By TAMARA DELANEY
Freeport News Reporter
tdelaney@nasguard.com
Observing the need to improve youth activities and challenges faced with housing projects in several districts, Youth, Sports and Housing Minister Neville Wisdom called for a review of safety plans for all youth summer programmes and housing strategies for Grand Bahama.
Speaking at a press conference in the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, Minister Wisdom said the new youth objectives entails the registration of all youth organizations as well as the safeguard of summer programmes and employment for youths.
"Due to some recent challenges that we have had with respect to the safety of our youths in this country, we are asking all organizations that have anything to do with summer programmes, by way of employment or activities, to register their interest with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Housing offices at the Office of the Prime Minster in Grand Bahama," he said.
"We are asking youth leaders and employers to register with the ministry because we want to monitor and justify our programmes and employment and be able to audit their progress, and ensure the objectives that are set so that the situation is adhered to and successful. We don't want to see our young people exploited."
The minister vocalized his concerns with the number of young people getting abused by older people, and said that legal action will be taken against those who fail to abide by the law.
"I beg the indulgence of everyone to register with the ministry, so that we can have all of the relevant programmes reviewed and be able to list a group of justified, authenticated programmes so that the parents can know that they can send their kids to a safe programme," he said.
Certain that the ministry is set on creating a safe environment, Mr. Wisdom said that the revision of some 1,200 youth programmes in The Bahamas will only work if parents assist.
"We have found that young people who are not involved with Grand Bahama youth programmes tend to be involved in crime rate.
"We believe that if parents can take the initiative to get their young people involved in at least one youth organization, it will all go well for the Grand Bahama future."
He encouraged parents to get their children involved in youth organizations because, although some programmes need adjustments, the majority still teaches discipline and team work.
Beginning June 1, the Minister said that he will launch an engaging trading programme for all young persons involved in summer programmes, so that they can be properly trained and know the core value and basic concepts in order to meet the desired results for his new plan.
On matters of housing, Mr. Wisdom explained that his committee and the government will continue to focus on a strategic plan for the development of a community spirit which will carry throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
"There has been a review of some of the projected plans and therefore community spirit and development will be the end result," he said.
The minister mentioned three major challenges for housing in Grand Bahama which need to be resolved.
"Our main challenges is that we are trying to keep up with the rate of demand for affordable housing, accentuate and accelerate the repair of existing and damaged facility in Grand Bahama and finally, to attend to the urban renewal initiative which have been enunciated by the government."
The minister noted that plans to eradicate such problems will be done by repairing areas that have been damaged through the hurricanes or decayed by weathering, noting that urban areas will have the most attention.
He also warned that the government of The Bahamas, through many of its programmes, would not build homes in excess of what it was prior to the hurricanes and under hurricane relief rules, people cannot expect for the government to carryout such massive expansion.
"We look at those cases where workers were displaced from the Royal Oasis Hotel and the hurricanes, and so we try to see how well we can try to address the issues," the minister advised.
"Contrary to what may have been indicated, there has been no slow down in Grand Bahama and business is as usual, and we are on our way to expanding the housing plan in Grand Bahama."
Mr. Wisdom said that he is satisfied with the efforts of the officials in Grand Bahama and said that they are doing the best they can to meet the requirements which he has outlined.
Proper evaluations and taking the necessary steps to provide affordable and consistent housing for the people of Grand Bahama have been initiated by the ministry with the massive Sunset Village Housing infrastructure in Eight Mile Rock.
Having been reduced from 200 to a 187 housing complex, the ministry has made the adjustments in order to include more.
The one million dollar infrastructure project is expected to be completed by January 2007.
GAINING WISDOM – Minister of Youth, Sports and Housing, Neville Wisdom, addressed new plans for The Bahamas' 1,200 youth programmes as well as the agenda for reviewing housing projects in Grand Bahama that are currently under way. Pictured from left to right are: Liela Greene, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing; Minister Wisdom; and Autherine Turnquest, Director of Youth.
(Staff photo by Bradley Rutherford)
