MR. SPEAKER,

       I WOULD WISH TO BEGIN BY CONGRATULATING YOU ON YOUR RECENT UNANIMOUS ELECTION  TO THE POSITION OF SPEAKER OF THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE.  I TRUST THAT THE PEOPLE OF NORTH ELEUTHERA IN PARTICULAR ARE MADE PROUD BY YOUR ELEVATION AND NO DOUBT THE COUNTRY WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY AT HOW YOU DISPATCH YOUR SACRED DUTIES IN THIS PLACE.

IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THE LAST MEMBER FOR  NORTH ELEUTHERA TO HOLD THAT POST WAS SIR ALVIN BRAYNEN WHO IN 1967 PLAYED A VERY PIVOTOL ROLE IN THE ATTAINMENT OF MAJORITY RULE  WHEN, LIKE NOW, THE ELECTION RESULT WAS VERY CLOSE AND SIR ALVN BRAYNEN THREW HIS SUPPORT BEHIND THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY. MR. SPEAKER, I DON’T THINKTHERE WILL BE ANY SUCH EXPECTATIONS OF YOU ON THIS OCCASION!

MR. SPEAKER, I CANNOT BEGIN ANY PRESENTATION IN THIS HOUSE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THE  ENGLERSTON CONSTITUENCY.

MR. SPEAKER, DESPITE ALL THE TALK (AND THERE WAS LOTS OF TALK..AND  NUMEROUS LIES, I MIGHT ADD)  THE VOTERS OF THE ENGLERSTON CONSTITUENCY CAME OUT IN STRONG NUMBERS AND MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR, INDISPUTABLY.

MR. SPEAKER, FOR THAT I THANK THEM. I THANK THEM FOR CHOOSING ME AS THEIR VOICE IN THIS PLACE, TO SPEAK FREELY AND FEARLESSLY IN PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF OUR CITIZNS AND FOR THE ADVANCEMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE  WELLBEING OF OUR PEOPLE AND TO TRUST ME TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT WHEREVER THE CHIPS MAY FALL.

MR. SPEAKER, I PRAY THAT I WILL NEVER LET THEM DOWN.

 I HAVE TO SAY THAT IN SUCH A HARD FOUGHT POLITICAL BATTLE, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEIR CLARITY OF VISION AND RESOLUTENESS.

MR. SPEAKER,

I SAY WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT THAT THIS BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY THE MEMBER FOR NORTH ABACO AND AS  ARTICULATED TO DATE BY THE RELEVANT MINISTERS DOES NOT CONTAIN AN UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY  OR PREVAILING  VISION AS TO HOW THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY WILL UNFOLD AND AS TO HOW THE CRITICAL, VEXING AND SERIOUS CHALLENGES OUR SOCIETY FACES DAILY WILL BE TACKLED.  MR. SPEAKER, THIS BUDGET SEEMS MORE PREOCCUPIED WITH  FISCAL COSMETICS AND POLITICAL CATCH WORDS. THE ECONOMY IS MERELY A TOOL TO SHAPE AND MOULD THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ANY HUMAN  SOCIETY. IT DOES NOT EXIST IN A PRETTY VACUUM BUT MUST ELUCIDATE A VISION, SIGNAL SOME ENERGY FOR SOCIAL EXISTENCE AND FUTURE GROWTH..

I HEAR THE FLAMBOYANT CLAIMS ABOUT ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY BY A SINGLE MONETARY ALLOCATION OF $3 MILLION AND CLAIMS OF JUMP STARTING THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COMMONWEALTH  BY AN ALLOCATION OF $1 MILLION.

 BUT I AM NOT CONVINCED.

 I THREW MYSELF INTO THE POLITICAL FRAY AND CAME TO THIS PLACE TO BE A PART, GOD WILLING OF FUNDAMENTAL AND MEANINGFUL CHANGE FOR OUR PEOPLE.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN A BANDAID APPROACH  ALTHOUGH I DO ACCEPT THAT BANDAIDS HAVE A LIMITED ROLE TO PLAY IN THE SHORTTERM IN ALLEVIATING SUFFERING .
 BUT, MR, SPEAKER, THE  NEW FEATURES OF THIS BUDGET (AND THERE ARE FEW) DO NOT DISCLOSE A MEANINGFUL COMMITMENT TO REAL CHANGE OR   TRUE TRANSFORMATION.
 
 

MR. SPEAKER, I THINK IT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED THAT ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE ENGINES OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT.

THAT IS WHY THE   URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT IS SO IMPORTANT. DURING THE MOST RECENT ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND EVEN IN THIS PLACE BEFORE THE LAST ELECTION  MEMBERS OF THE FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT SOUGHT TO DENIGRATE AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACT THIS PROGRAMME WAS HAVING ON OUR PEOPLE IN INNER CITY COMUNITIES.

I WAS AMUSED THEREFORE, TO HEAR THE MEMBER FOR MARCO CITY SAY THAT NOT ONLY DO THEY LOVE THE URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT..BUT THEY LOVE IT MORE THAN WE DO PROVEN BY THE ALLOCATION OF GREATER RESOURCES OF THIS GOVERNMENT IN THIS BUDGET.

MR. SPEAKER, THE PRESENTATION OF THE MEMBER FOR YAMACRAW HAS PUT THIS ASSERTION TO REST. SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE ALLOCATION IN THIS NEW BUDGET IS IN FACT  LESS THAN WHAT WAS ENVISIONED WHEN SHEWAS INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE BUDGET. SHE NOTED  THAT THE OPERATIONAL COST ALLOCATION  FOR THE PROJECT HAS IN FACT BEEN DECREASED  FUNDAMENTALLY IMPACTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT.

BUT, MR. SPEAKER, I NEED TO SPEAK A LITTLE ABOUT THE URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAMMME WHICH HAS BEEN SO DENIGRATED BY THOSE OPPOSITE BUT WHICH OPERATED SO VIBRANTLY IN THE ENGLERSTON CONSTITUENCY.

MR. SPEAKER,  THE ENLERSTON URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT  HAS BEEN PARTICULARY SUCCESSFUL UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ASP ARNETTE.
THE PROJECT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF INTERNATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATIONS  AND HAS WON AT LEAST ONE INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR ITS COMMUNITY POLICING COMPONENT.
 

 MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS JUNCTURE I WISH TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER FOR HIS WISDOM AND COURAGE IN SEEING THAT THIS INITIATIVE COULD BE SO BENEFICIAL TO OUR COUNTRY.

 IN THE ENGLERSTON CONSTITUENCY THE RATE OF CRIME PLUMMETTED.
 RESIDENTS WERE TURNING IN FIREARMS TO THE BRANCH OFFICE.

 YOUNG MALE STUDENTS WHO WERE SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL FOR INFRACTIONS WERE PLACED UNDER THE WATCH AND GUIDANCE OF THESE OFFICERS.

THERE IS A DISTINCT COLLABORATION  WITH  YOUTH GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS WHICH  SERVES TO STRENGTHEN THE MENTORSHIP OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.

OVER THE FIVE YEARS I PERSONALLY OBSERVED THE STEADY GROWTH AND POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, CHILDREN WHO WERE CLEARLY AT RISK OF AN ARRAY OF SOCIAL ILLS,  TEENAGE PREGNANCY, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, AIDS, A LIFE OF UTTER HARDSHIP. I HAVE SEEN THESE KIDS COMING INTO THEIR OWN AND BEING STEERED IN A FOCUSED DIRECTION BY CARING PEOPLE.

MR. SPEAKER AS TO THE  MARCHING BAND,  I AM TOLD THAT RELIABLE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH  HAS SHOWN THAT THERE IS A  CLEAR  CORRELATION BETWEEN THE STUDY OF MUSIC AND HIGH ACADEMICACHIEVEMENT.

I  PROVED FOR MYSELF THIS ASSERTION  WHEN I  ONE DAY RANDOMLY ASKED A  15 YEAR OLD BOY WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE BAND FROM KEY WEST STREET ABOUT HIS PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL.

HE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE HE  JOINED THE BAND HIS GPA WAS 1.7. AND AFTER HAVING JOINED IT HAD IMPROVED TO 2.4.

MR. SPEAKER, THE ENGLERSTON PROGRAMME HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY INNOVATIVE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ASP ARNETTE, NOW BEING LED BY INSPECTOR SMITH. MR. ARNETTE INTRODUCED THE DISTRICT CONSTABLE PROGRAME WHICH HAS PROVEN SO SUCCESSFUL NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED IN THE OTHER PROJECTS.

THE DISTRICT CONSTABLES ARE DRAWN FROM THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE. THEY ARE TRAINED BY THE POLICE AND ARE INVOLVED IN STRUCTURED AND DISCIPLINED ACTIVITIES  INCLUDING  REGULAR AND ROUTINE WALKABOUTS, DAY AND NIGHT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT OFFICE IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY.

THESE CONSTABLES TAKE OWNERSHIP OF AND  RESPONSIBILTY FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
 DURING THE LAST MAJOR HURRICANE THE DISTRICT CONSTABLES IN ENGLERSTON LEFT THEIR  HOMES AND  FAMILIES AND IN THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM COULD BE SEEN  ON THE STREETS OF ENGLERSTON ASSURING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE ELDERLY AND THE VULNERABLE.

WHAT IS AMAZING, MR. SPEAKER, IS THEIR INVOLVEMENT IS NOT ONLY HIGHLY ENTHUSIATIC AND DEEPLY COMMITTED BUT IT IS ALSO  PURELY VOLUNTARY.

MR. SPEAKER,  TWO DIVERSE STORIES WILL GIVE SOME INSIGHT INTO THE IMPACT THIS PROJECT HAS HAD.

THE FIRST IS THAT OF A YOUNG MAN WHOM I MET A FEW YEARS AGO.

HE TOLD ME THEN  OF HOW WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG TEENAGER, HE RAN AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE OF DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND LIVED FOR 3 YEARS IN A CAR, GOING TO SCHOOL FROM THAT CAR UNTIL HE STOPPED GOING. THE WINDOWS OF HIS VEHICLE HOME WAS  DARKENED BY NEWSPAPERS.

HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE URBAN RENEWAL TEAM MET HIM HE WAS SITTING UNDER A TREE AS HE HAD COME TO DO ON A REGULAR BASIS. MR. SPEAKER, THE ENCOUNTER WAS IMPORTANT AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

TODAY THIS YOUNG MAN IS A MEMBER OF THE DISCIPLINED FORCES IN A SPECIALIZED AREA MAKING A TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTION TO HIS COUNTRY.
 

MR. SPEAKER, A VERY DIFFERENT EXAMPLE IS THAT INVOLVING A 90 YEAR OLD RESIDENT. I WAS ATTENDING A DINNER  FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS HOSTED BY THE URBAN RENEWAL GROUP. THEY WERE ALL DRESSED IN THEIR  FINERIES ENJOYING CANDLELIT DINNERS. MR. SPEAKER. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT CAUSED MY JAW TO DROP AND MY HEART TO FILL . AN ELDERLY MAN MORE THAN 90 YEARS OF AGE WHO I THOUGHT I KNEW, PRODUCED  A HARMONICA  AND PROCEEDED TO PLAY  THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF  ALL.

 TO MANY HE WAS JUST AN OLD MAN. THAT NIGHT WE LEARNED HE WAS SO MUCH MORE.

MR. SPEAKER,  THE PROGRAMMES OF OUTREACH TO THE ELDERLY ISCRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF THAT COMMUNITY, CREATING BALANCE AND NURTURING RESPECT BY  LATER GENERATIONS WHO NOW SEEKT TO PROTECT THESE CITIZENS UNDERSTANDING THESE PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING VALUABLE TO OFFER.

MR. SPEAKER,  I HAVE NOT SPOKEN ABOUT THE REPAIRS TO DILAPIDATED HOMES, THE CLOSE ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE IN NEED.

THE URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAMME, THE BRAINCHILD OF THE MEMBER FOR FARM ROAD IS AN INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVE.

 IT IS THESE KINDS OF APPROACHES WHICH HELP TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY, ERADICATE CRIME, AND ENSURE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY SO AS TO FULFILL ONE’S POTENTIAL. AS THE MEMBER FOR KENNEDY STATED MANY   PEOPLE  HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.

IT IS CLEAR THE MEMBERS OPPOSITE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENNING IN THIS PROGRAMME.  THE PROGRAMME ADDRESSED MANY OF THE TABNGIBLES, HOUSING, THE ENVIRONMENT FOOD ASSISTANCE , BUT IT DID SOMETHING MUCH MORE AND THIS IS THE TRANSFORMATIVE, IT TAPPED INTO THE  INTANGILBLE, STIMULATED  THE NOBILITY IN OUR HUMANITY WHICH HAS BECOME SO AT RISK IN MODERN, MATERIALISTIC AND INDIVIDUALISTIC SOCIETIES. RESPECT, HONOUR, PRIDE, VOLUNTEERISM, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, TAKING OF RESPONSIBILITY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP YOUR POTENTIAL.

MR. SPEAKER,  I SAY TO THE GOVERNMENT IF YOU ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO ALLEVIATING POVERTY AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE, GIVE LIFE TO THESE PROJECTS. LET  THOSE SOCIAL WORKERS GET BACK INTO THE FIELD AND TOUCH PEOPLE’S LIVES.  LET THOSE COMMUNITY POLICE OFFICERS CONTINUE THEIR WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES AND IN THE SCHOOLS. AND DO NOT HOLD  BACK ON THE REQUIRED  RESOURCES.
 

MR. SPEAKER, AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE OUR PEOPLE DESERVE MORE THAN THE LEADERSHIP AS EXPRESSED IN THIS BUDGET. THERE IS MUCH MORE I CAN SAY BUT TIME DOES NOT PERMIT AND I AM BOUND TO COMMENT ON THE AREAS OF THE BUDGET AS ARTICULATED BY THE RELEVANT MINISTERS RELATIVE TO WHAT WAS FORMERLY THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND AVIATION.

MR. SPEAKER, COMPONENTS OF THAT MINISTRY NOW LIE IN FOUR DIFFERENT MINISTRIES.  I WILL SEEK TO ADDRESS WHAT I BELIEVE ARE THE IMPORTANT MATTERS THAT SHOULD BE AIRED FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR PEOPLE.
 

MR. SPEAKER, I WILL ADDRESS FIRST THE PRESENTATION OF THE MEMBER FOR BAMBOO TOWN, THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND AVIATION.

MR. SPEAKER, THE BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT OWNS AND OPERATES 28 AIRPORTS, 16 OF WHICH ARE PORTS OF ENTRY. FROM A RESOURCE POINT OF VIEW, THE DEMANDS ARE VERY HIGH  PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF EVOLVING INTERNATIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY STANDARDS AND NORMS AND IN LIGHT OF THE RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF ECONOMIES IN OUR FAMILY ISLANDS AND INDEED NEW PROVIDENCE.

WE FOUND THAT THE APPROACH TO AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT THAT WE INHERITED WAS EXTREMELY AD HOC, UNPLANNED AND CRISIS DRIVEN.
  AS A RESULT IN THE FIRST YEARS OF HOLDING OFFICE MY MINISTRY WAS ABSORBED WITH ADDRESSING IMPORTANT, EVEN CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WERE LEFT BLATANTLY UNADDRESSED AND WHICH HAD IN FACT REACHED CRITICAL LEVELS, CHIEF AMONG WHICH WAS THE DETERIORATION OF RUNWAY 1432, THE MAIN RUNWAY,  AT THE LPIA.

  MR. SPEAKER YOU WILL NOTE THAT IN OUR SHORT TENURE, APART FROM HAVING TO SPEND TREMENDOUS RESOURCES AND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN CORRECTING PREVIOUS NEGLECT, WE WERE DRIVEN  BY A MORE PLANNED, DELIBERATE AND WHOLISTIC APPROACH TO AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT.  WE BEGAN TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A MORE RATIONAL APPROACH TO AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT.

MR. SPEAKER, PRIOR TO LEAVING OFFICE IT WAS MY INTENTION TO COMMISSION TECHNICAL AUDITS OF ALL AIRPORTS IN THE BAHAMAS SO THAT ASSESSEMENTS COULD BE MADE OF INFRASTRUCTURAL, PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS AND PROJECTED NEEDS IN THE MEDIUM TO LONG TERM FOR OUR AIRPORTS. I ALSO INTENDED TO COMMISSION  A NATIONAL AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PLAN. I TRUST THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WILL SEE SOME WISDOM IN THIS  APPROACH.
 

MR. SPEAKER, CIVIL AVIATION IS A VERY COMPLEX AREA AND I  HAVE KEPT THAT IN MIND IN MY ASSESSMENT OF THIS NEW MEMBER’S PRESENTATION IN THIS HOUSE PARTICULARLY AS IT RELAYES TO SUBTLE INACCURACIES WHICH HIS PRESENTATION DISCLOSE.

 MR. SPEAKER,

THE  ISSUE OF AIRPORT SECURITY AT LPIA HAS BEEN GIVEN UTMOST PRIORITY BY THIS NEW GOVERNMENT, AS IT HAD DURING MY ENTIRE TENURE AS MINISTER.

. MR. SPEAKER,

SINCE SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, AIRPORTS HAVE CHANGED WORLDWIDE AS IT RELATES TO SECURITY AND ALMOST EVERY AREA OF AIRPORT OPERATION HAS BEEN AFFECTED.THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE ACROSS THE BOARD AND INCLUDES THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC.

ANY STUDY OF THIS DYNAMIC AREA WORLDWIDE WILL REVEAL THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES AND VEXING ISSUES WHICH CONTINUE TO PLAGUE SECURITY SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES WORLDWIDE. EVEN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE ARENA IN WHICH 9/11 WAS PLAYED OUT, THE CHALLENGES POSED BY AVAITION SECURITY  HOMELAND SECURITY HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF EXTENSIVE REVIEW AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION, EVEN INCLUDING SENATE HEARINGS.

HERE IN THE BAHAMAS WE HAVE ALSO FACED CHALLENGES. LAST YEAR PURSUANT TO AN ICAO MANDATE ALL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS WERE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT  ONE HUNDRED PERCENT SCREENING OF CHECKED BAGGAGE.

FOR THE BAHAMAS THIS AFFECTED 17 GOVERNENT OWNED AND OPERATED  AIRPORTS  AND  SEVERAL PRIVATELY OWNED AIRPORTS FOR WHICH THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT HAS REGULATORY OVERSIGHT.

MR. SPEAKER, IN PURSUANCE OF THIS MANDATE, THE GOVERNMENT EXPENDED SOME $19 MILLION FOR ACQUISITION OF STATE OF THE ART SCREENING EQUIPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES AT LPIA AND THE TRAINING OF PERSONNEL NATIONWIDE. IN THE LAST 5 YEARS THE  TRAINING OF PERSONNEL WAS A MATTER OF PRIORITY AND CONTINUOUS.

ACTING ON THE FAVOURABLE RECOMMENDATION OF THE TSA WE ENGAGED  THE SERVICES OF AN ISRAELI  SECURITY CONSULTING FIRM  WHO ASSESSED OUR SYSTEMS AND TRAINED PERSONNEL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
 WE ENGAGED A CANADIAN CONSULTANT WITH PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN PRE CLEARANCE FACILITIES TO ASSESS ALONG WITH OUR OWN EXPERTS THE STATE OF READINESS OF FAILY ISLAND AIRPORTS FOR THIS ICAO MANDATE.

 THE TSA ITSELF CONDUCTED THE TRAINING OF PERSONNEL. OUR OFFICERS AVAILED THEMSELVES OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN  THE CARIBBEAN AND IN THE UNITED STATES. AS A MATTER OF POLICY,  WE TRAINED TRAINERS SO THAT THE PROCESS OF TRAINING COULD BE CARRIED OUT CONTINUOISLY BY OUR OWN PERSONNEL.

MR. SPEAKER, MY MINISTRY WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE TSA OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD WHEN ROUTINE AUDITS WERE CONDUCTED ON A REGULAR BASIS BY THE TSA  AND OBSERVATIONS MADE ABOUT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AT THE AIRPORT.

 I SAT  IN MANY OF THOSE DEBRIEFINGS AND THE TSA LEADERS FOR THIS REGION ARE KNOWN TO ME AND I TO THEM. THE RECENT ARREST AND SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION OF NFS BAGGAGE HANDLERS HAS BROUGHT TO THE FORE  WEAKNESSES IN ASPECTS OF THE SECURITY SYSTEM.

MR. SPEAKER, IN DELIBERATE FASHION I MOVED IMMEDIATELY TO APPOINT A MULTI AGENCY TASK FORCE  WITH SPECIFIC TERMS OF REFERENCE COMPRISING GOVERNMENT AGENCY STAKEHOLDERS, COMMERCIAL AIRLINE  STAKEHOLDERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

OUR CHIEF CONCERN WAS AIRPORT SECURITY IN GENERAL BUT WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE PRE CLEARANCE FACILITY AT THE AIRPORT.

BEFORE I LEFT OFFICE I HAD SIGHT OF THE DRAFT REPORT AND MADE NOTE OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS. THE REPORT MAKES SOME VERY ASTUTE AND IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS.  I BELIEVE THIS TASK FORCE EFFORT  WILL PROVE TO BE AN INVALUABLE TOOL TO STRENGTHEN OUR SECURITY SYSTEM AT LPIA AND WILL AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AIRPORT SECURITY PLAN. MR. SPEAKER, IT IS THIS TASK FORCE OF WHICH THE MEMBER FOR  BAMBOO TOWN SPOKE AND OF WHICH THE SUBSTANTIVE MINISTER SPOKE OUTSIDE OF THIS PLACE.

 MR. SPEAKER, THE MEMBER  WILL FIND THAT THE CHALLENGES IN AIRPORT SECURITY WILL BE A FIXED FEATURE OF HIS PROTFOLIO BUT IT IS HOPED THE GROUNDWORK LAID WILL ASSIOST HIS EFFORTS.

MR. SPEAKER, WHILE I AM ON THE TOPIC OF THE NFS BAGGAGE HANDLERS, I KNOW THIS ISSUE FORMED AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR THIS NEW GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS  FALSELY ALLEGED  BY AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OPPOSITE THAT I KNEW CERTAIN THINGS AND WAS COMPLICIT IN CERTAIN THINGS.   NOW THAT THIS GOVERNENT HAS THE FILES AND THE POLITICAL POWER, THEY WILL NO DOUBT BRING SOME TANGIBLE MEANING TO THE POLITICAL TALK. I TRUST THE FAMILIES, THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, OUR OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WILL BE LISTENING WITH INTEREST.

MR. SPEAKER, I WISH TO ADDRESS BRIEFLY  THE MEMBER’S  CLAIM IN HIS SPEECH  THAT  “HEATED EXCHANGES” ON AIRPORT SECURITY TOOK PLACE IN THE MEDIA BETWEEN THE THEN U.S. AMBASSADOR AND MYSELF. THIS IS NOT TRUE.  THE FORMER AMBASSADOR, A FOREIGN DIPLOMAT,  WAS SIMPLY REMINDED  THAT IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE  TO BE DISCUSSING AIRPORT SECURITY ON A REPEATED BASIS IN SUCH  A PUBLIC FASHION.  FIRST AND FOREMOST THE TSA, THE AGENCY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR AVIATION SECURITY AND FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE PRECLEARANCE FACILITY AT LPIA AND WHO WAS IN CONTINUOUS DISCUSSIONS WITH US  HAS ON THE MORE THAN ONE  OCCASION  ADMONISHED US ON  THE UNDESIRABILITY OF DISCUSSING AIRPORT SECURITY IN THE MEDIA.

SECONDLY, THE FORMER AMBASSADOR’S PUBLIC PROCLAMATIONS CONTAINED INACCURACIES WHICH HE LATER PUBLICLY  CONCEDED AND FINALLY, THE FORMER AMBASSADOR WAS VERY  AWARE THAT THE  GOVERNMENT HAD ESTABLISHED A TASK FORCE  WHICH HE KNEW WAS MOVING EXPEDITIOUSLY AND IN GOOD FAITH TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.

MR. SPEAKER, WHAT WAS PUZZLING FOR ME WAS THAT THE FORMER AMBASSADOR WAS ALMOST CHRONIC IN THIS CONDUCT AND CHOSE TO DO SO IN THE MEDIA DURING AN ELECTION PERIOD.

 
MR. SPEAKER, THE MEMBER FOR BAMBOO TOWN  ALSO HIGHLIGHTED ISSUES RELATED TO RUNWAY 1432. I AM CONCERNED THAT HIS PRESENTATION CONTAINS SERIOUS INACCURACIES. IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD SEEK TO MAKE POLITICAL HAY OUT OF RUNWAY 1432.

MR. SPEAKER, I BELIEVE RUNWAY 1432 WILL FIND ITS PLACE IN THE ANNALS OF HISTORY AND WILL STAY IN THE  MINDS OF BAHAMIANS AS THE SYMBOL OF ALL THAT IS WRONG IN GOVERNMENT.

IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE SYMBOL OF AN FNM BALANCED BUDGET AND PRUDENT FISCAL POLICY AND GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE AND IT  ALL BEING A MATTER OF TRUST ETC. ETC.. MUCH LIKE WHAT IS BEING PROMISED  IN THIS BUDGET.

MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE  ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS REPORTED TO THIS HOUSE AND TO OUR NATION WHAT THIS COUNTRY WAS CONFRONTED WITH IN 2002. OUR BRIEFING BY  ANXIOUS PUBLIC OFFICERS TOLD US THAT THE MAIN RUNWAY AT THE AIRPORT WHICH FACILITATED SO GREATLY THE ECONOMY OF THIS COUNTRY WAS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. THERE WERE AT LEAST THREE REPORTS FROM ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRMS OVER A 6 YEAR PERIOD  WHICH ADVISED THAT CRITICAL, URGENT REPAIRS WERE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY.

THERE WAS SUGGESTION IN ONE REPORT THAT RESTED FOR YEARS IN THE HANDS OF AN INGRAHAM LED, BALANCED BUDGET WITH SURPLUSES AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ADMINISTRATION, THAT ON ANY GIVEN DAY   THERE WAS A REAL RISK OF AN AEROPLANE ENGINE INGESTING MATERIAL FROM THE RUNWAY. MR. SPEAKER, THE RUNWAY WAS CRUMBLING. ONE ENGINEER SERVING AS A CONSULTANT TO THE THEN  GOVERNMENT TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION INDICATING THAT HIS PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY DID NOT ALLOW HIM TO ANY  LONGER BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE INACTION RELATIVE TO THE DANGERS POSED BY THAT RUNWAY.

MR. SPEAKER,  THE OTHER SIDE DID NOT WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT IT. THEY SAID I WAS WHINING. BUT IN FACT WE WERE DISCLOSING DECEPTION AND NEGLIGENCE IN GOVERNMENT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE SAME PROMISES ARE BEING MADE AGAIN IN THIS BUDGET. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I FEAR THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH AN ADMINISTRATION CONCERNED WITH OPTICS AND WHOSE PRIORITY ARE THE FIGURES IN THE BOOK AS OPPOSED TO THE REALITIES AND NEEDS ON THE GROUND.

MR. SPEAKER, THE REPAIRS TO THAT RUNWAY WERE COMPLETED 1N 2004. THE FIRM OF LAGAN HOLDINGS CARRIED OUT  WORKS WHICH REPRESENTED PHASE ONE OF THE PROJECT, AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $40 MILLION . THE OPTION FOR PHASE 2 WAS NOT EXERCISED BY THE GOVERNMENT  BECAUSE, INTER ALIA, OF A DISPUTE ABOUT WHETHER THE CONTRACTED LIFE OF THE RUNWAY WOULD BE ACHIEVED, WHICH I THINK IS 20 YEARS.

 THE MONITORING THAT THE MEMBER SPOKE OF RELATES TO THAT ISSUE AND NOT SAFETY AS STATED IN HIS PRESENTATION. THE ONLY MONITORING WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THAT RUNWAY RELATIVE TO SAFETY WAS PRE 2002 AND POST 2002 UP TO THE TIME REPAIR WORKS WERE COMPLETED WHICH  WAS ACCOMPANIED BY CONTINUOUS PATCHING. IT IS THESE FACTS THE PUBLIC DID NOT HAVE UP TO 2002.

 I SHOULD ADD , MR. SPEAKER, FOR CLARITY AND ACCURACY THAT  A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE CONTRACT PRICE HAS BEEN WITHHELD PENDING RESOLUTION OF THE MATTER WHICH AS THE MEMBER INDICATED IS SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION IN THE EVENT OF AN INABILITY TO REACH A CONSENSUS. I REPEAT THERE IS NO SUGGESTION OF SAFETY ISSUES WITH RUNWAY 1432, AT LEAST WHEN I WAS THERE.
 

MR. SPEAKER, UNFORTUNATELY I MUST CORRECT YET ANOTHER INACCURACY IN THE MEMBER’S PRESENTATION. THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT INVITED BY ICAO TO BE SUBJECT TO AN AUDIT WHICH HE SAYS INCLUDES SECURITY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WHICH ULTIMATELY IF UNFAVOURABL COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADING OF OUR AIRPORT TO A CATEGORY TWO AIRPORT.

MR. SPEAKER, THE ICAO AUDIT IS REQUIRED  FOR ALL 189 MEMBER STATES, INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS AND IS A MONITORING OF  THE IMPLEENTATION OF ANNEX 17 WHICH MANDADTED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT BAGGAGE SCREENING AT ALL AIRPORTS OF ENTRY. THE UNIVERSAL AUDIT, HOWEVER,  WILL ALSO INCLUDE OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS AT AERODROMES  WORLDWIDE (ANNEX9).

 THE ICAO AUDIT DOES NOT ANTICIPATE THE  DOWNGRADING OF ANY AIRPORT BUT RATHER A REVIEW AND REPORTING PROTOCOLS AND FURTHER REVIEW WITHIN DEFINED TIMELINES.

 MR. SPEAKER, THE ONLY TIME IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY THAT OUR MAJOR PORT OF ENTRY. LPIA, WAS DOWNGRADED, TO A CATEGORY TWO AIRPORT  IS UNDER THE F.N.M.’S WATCH –( THEIR  BALANCED BUDGET AND PRUDENT FISCAL POLICY WATCH) WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FAILED TO KEEP ABREAST OF INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY MANDATES. AS A CONSEQUENCE, DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS AND CONTINUING IN A NON RESPONSIVE MODE, THE STATE’S REGULATION OF AVIATION SAFETY CAME UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY  BY THE FAA AND OUR NATIONAL AIRPORT WAS DOWNGRADED.

WE TRUST THAT THIS PATTERN OF FAILURE TO PAY ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT DETAIL AND TO RESPOND FAVOURABLY TO INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS WILL NOT BE REPEATED IN THIS TERM. IN ANY EVENT, WE WILL BE WATCHING.
 

 
MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE SOME OTHER CONCEPTUAL ERRORS CONTAINED IN THE MEMBER’S PRESENTATION THAT I SHOULD CORRECT FOR ACCURACY. THE SUGGESTION THAT A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH IATA AND THE INTRODUCTION OF SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF THE CIVIL AVIAITON DEPARTMENT BEING BOTH REGULATOR AND OPERATOR OF CIVIL AVIATION OPERATIONS IS CONFUSING TO ME. THE SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS RELATES TO A DISCRETE MATTER RELATED TO A SERIES OF PROTOCOLS FOR SAFETY INCLUDING, E.G.   THE HANDLING OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES BY COMMERCIAL CARRIERS ETC. AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SEPARATION OF REGULATORY FUNCTION OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT.
 

 IN THE LAST SPEECH FROM THE THRONE, HOWEVER. OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, MR. SPEAKER,  THE  FORMER  GOVERNMENT DID FORECAST THE CREATION OF  A CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY AND THE TRANSFER OF A NUMBER OF AIRPORTS TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY  INCLUDING THE MARSH HARBOUR AIRPORT. AND DRAFT LEGUSLATION AND CONSIDERABLE GROUND WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE  TO THIS END AND I WOULD URGE THE NEW MINISTER TO REVIEW THESE MATTERS SO THAT HE WILL HAVE A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN THIS REGARD AND GIVE THEM DUE CONSIDERATION.

MR. SPEAKER,  SURPRISINGLY, THE MEMBER DID NOT SPEAK VERY MUCH ABOUT THE NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM OF YVRAS.

 MR. SPEAKER,  THE PROCESS OF SELECTION OF AN AIRPORT MANAGEMENT FIRM TOOK LONGER THAN WE HAD HOPED, BUT IT WAS CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT AND THOROUGH. WE SOUGHT TO ENSURE THAT OVER  THE NEXT TEN YEARS  OUR MAJOR GATEWAY WILL ACHIEVE THE IMPORTANT BENCHMARKS THAT IT MUST IF IT IS TO ATTAIN THE STANDARD REFLECTIVE OF OUR COUNTRY.
 

MR. SPEAKER YVRAS IS CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO CREATE A  PREMIERE WORLD CLASS AIRPORT FACILITY INVOLVING MODERN MANAGEMENT, IMPROVED CONCESSIONS AND NEW TERMINALS WITHIN 4 YEARS. THERE IS AN  OBLIGATION TO  IN THE SHOR T TERM REPLACE EXPATRIATES WITH BAHAMIANS IN KEY MANAGEMENT POSTS. THE AGREEMENT ANTICIPATED THE TRAINING OF BAHAMIANS IN THE AREA OF AIRPORT MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS AND TO PROVIDE A RESOURCE FOR AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT NATIONALLY.  BAHAMIANS AT THE AIRPORT HAVE ALREADY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS RECEIVED TRAINING INTERNATIONALLY. YVRS HAS BEEN AT THE AIRPORT ON THE GROUND FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, PREPARING AND IMPLEMENTING. THE AGREEENT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE INFRASTRUCTURAL WORKS TO THE PRESENT TERMINAL AND THE MEMBER FOR LUCAYA WOULD HAVE BEEN SEEN IN THE MEDIA ANNOUNCING SOME OF THOSE WORKS. YOU WOULD HAVE ALSO SEEN THE RECENT UNVEILING OF THE FLIGHT INFORMATION MONITORS  WHICH WILL GREATLY ASSIST TRAVELERS.

AND MR. SPEAKER,  OWNERSHIP OF LPIA HAS NOT BEEN DIVESTED.

 MR. SPEAKER, THE GROUNDWORK HAS BEEN LAID FOR LPIA. THE MAIN RUNWAY HAS BEEN REPAIRED, A WORLD CLASS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS IN PLACE WHICH WILL BRING NEW AIRPORT FACILITIES AND EFFICIENT, ATTRACTIVE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS. MORE THAN $16 MILLION IN  STATE  OF THE ART SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SECURITY TASK FORCE ARE IN HAND . THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IS FREE TO ENGAGE IN ALL THE PRESS CONFERENCES IT WISHES TO . WE TRUST THAT WHAT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE  WILL ENABLE THEMTO BETTER AND MORE  EFFICIENTLY AND FFECTIVELY HANDLE THE PEOPLE’S AFFAIRS.

MR. SPEAKER, BEFORE I LEAVE THE LPIA I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON REMARKS MADE RECENTLY RELATIVE TO OUR DECISION TO NAME A SO CALLED  RUN DOWN FACILITY IN HONOUR OF A MAN NAMED FATHER OF THE NATION. MR SPEAKER, I WAS REMINDED  OF  THE UNFORTUNATE SPECTACLE SURROUNDING THE AIRPORT  RENAMING CEREMONY LAST YEAR   WHICH THE THEN OPPOSITION BOYCOTTED.

MR. SPEAKER, THEY GAVE AN EXCUSE ABOUT LATE INVITATIONS,
 I BELIEVE AND I THINK IT WAS ULTIMATELY  CONFESSED BY THE MEMBER FOR NORTH ABACO HIMSELF  THAT IN FACT AND IN REALITY  THE FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT DID NOT SUPPORT THE PRINCIPLE OF NAMING THE AIRPORT IN PINDLING’S HONOUR . I BELIEVE THAT IS WHY THE ENTIRE PROCESS WAS EMBROILED IN CONTROVERSY AND DISTRACTION.

BUT MR. SPEAKER, WE CHOSE TO NAME THAT FACILITY IN HONOUR OF LYNDEN PINDLING, DELIBERATELY SO. IT WAS A COMMITMENT MADE TO OUR PEOPLE IN THE 2002 ELECTION AND BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT NO MATTER HOW SOME QUARTERS WOULD WISH TO REWRITE HISTORY ,TO  CAUSE US TO FEEL SHAME FOR WHO WE ARE, THAT IT WAS A FITTING HONOUR TO NAME ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ENGINES OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF OUR COUNTRY IN HONOUR OF A NATIONAL HERO. AND REST ASSURED IN A MATTER OF MONTHS THE FACIITY WILL BE TRANSFORMED TO A WONDERFUL AIRPORT AND  IT WILL CONTINUE, GOD WILLING,  TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ENGINES OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF OUR PEOPLE.

 WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE CARRIED THROUGH ON A PROMISE TO OUR PEOPLE. MR. SPEAKER, I NOTE THE NOW GOVERNMENT KEEPS REFERRING TO PLANS IT LEFT IN PLACE FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE AIRPORT PRIOR TO2002.

MR. SPEAKER, IN THE MIDST OF THIS SOLLOW BOAST,  I ONLY REMIND YOU OF RUNWAY 1432 AND THE DETERIORATED BUILDINGS WE INHERTED. I BELIEVE THEY ARE REFERRING TO A MASTERPLAN THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY COMMISSIONED WHICH  ALL OF THE  COMPANIES WHICH SUBMITTED PROPOSALS FOR THE AIRPORT’S REDEVELOPMENT HAD SIGHT OF.  IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE, HOWEVER,  THAT THE FIRM, BIRK HILLMAN WAS RECENTLY EMBROLIED IN SERIOUS CORRUPTION CHARGES INCLUDING BRIBERY  RELATED TO WORK DONE ON THE PIARCO AIRPORT IN TRINIDAD.

MR. SPEAKER, I WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED THAT THE MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR AVIATION WHO UTILIZE HIS TWO HOURS TO SPEAK DID NOT ELUCIDATE A LITTLE MORE ON WHAT IS PLANNED FOR THE FAMILY ISLANDS. APART FROM A BRIEF REFERENCE TO “OUT ISLAND AIRPORTS”, NO SPECIFICS ARE GIVEN.

I WOULD WISH TO COMMEND TO THE GOVERNMENT  THE APPROACH UNDERTAKEN BY THE PLP GOVERNMENT IN THE USE OF  MASTERPLANS FOR AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT. THIS APPROACH WAS TAKEN IN ABACO RELATIVE TO THE TREASURE CAY AND MARSH HARBOUR AIRPORTS AND SHOULD CURRENTLY  BE UNDERWAY IN EXUMA.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO AVOID THE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES OF AN AD HOC APPROACH.

 FOR EXAMPLE, IN EXUMA, WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE WE LEARNED THAT DESPITE THE IMMINENT OPENING OF A FIVE STAR RESORT THE MOSS TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS GROSSLY INADEQUATE TO ACCOMMODATE  THE ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN VOLUME OF AIR TRAFFIC.

 WE WERE CHALLENGED IN VERY EARLY DAYS TO UNDERTAKE INFRASTRUCTURAL WORKS, ACQUIRE EQUIPMENT AND ENGAGE AND TRAIN PERSONNEL IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME.

SADLY A YEAR LATER THE FACILITY WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AND A TEMPORARY STRUCTURE HAD TO BE ACQUIRED. MR. SPEAKER, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THEREFORE, THAT THE WORK OF THE AIRPORT PLANNERS BE COMPLETED SO THAT PLANS CAN GET UNDERWAY FOR A NEW TERMINAL IN EXUMA. I TRUST THAT THIS  IS A MATTER OF PRIORITY ON THIS GOVERNMENT’S AGENDA.

MR. SPEAKER, I ALSO HEARD NO MENTION OF THE NORTH ANDROS TERMINAL WHICH WAS ALSO DESTROYED BY FIRE AND AGAIN TEMPORARY STRUCTURES HAD TO BE PROCURED. WE LEFT IN PLACE ARCHITECTURAL PLANS FOR THE INAGUA TERMINAL WHICH WERE TO FORM A  PROTOTYPE FOR OTHER AIRPORTS INCLUDING CAT ISLAND AND ANDROS.
 
I  HOPE THESE MATTERS WILL BE HIGH ON THIS NEW GOVERNMENT’S AGENDA BEARING IN MIND THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE FACILITIES TO THESE ISLAND COMMUNITIES.
 

MR. SPEAKER, IN THE THE FIVE YEARS WE HELD OFICE WE GAVE UTMOST PRIORITY TO AIRPORT DEVELOPENT AND SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURAL WORKS WERE CARRIED OUT  THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BOTH TERMINAL AND RUNWAY WORKS AND THE ACQUISITION OF EQUIPMENT AT A COST OF TENS OF  MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT MANGROVE CAY, CONGO TOWN, NORTH ELEUTHERA, GOVERNOR’S HARBOUR, EXUMA, RUM CAY, ACKLINS, LPIA, INAGUA, LONG ISLAND.  MOST RECENTLY EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEMS WERE INSTALLED AT 17 AIRPORTS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY.

MR. SPEAKER, THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE WITH THE POLICY OF ENSURING HIGHLY TRAINED MANAGERS ARE IN PLACE AT FAMILY ISLAND AIRPORTS. IN ADDITION TO MANAGERS THAT WERE ALREADY IN PLACE, NEW MANAGERS WITH AVIAITON MANAGEMENT TRAINING WERE  POSTED  TO OVERSEE THE GOVERNOR’S HARBOUR, ROCK SOUND, NORTH ELEUTHERA AND SAN SALVADOR AIRPORTS.

 AS IT RELATES TO THE FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION. WE CARRIED THIS PROCESS TO AN EXTENDED BASIS ALTHO THE MEMBER’S SPEECH DOES NOT INDICATE THIS. AN AVIATION CONSULTANT SPECIALIZING IN AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IS CURRENTLY ON CONTRACTUAL  ENGAGEMENT TO THE MINISTRY, A FORMAL APPLICATION HAS ALREADY  BEEN LODGED AT ICAO AND  OUR CONSULAR  REPRESENTATIVE IN OTTAWA, CANADA  HAS BEEN DESIGNATED OUR OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE AT ICAO,  A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND IS READY FOR  DISSEMINATION WORLDWIDE AND ON THE  DIPLOMATIC FRONT NOTES HAVE BEEN SENT TO NEIGHBOURING NATIONS NAMELY,  HAITI, CUBA, USA AND TURKS AND CAICOS. DIALOGUE HAD ALREADY BEGUN WITH THE  FAA WITH WHOM WE HAD HOPED TO STRIKE AN INTERIM AGREEMENT ALLOWING FOR THAT AGENCY TO CONTINUE MANAGEMENT OF OUR AIRSPACE AT AN AGREED FEE WHILE THE BAHAMAS WOULD BEGIN COLLECTION OF OVERFLIGHT FEES. IN ANY EVENT SOME IMPORTANT DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE BY THIS NEWADMINISTRATION.

  CIVIL AVIATION IS CAPITAL INTENSIVE. THE BAHAMAS, AN ARCHIPELAGO, WITH ALL ITS AIRPORTS, INFRASTRUCTURAL DEMANDS, EQUIPMENT NEEDS AND PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS COULD BENEFIT GREATLY FROM THE INJECTION OF CAPITAL RECEIVED FROM OVERFLIGHT FEES.

MR. SPEAKER, PART OF AN EFFICIENT AND SAFE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS A HIGHLY TRAINED  CADRE OF OFFICERS. IN THIS REGARD,  WE HAD COMMENCED THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS OF ADDITIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

  THIS IS A CRITICAL MATTER AND I URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY SO THAT ATC SERVICES ARE NOT COMPROMISED IN THE FUTURE AS THE AVERAGE AGE AVERAGE OF CURRENTLY SERVING CONTROLLERS IS RISING AND MANY WILL SOON RETIRE.

ALSO, MR SPEAKER,  MUCH GROUND WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO PUT IN PLACE CAREER PATHS AND CORRECT SALARY ANOMOLIES OF VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING MANAGEMENT AND I EXPECT THAT THESE REFORMS WILL BE CARRIED OUT EXPEDITIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY ARE LONG OVERDUE AND ARE THE SOURCE OF DIMINISHED MORALE IN THE DEPARTMENT.

MR. SPEAKER, THE MEMBER SPOKE TO THE PRESENT ACCOMMODATION OF CAD AND THE MET OFFICE .

HE ADMITTED THAT DESPITE THE BUILDING HAVING BEEN CONDEMNED IN 1996 THE THEN GOVERNMENT NEVERTHELESS PLACED THESE CRITICAL AGENCIES IN THAT BUILDING.
  MR. SPEAKER, THE MEMBER MAY NOT KNOW  THAT AN EARLY SERACH FOR ALTERNATIVE PREMISES WAS UNDERTAKEN AND ULTIMMATELY PREMISES ON BLAKE ROAD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THE RELEVANT OFFICERS FROM BOTH DEPARTMENTS  HAVE SPENT UNTOLD HOURS WITH ARCHITECTS IN CUSTOMIZING THEIR OFFICES AND WORK ENVIRONMENT. IT IS HOPED THAT THEY WILL SOON BE ABLE TO MOVE FROM THOSE PREMISES AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE THEY SHOULD  HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THAT BUILDING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

MR. SPEAKER, THE MEMBER RAISED THE ISSUE OF  THE ASR 9 RADAR COMMENTING WITH GREAT EMPHASIS THAT THE RADAR HAS BEEN INSTALLED SINCE FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR AND IS STILL NOT OPERATIONAL. I SUSPECT HE HAS BEEN FULLY BRIEFED ON THIS MATTER. I AM AMAZED HE CAN FIX HIS MOUTH, SO TO SPEAK,  TO CAST INNUENDO IN THIS MATTER.

 MR. SPEAKER, THAT RADAR, THE ASR 9, A REFURBISHED, RECONDITIONED, RADAR WAS ACQUIRED BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WITHOUT PROPER CONSULTATION WITH ITS TECHNICAL PERSONNEL IN A HURRIED FASHION AROUND THE TIME THE AIRPORT WAS DOWNGRADED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR HISTORY  FROM A CATEGORY ONE TO A CATEGORY 2 AIRPORT.

THE RADAR WAS ACQUIRED WITH SOFTWARE THAT IS NOT USER FRIENDLY,  AND IN FACT , I WAS ADVISED, POTENTIALLY A RISK TO AVIATION SAFETY. WE ENGAGED THE ADVICE OF CONSULTANTS FROM  ICAO AND THE FAA AND HAVE LEARNED THAT THE RADAR REQUIRES REPAIR AND UPGRADE,   ANOTHER APPROXIMATELY $4 OR $5 MILLION DOLLARS TO RECTIFY THIS ORIGINAL ERROR. THE  ORIGINAL  OF  APPROXIMATELY $6.5 MILLION HAS INCREASED TO AROUND $11 MILLION BEFORE THE RADAR IS OPERATIONAL.

IN RECENT TIMES THIS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR  RADAR HAS  BEEN  DESCRIBED AS A “CADILLAC WITHOUT A DASHBOARD”.

MR. SPEAKER, I HOPE THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF FISCAL PRUDENCE WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO DURING THIS TERM.
 

MR. SPEAKER, I AM COMPELLED TO SPEAK TO THE MARSH HARBOUR AND LONG ISLAND AIRPORTS . AS IT RELATES TO THE LATTER,  THE MEMBER FOR LONG ISLAND AND RAGGED ISLAND SPOKE OF THE STELLA MARIS AND DEADMAN’S CAY AIRPORTS.

MR. SPEAKER, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED  . PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PART GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENTSOUGHT TO GIVE JUST ATTENTION TO THE ENTIRE NATION, INCLUDING LONG ISLAND.

IN THIS PLACE THE MEMBER WAS TO BE HEARD OVER AND OVER GRACIOUSLY THANKING MEMBERS FOR ONE THING OR ANOTHER, INCLUDING MYSELF. THE MEMBER KNOWS THAT HIS GOVERNMENT KNEW FOR MORE THAN A DECADE THAT THE STELLA MARIS RUNWAY WAS DETERIORATING AND BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE OWNERS WROTE OVER AND OVER ASKING FOR HELP. NOTHING WAS DONE. I WAS ADVISED BY THE MINISTRY OF WORKS AND CAD THAT THE FACILITY SHOULD BE CLOSED FORTHWITH FOR SAFETY REASONS. REGRETTABLY AND INADVERTENTLY  THE PROPER COMMUNICATION TO AFFECTED STAKEHOLDERS OF THE CLOSURE WAS  NOT DONE UNTIL SOME DAYS AFTER CLOSURE.  I TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT LAPSE IN THIS PLACE, ON THE RECORD. BUT WE MOVED EXPEDITIOUSLY. WITHIN DAYS I VISITED LONG ISLAND MYSELF ALONG WITH A TECHNICAL TEAM INCLUDING  AN INTERNATIONAL AVIATION CONSULTANT. WE  VISUALLY INSPECTED THE  STELLA MARIS  RUNWAY . THE CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL AND DOCUMENTED ADVICE WAS THAT THE RUNWAY WAS A RISK TO LIFE AND SAFETY AND THAT CLOSURE WAS NECESSARY.

MR. SPEAKER,  I KNEW WHAT THIS CLOSURE MEANT TO THE ECONOMY OF THAT PART OF LONG ISLAND,  AT A COST OF $550,000 IMMEDIATE REPAIR AND RESURFACE WORKS WERE UNDERTAKEN ON THE CONDITION THE FACILITY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT FOR ONE DOLLAR. I BELIEVE THAT TRANSACTION HAS NOT BEEN FINALLY COMPLETED AND I TRUST THIS NEW GOVERNMENT WILL MOVE QUICKLY TO CLOSE THAT MATTER.

MR. SPEAKER,  BECAUSE OUR ADVICE WAS THAT THAT ICAO STANDARDS WOULD NOT PERMIT  A DASH 8 THE SIZE OF BAHAMASAIR TO LAND THERE, ADITIONAL WORKS ARE BEING UNDERTAKEN TO CONSTRUCT AN APRON. I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE MEMBER DID NOT SEE THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THE CAD AND MOW HAS BEEN WORKING TO ADDRESS THE MATTER, HE BROUGHT PHOTOGRAPHS HERE TO SHOW FLOODING, BUT MR. SPEAKER, THE WORKS ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AND NOT COMPLETED AND I SUSPECT THE  THE PROBLEM OF WHICH HE SPEAKS IS BEING ADDRESSED. SURELY AS A MINISTER IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT , ONE WHO SITS NEXT TO THE MINISTER OF WORKS IN THIS PLACE, HE SHOULD SEEK TO RAISE HIS CONCERNS WITH HIM  RATHER THAN WITH LITTLE OLD ME OVER HERE ON THE OPPOSITION SIDE. PLEASE SHOW HIM THE PHOTOGRAPHS.

MR. SPEAKER, AS IT RELATES TO THE DEADMAN’S CAY AIRPORT, THE MEMBER KNOWS FULL WELL OR OUGHT TO KNOW IF HE SITS IN THIS PLACE THAT I BROUGHT A COMMUNICATION ADVISING THAT PLANNED WORKS , IN PARTICULAR PERIMETER FENCING OF THE FACILITY WERE THWARTED WHEN DISPUTES AND CLAIMS AROSE ABOUT LAND OWNERSHIP. THE MATTER WAS LAST IN THE HANDS OF THE DEPARTENT OF LANDS AND SURVEYS. PERHAPS HE WOULD WISH TO RAISE HIS CONCERNS ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF LONG ISLAND WITH HIS COLLEAGUE MINISTER, UPON WHOM THE OBLIGATION NOW LIES.  UNFORTUNATELY I AM NO LONGER IN A POSITION TO ADVANCE THE MATTER FOR HIM.
 
MR. SPEAKER, AS IT RELATES TO THE MARSH HARBOUR AIRPORT, I TRUST THAT  THE WORK ALREADY  BEGAN BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TERMINAL, THE CREATION OF A NEW PARALLEL TAXIWAY AND A RESURFACED AND EXTENDED  RUNWAY. THESE WORKS REPRESENT THE FIRST  SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURAL WORKS UNDERTAKEN BY A GOVERNMENT SINCE THE AIRPORT’S ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION MANY YEARS AGO.
 

MR. SPEAKER,  ON THE ISSUE OF POSTAL REFORM I WILL BE VERY BRIEF SAVE TO SAY THAT WE UNDERTOOK TO MODERNIZE THE POST OFFICE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 80 YEARS DRAFT POSTAL LEGISLATION CREATING THE FRAMEWORK OF A MODERN POSTAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED. I AM PLEASED TO GEAR THIS WILL BE SHORTLY INTRODUCED TO PARLIAMENT. I ALSO APPOINTED A COMMITTEE  TO ADVISE ON  THE FURTHER MODERNIZATION OF THE POST OFFICE AND ENGAGED A RENOWNED CONSULTANT WITH  THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION. I  HOPE THIS GOVERNMENT WILL SEE FIT TO  PRESS FORWARD WITHOUT INTERRUPTION THIS IMPORTANT PROCESS.

R. SPEAKER,   WE ALSO SOUGHT TO INCREASE AND ENHANCE THE COMPLEMENT OF POST BOXES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE FIRST TIME EVER STAND ALONE DEPOT AT SANDYPORT. WE ENSURED STAFF OUTSIDE OF NEW PROVIDENCE HAD ACCESS TO TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. WE BEGAN THE AUTIOMATION OF COUNTERSERVICES, INCLUDING THE SAVINGS BANK AND THE ADDRESSING OF HUMAN RESOURCE ANOMOLIES OF OFFICERS WHICH HAD BEEN SERIOUSLY AFFECTING MORALE THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

I AM CONCERNED, MR. SPEAKER, THAT I SEE NO MENTION IN THE BUDGET FOR THE WEST END POST OFFICE, A PROJECT WHICH HAD ALREADY COMMENCED AND WHICH IS CRITICAL TO THAT COMMUNITY AND I CERTAINLY HOPE IT HAS NOT BEEN ABANDONED. THE PEOPLE OF WEST END WILL NO DOUBT BE WATCHING.

MR. SPEAKER, I DON’T KNOW WHO WILL BE SPEAKING IN THIS HOUSE ABOUT MARTIME AFFAIRS, BUT I WOULD COMMENT BRIEFLY THAT A CONSULTANT WAS ENGAGED TO CREATE A COMPENDIUM OF MODERN LEGISATION TO BRING THE BAHAMAS INTO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY AS IT RELATES TO UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF MARITIME  SAFETY AND SECURITY. THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED ASND SO I WOULD EXPECT VERY SHORTLY TO SEE THE INTRODUCTION OF THAT LEGISLATION TO THIS HOUSE. ALSO, LEFT IS COMPLETED DRAFT LEGISLATION WHICH WILL BRING PARITY IN STANDARDS OF SAFETY BETWEEN COMMERCIAL AND PLEASURE CRAFT.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WORK DONE AND PLANS MADE FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF BAY STREET IS THE EXPANSION OF POTTER’S CAY DOCK. THAT FACILITY IS SEVERELY CHALLENGED TO FACILITATE THE BURGEONING MARITIMEAND COMERCIAL ACTIVITY IT SEES ON A DAILY BASIS. I TRUST THIS WILL BE A MATTER OF UTMOST PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY AS THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME AMBIVALENCE RELATIVE TO THE PLANS LEFT IN PLACE FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF BAY STREET AND THE RELOCATION OF THE PORT.

MR. SPEAKER,  I AM STRONGLY RECOMENDING THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF  PRINCE GEORGE DOCK SHOULD CONTINUE.

 YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE STATE OF WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUR PREMIERE DOCKING FACILITY AND THE EMBARRASSING SPECTRE OF GIANT TRACTOR TYRES  BEING UTILIZED AS A BUFFER BETWEEN  A MEGASHIP’S HULL AND THE DOCK FACING. CRUISE SHIP OWNERS, DISTRESSED AND FRUSTRATED THREATENED TO PULL OUT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEIR INSURERS WERE RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE RISK FACTOR IN THE NASSAU HARBOUR. WE EMBARKED IN EXTENSIVE AND SIGNIFICANT WORKS WHICH WHEN COMPLETED WILL AMOUNT TO SOME $4.5 MILLION INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF STATE OF THE ART FENDERS AT A COST OF $2.4 MILLION AND THE INSTALLATION OF A 150 TON BOLLARD. I UNDERSTAND THAT A CONTRACT FOR THE INSTALLATION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE BOLLARDS WHICH IS SO CRITICAL TO THIS FACILITY HAS BEEN STOPPED BY THIS NEW GOVERNMENT. I WILL ONLY SAY THAT THE CONTRACT WAS LONG IN CONSIDERATION AND LONG IN COMING AND IS CRITCAL TO THE SAFETY OF SHIPS AT THAT FACILITY.

MR. SPEAKER, AT THE BMA, WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE OVERSEEN THE PROMOTION OF THE FIRST BAHAMIAN EVER TO THE POST OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE. I TRUST THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE THIS THRUST OF ACCELERATING THE CAREER PATH OF BAHAMIANS IN THIS WONDERFUL FIELD. WE ALSO PROCURED THE TRANSFER OF  THE WORKLOAD FROM LONDON TO OUR NASSAU OFFICE AND COMPLETED A STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICE SECTOR AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ACCREDITATION OF MARITIME  TRAINING INSTITUTIONS IN THE BAHAMAS. IT IS HOPED THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS COULD BE EXPLORED MORE FULLY BY THE NEW MINISTER.

MR. SPEAKER, I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD AND PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT THE MARITIME CADET CORPS ESTABLISHED DURING OUR WATCH WILL CONTINUE. THE PROGRAMME HEADED BY DUDLEY MARTINBOROUGH HAS TRAINED HUNDREDS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND FACILITATED FOR THEM ACCESS TO FURTHER  MARITIME INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING  ALL OVER THE WORLD INCLUDING CANADA, THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA AND THERE ARE RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK YOUNG BAHAMIANS WORKING ON SHIPS WORLDWIDE AS A RESULT OF THEIR EXPOSURE TO THIS PROGRAMME. PLEASE DON’T LET THE PROGRAMME DIE.

MR. SPEAKER, THE MAILBOAT STUDY WAS COMPLETED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IT IS CAREFULLY STUDIED WITH A VIEW TO ADDRESSING BOTH THE ECONIMICS AND THE QUALITY ASSURANCE ASPECTS OF IT. I BELIEVE WE ALL KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS SERVICE TO OUR FAMILY ISLAND COMMUNITIES.

MR. SPEAKER, THERE IS ONE OTHER VERY IMPORTANT MATTER AND IT IS THE ISSUE OF THE SEA HAULER VICTIMS. I HAD PLANNED A MEETING WITH THEM JUST BEFORE THE LAST ELECTION BUT I WAS ADVISED THAT THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL COMUNICATED THE POSITION THAT IF I DID NOT HAVE A CHEQUE IN HAND THE MEETING WOULD BE UNNECESSARY. I HAD NO CHEQUE IN HAND. MR. SPEAKER, DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN MUCH POLITICAL TALK WAS MADE ABOUT AN UNCARING GOVERNMENT BY THOSE OPPOSITE. THE BALL IS NOW IN YOUR COURT. YOU WILL NO DOUBT BE AWARE THAT THE MATTER HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE HANDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WOULD HAVE ADVISED THE GOVERNMENT. WE WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

MR. SPEAKER, THE ROAD TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT
IS A PLACE FOR RICH OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR PEOPLE. THE DILLON REPORT WAS HANDED TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION IN 1996 BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE  TRANSPORTATION  COMPONENTS WERE NOT ADVANCED.

SO RECOMMENDATIONS RELATIVE TO THE ALLEVIATION OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND IN PARTICULAR THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM  AND SAFETY ON OUR STREETS WERE NOT ADDRESSED. WE COMPLETED A CONGESTION STUDY AND WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN HELD TO REVIEW THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THAT STUDY AND DEVISE AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. MR. SPEAKER, KEY TO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IS A EFFICEINT,SAFE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE EXPENDED   SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES AND INVESTED PERHAPS HUNDREDS OF HOURS IN STUDY AND CONSULTATION  IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF A UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. I UNDERSTAND FROMMEDIA REPORTS THAT THIS GOVERNMENT DOES NOT SEE THIS AS A PRIORITY ON ITS AGENDA. I ONLY SAY THAT IF THIS GOVERNMENT IS ABANDONING ALL OF THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS RELATIVE TO CONGESTION ALLEVIATION, I.E. A PROPER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND THE EASEMENT OF TRAFFIC FLOW ON BAY STREET BY RELOCATION OF THE COMMERCIAL DOCKS, THEN I AM VERY CONCERNED. ADDITIONALLY LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED IN THIS PLACE FOR THE  APPOINTMENT OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OFFICERS TO ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TRAFFIC FLOW. I SEE NO ALLOCATION IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS. MR. SPEAKER, TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS A SERIOUS ISSUE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN NEW PROVIDENCE AND SOME FAMILY ISLANDS. I HOPE THAT IN REJECTING THE CONSIDERED APPROACH OF THE PREVIOUS ADINISTRATION THAT SOME ALTERNATIVE PLAN IS IN HAND READY TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
MR. SPEAKER, GREAT PRIORITY HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE ISSUE OF ROAD SAFETY. WE ALL KNOW OF THE CARNAGE WHICH UNFOLDS ON OUR STREETS RESULTING IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. A SUITE OF DRAFT LEGISLATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN FORCASTED IN THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR DRIVER’S EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND THE REGULATION OF DRIVING INSTRUCTOR’S AND THEIR SCHOOLS AND THE UPDATING OF THE LEARNER’S MANUAL. I HOPE WE WILL SEE LEGISLATION  IMPACTING THESE ISSUES SHORTLY,

FINALLY, MR. SPEAKER, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF SIGNING OFF ON THE INCREASE IN TAXI FARES BEFORE THE TRANSITION CAME. I URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW THIS MATTER.
 MR. SPEAKER, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT I WOULD WISH TO COMMENT ON BUT TIME DOES NOT PERMIT. I END BY THANKING THE MEMBER FOR FARM ROAD FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE . I THANK THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE FOR REPOSING THEIR TRUST IN US IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND GIVING US THE OPORTUNITY TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE  THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF OUR COUNTRY. I ASSURE OUR PEOPLE THAT THE SAME ENERGY, LOVE AND COMMITMENT THAT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE GOVERNING SIDE OF THE HOUSE WILL CONTINUE ON THIS SIDE OF THE HOUSE..IN THE INTEREST OF OUR PEOPLE.