Madam Speaker,
I rise, as always, on behalf of the good people of Cat Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador, many of whom I will have the good fortune to see tomorrow, in Cat Island.
Big changes are underway in my constituency, as they are nationwide.
Bahamians know the years ahead will be filled with new opportunities, and are partnering with us to make sure progress comes to all of our communities across all of our islands.
We are building hospitals, airports, and solar power – the 21st-century infrastructure our people deserve.
And we are building programmes that lift people up – through national service, through training and apprenticeships, through sports, and scholarships, and new opportunities.
Together, we’re building a country that honours the dignity and God-given potential of every Bahamian.
And that is precisely why I stand today in this Honourable House in support of the Urban Renewal Authority Bill 2024.
Madam Speaker,
When you’re in the business of changing lives, you are always seeking new opportunities.
So before I speak to the ways in which Urban Renewal changes lives, I’d like to briefly update the House and the public on one or two aspects of the productive 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa last week, where I met with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, with his Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. David Lammy, with President Nana Afuko-Addo of Ghana, and with many other distinguished fellow heads of state and senior officials.
My emphasis at international meetings is always building and strengthening the partnerships and collaborations which can provide new opportunities and resources for Bahamians. At the Commonwealth Business Forum Roundtable for Island Nation Leaders, we focused on reducing trade barriers, to promote our home-grown entrepreneurs and business owners, and as always, we worked to strengthen our alliance to combat climate change, which is of course an economic issue, as well as a threat to safety and security. I was pleased to note that about 13 businesses from the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, led by Dr. Leo Rolle, were in attendance, and were able to network and promote Bahamian business and The Bahamas.
And it was my distinct pleasure to attend the launch of the King’s new Commonwealth Fellowship Programme, which will provide fellowships for upskilling and training in climate resilience, and undergraduate studies in education, health care, and engineering, as well as PhD Fellowships, which will benefit not only the Bahamians who directly participate but our entire country, as we will benefit from their expertise. I am pleased to say that the King acknowledged to me that this new initiative grew, in part, out of earlier conversations he and I have had, in London.
Madam Speaker,
When it comes to The Bahamas, and Bahamians, I am an incurable optimist.
That’s because our people are graced with an almost limitless supply of talent and determination.
So I know that when we build new opportunities, Bahamians will step up and seize them, and achieve things which exceed even our wildest hopes and dreams.
The next generation of Bahamian athletes, innovators, educators, surgeons, astronauts, entrepreneurs and World Series baseball players is growing up right now.
And we don’t want any of them to have their path derailed by hardship or circumstance.
We want every one of our children to flourish.
That has always been the impetus behind Urban Renewal, initiated in the first Christie Administration.
We know strong, safe communities are essential for our children – for all of our citizens.
As weapons and drugs have flowed over our borders and into our communities, crime and criminality have proved stubborn foes.
But difficult is not the same thing as impossible.
We know progress is possible – we know that we can turn the tide, which is why we have policies to address poverty, to feed our children, to keep them in school, and to provide opportunities of all sizes and shapes. And it is why we have policies to interdict illegal weapons flows, to clear out gang activities, to clear the backlog of criminal cases in our courts, and to build safer communities.
As you may know, we recently launched our Clear, Hold, Build strategy, an initiative of the Gang and Crime Justice Taskforce, co-chaired by the members for Freetown and Englerston.
The three-phase approach is as follows: Clear an area of criminal elements, then hold it by establishing a strong presence, then build by making long-term investments in community development, social services, and economic opportunities.
It is in the Build phase that we have an obvious synergy with Urban Renewal.
We build stronger communities from the ground up – the best changes are always powered by the people.
Of course, as you have heard me say before, there is no replacement for parents and grandparents who create loving, safe homes. And we need strong men in our communities, willing to stand up as role models and mentors, and offer the power of their example along with guidance.
I see more and more Bahamians answering the call, recognizing that the tragedy of crime is all of ours to solve together.
The importance of Urban Renewal is that it can focus support for community-building, providing a safe hub for engagement, outreach, and social support.
It has always been such a good idea – to make sure community-building resources are placed directly in our communities.
Who could oppose such an initiative, one so clearly necessary, one so worthy of universal support?
Only those more interested in politics than progress, perhaps. Urban Renewal was attacked from the outset, then later terribly neglected, a near-casualty of the Stop Review Cancel politics of obstruction and destruction. Tragically, some people seemed to care more that the programme fail than our children succeed.
But good ideas have a way of sticking around.
Urban Renewal is going strong, a cornerstone in many of our communities – a testament to the strength of the original vision and to the many Bahamians who have contributed to the programme’s success, not least of whom are all the young Bahamians who take advantage of the lifelines and the opportunities and show us the glory of who they can be when given a chance.
Madam Speaker,
We are poised to strengthen and improve Urban Renewal further.
The new Urban Renewal Authority established by this bill will support the formation of community programmes.
The Bill identifies Boys and Girls Clubs, bands, homework assistance, choirs, sports clubs, diploma programmes, computer literacy and IT classes, parenting programmes, teenage health programmes, anti-gang initiatives, clubs for the elderly, and programmes to support people with disabilities, among others, that may be a part of Urban Renewal.
Many of these programmes already exist in some form in our communities, with our Urban Renewal Centres acting as a hub.
In fact, that is an important strength of our approach to Urban Renewal: Rather than take a generic, one-size-fits-all approach, Urban Renewal is designed to have the flexibility to meet the needs of individual communities.
So, for example, music and marching bands are at the beating heart of some Urban Renewal centres; others may be more sports or technology-focused.
Urban Renewal Officers and staff often assist organisations they are hosting with community engagement, recruitment, and other forms of support.
This Bill outlines the standards under which assistance can be granted to those who want to start programmes and projects in urban communities.
Urban Renewal will now be even better equipped to have an impact.
To expedite assistance when it is urgently needed, the Board can also make a grant to a home or building owner in need of repairs. This ensures that in exceptional circumstances, repairs can be done as quickly as possible.
There are now enhanced standards of accountability for the use of funds, including regular inspections and record-keeping.
Contractors for home repairs must meet outlined standards, to provide quality assurance for the work.
There will be a uniform, objective standard by which grants, loans, and contracts may be awarded.
Strict standards will also apply to funding. The two primary sources of funding will be the budgeted amount allocated to the Authority by Parliament, and funds given to the Authority by donors.
The Authority will be required to meet the reporting, auditing, and procurement standards applicable to other government agencies, and will have the power to borrow and invest to meet Urban Renewal needs.
Madam Speaker,
Urban Renewal is important to Bahamians, and as our ambitions for the role it can play grow, we know how important it is to ensure the programme retains the trust and high regard of the communities and people whom it serves.
I have had countless conversations with Bahamians who have participated, in one way or another, in Urban Renewal. It is always very moving to hear the difference that participation in a band, or dance club, or sports team, or after-school tutoring can make, during a pivotal time in life, when the decisions one makes start to have real consequences.
And it’s not only the participants whose lives are changed – it’s the volunteers, the sports coaches, the band leaders. We all benefit when we come together.
Madam Speaker,
If you believe in the power of community – if you believe in the spirit, courage, talent, and resolve of our people – you believe in Urban Renewal.
As we bring this debate to a close, I pray that God continues to nurture in us our most audacious hopes and dreams for our people. We pray for his continued blessings for all of our children, and for our nation as a whole.