#Nassau, December 16, 2019 – Bahamas – Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis highlighted the accomplishments of his administration since coming to office in May 2017 in a communication to the House of Assembly on Wednesday 11 December.
The Prime Minister pointed to advancements in education, stabilizing the economy, billions of dollars in international investments, reducing crime and creating thousands of jobs, among other achievements. He was speaking following an overwhelming vote in favor of a Counter-Resolution of Confidence.
“We are creating economic opportunities for
Bahamians through job creation, through greater ownership and entrepreneurship
opportunities, and by enhancing the shareholder society.”
Before Hurricane Dorian devastated the
second and third most populated islands and economic centres, the country was
growing by just over two percent and unemployment was falling, said Prime
Minister Minnis.
The Prime Minister pointed out that this
administration has attracted $8.6 billion international investments, with more
to come.
“We have created 14,000 jobs (net) since
May 2017. We stabilized the economy, stopped downgrades by international
agencies after the five-year nightmare of the Christie/Davis years,” said Prime
Minister Minnis.
A number of Family Islands are on track for
investments, including new airports which will help to accelerate their
development, he said.
Prime Minister Minnis also highlighted the
success of the Small Business Development Centre, including the Over-the-Hill
Initiative branch of the SBDC.
The Minnis administration is also
transforming the education and training system for Bahamians from age three to
22.
“We have advanced or are advancing
universal preschool, free education for qualified UB and BTVI students;
technology upgrades for school and new schools and physical upgrades to
existing schools,” said Prime Minister Minnis.
“We have improved
GLAT language arts scores by five percent, and distributed hundreds of tablets,
which are also being used in the Ministry of Education’s virtual classrooms to
accommodate those affected by Hurricane Dorian.”
The Prime
Minister said his administration is also making communities safer and more
secure.
“Crime is
trending down, though there has been some increase in the aftermath of
Hurricane Dorian,” said Prime Minister Minnis.
“There is a new
coastal radar in Inagua to help protect our borders, with more radars to come
on other islands.”
The Prime
Minister noted that now there are more CCTVs. A contract is soon to be signed
for body cams for police officers and funds have been allocated for drone
technology to further reduce crime.
The Government is
moving aggressively to remove shantytowns throughout the country, and modernizing
and transforming the country and government, he said.
“We
are digitizing government services; improving the ease of doing
business; demonstrating fiscal responsibility and transparency; promoting
anti-corruption measures; engaged in wide scale infrastructure upgrades;
promoting energy reform and renewable energy; and expanding Crown Land reform,”
said the Prime Minister.
The Prime
Minister asked the Opposition if it would support a revision of minimum wage
and pensions renumeration, the extension of tax free zones, paid paternity
leave and improvement of child support renumeration.
“We are focused
on improving the lives of Bahamians and making our nation the best little
country in the world,” said Prime Minister Minnis.
Release: Office of the Prime Minister
Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Photo Caption: Prime Minister Minnis, centre right, outlined the government’s accomplishments in his House of Assembly Communication, December 11, 2019.
(BIS Photo/Yontalay Bowe)