Paradise Island becomes a
significant one where we are completely at one with them when it comes to
protecting the future of the island” said Mr. Christie.
The
chairman of the Bridge Authority, Mr. Rory Higgs, revealed an increase in the bridge
toll for single axle vehicles from $1 to $2.
This
and other projects under the purview of the Bridge Authority are part of a $28
million private placement bond being funded by shareholders through the Central
Bank of The Bahamas.
According
to Labour Minister Shane Gibson, 30 to 40 Bahamians will be employed during
this refurbishment project.
Moores Island to get
new infrastructure
Deputy
Prime Minister the Hon. Philip Brave Davis led a team of engineers, Technical
Officers and ministry officials
on Monday morning of this week to Moores Island
Abaco to host a consultative Town Hall Meeting at Greater Bethel Baptist Church.
The
purpose of the public meeting was to consult with and inform local residents of
the construction of five miles of new roads; new seawalls; a new sports academy
with dormitories; an upgrade to the municipal water supply network; and a new airport
terminal complete with an additional 1,000 feet of runway.
In
speaking with the residents, the Deputy Prime Minister said that he was not
there to make empty promises but to demonstrate that the promises were being
delivered as he spoke. This included the regularization of the long and vexing
challenge inherent in the ‘generation property’ phenomenon. By first taking
possession of the land through the Land Acquisition Act, the government would
be able to issue clear titles upon submission of applications, clearing up much
of the existing confusion.
Prime
Minister Christie, in recognizing the contribution Moores Island has made in
the area of sports, promised the construction of a sporting facility as a gift
to the youth of that island. Moores Island has produced elite track and field
athletes who have proudly represented The Bahamas in the international arena.
The
infrastructure upgrades and amenities will assist in bringing the quaint
settlement of Moores Island into the 21st century said area member
the Hon. Edison Key.
San Salvador International
Airport gets an upgrade
Transport
and Aviation Minister the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin led a delegation to San
Salvador
on Tuesday morning to tour the San Salvador International Airport as
it undergoes an expansion and structural upgrades after the terminal suffered
structural damage during the passage of Joaquin.
“It
would not be unfair to say that San Salvador is getting a new airport” said the
Transport and Aviation Minister, obviously pleased with the progress made to
date.
With
increased airlift to the island from France, Canada and the United States,
Minister Hanna-Martin is confident that an enhanced airport, the gateway, will
definitely enhance the island’s tourism product.
“An
enhanced airport that more properly facilitates people to this island I think
will enhance the (tourism) product” she said.
Having
commenced on the 12th January, the $1.2 million airport expansion and
upgrades are being carried out by World Construction and Development Company.
National Training
Agency graduates its fifth cohort
The
venue was the familiar Holy Trinity Activity Center
on Monday evening and the
speakers were the Labour Minister the Hon. Shane Gibson, the Executive Director
Agatha Marcelle and Chamber Chief Edison Sumner.
The
event was the fifth cohort of graduates from the National Training Agency where
some 170 graduates were trained in disciplines ranging from the Microsoft Windows
computer application to auto body work repair.
Minister
Gibson congratulated the institution, saying that he was “impressed by the
progress the agency has made over the years. To date, the agency and its work
have brought about a paradigm shift in how vocational training is delivered”
said Minister Gibson.
Director
Agatha Marcelle assured the youngsters that the training agency was established
to assist them in achieving their goals through the provision of second chances
and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and the Employers’ Confederation Edison
Sumner told graduates not to ever look back or harbor regrets for past mistakes,
but to fix their past mistakes and move forward.
“Living
life in the lane of regret gets you nowhere. The way to get over something that
you regret doing is to find a way to fix it” said the Chamber Chief.
In Passing…
A
ceremony was held
on Thursday evening to honour the Employee of The Year for
Nassau Flight Services. The ceremony was held at the Holy Trinity Activities
Center and delivering the keynote address was Transport and Aviation Minister
the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin.
Governor
General Dame HE Marguerite Pindling and Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Philip
Davis traveled to the South Central Bahamas this week to visit and encourage
communities recently ravaged by category four Hurrican Joaquin. Stops were made
in Crooked Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador and Long Island.
The
Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) was in Bimini
on Thursday of this week
to demonstrate its Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) or Flow TV as the
telecommunications giant prepares to launch the product in Inagua and three
other family islands. On hand to celebrate this achievement was Prime Minister
Christie. The Prime Minister spoke about great job and entrepreneurial
opportunities that will be created with the technological expansion in the
communications industry. One such area of opportunity according to CEO Leon
Williams is the establishment of Nassau as one of just three Smart Cities in
the Western Hemisphere, the other two being New York and Toronto.
President
of the Court of Appeal Justice Anita Allen defended the decisions of the court
and warned newspaper editors about potentially contemptuous editorials recently
published in the local dailies. She warned editors to take the time to educate themselves
on all of the facts surrounding the cases before offering public opinions on
the same.
Earlier
this week, FNM Senator Lanisha Rolle called into a local talk show and attacked
members of the Lower House. Former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson
criticized her while former Cabinet Minister Maurice Moore supported her.
Opposition leader the Hon. Hubert Minnis held a FNM caucus meeting then issued
a statement calling such attacks “unhelpful” and called for party unity.
Central Grand Bahama Member of Parliament the Hon. Neko Grant demanded an
apology from Senator Rolle who offered only a private apology.
The
Bahamas Olympic Committee announced
on Friday afternoon that The Bahamas was
successful in its bid to host the 7th Commonwealth Youth Games here
in Nassau scheduled for the 19th to the 23rd of July
2017. The games are under the auspices of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Over 1,000 junior athletes from 71 Commonwealth countries are expected to participate
in seven events, namely athletics, boxing, cycling, judo, rugby, swimming and
tennis.
Calling
it a “red letter day” for our youth and for junior sailing generally,
Agriculture Minister the Hon. Alfred Gray announced a junior national regatta
competition as a stand-alone event as the government gives focused attention to
this national sporting activity and the role young athletes will play in its
further development. He made this announcement at a press conference at his
ministry on Friday, 29th January 2016. The regatta is called the Sir
Durward Knowles National Invitational Junior Sailing Regatta involving ‘E’
Class sailing sloops. This event is scheduled for George Town, Exuma during the
Easter holiday weekend, or the 25th to the 28th March
2016. Until now the junior regatta was a part of the National Family Island
Regatta that took place in George Town at the end of April each year.
Minister
Gray also introduced a new initiative in the government led backyard farming
program. Errington Thompson and Ian Hutchinson, two consultants within the
Ministry of Agriculture will head up the new and expanded backyard farming
program. In addition to managing farms at the Department of Corrections and the
Ranfurly Home for Children, Thompson and Hutchinson are now tasked with
expanding the program to include ten inner city properties as the government
seeks to take backyard farming to a new level.
About the author: Elcott Coleby is a Deputy Director at the
Bahamas Information Services. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Chemistry (B.Sc) and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA). He provides
frequent commentary on public policy and communicates the works of the
government. Address all comments to the following email:
egcoleby44@gmail.com