SINCE MAY 2002, THIS GOVERNMENT, LED BY OUR HONOURABLE LEADER, HAS MADE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE ARE ADDRESSED IN A THOUGHTFUL AND WELL-STRUCTURED FASHION.  AS A RESULT, OPPORTUNITY AND PROGRESS ABOUNDS AND THE PROMISE FOR MORE TO COME IS A CERTAINTY, AS IS OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS.

MR. SPEAKER, I WISH TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO MY IMPORTANT CONSTITUENTS OF BAIN AND GRANTS TOWN. THE RESIDENTS OF BIG POND CAN EXPECT SIDEWALKS TO BE BUILT ON TUCKER ROAD, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL, IN PARTICULAR THE CHILDREN AND SENIOR CITIZENS.  THE CONSTITUENTS OF BIG POND, WILL ALSO BE PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THERE WILL BE MAJOR RENOVATIONS AT THE MABLE WALKER PRIMARY SCHOOL, LOCATED ON TUCKER ROAD AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR IN SEPTEMBER.  MR. SPEAKER, A NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS AT THE SCHOOL WILL BE DEMOLISHED AND WILL BE REPLACED WITH AN EIGHT CLASSROOM BLOCK AND A NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

MR. SPEAKER, THE STREET REPAVING PROGRAMME WILL CONTINUE IN THE INNER CITY, AS WELL AS THE INSTALLATION OF DRAINAGE WELLS IN THE AREAS IMPACTED BY FLOODING.  CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOMES IN THE INNER CITY WILL ALSO CONTINUE AS WELL AS THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAMME UNDER THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND THE URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAMMES.

MR. SPEAKER, NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR BAHAMALAND HAVE SO MANY PERSONS FROM THE INNER CITY BECOME HOME OWNERS DURING THESE PAST FOUR YEARS, DUE TO THE PLP’S AGGRESSIVE HOUSING PROGRAMME.  CONSTITUENTS AWAITING THEIR NEW HOMES CAN BE ASSURED THAT BAIN AND GRANTS TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO GET ITS FAIR SHARE.  WE BUILT HOUSES WHILE THE FNM FOR THE MOST PART  WAS ONLY TALKING ABOUT IT.

MINISTER SHANE GIBSON IS TO BE CONGRATULATED FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN EMBRACED BY THE NEW MINISTER, NEVILLE WISDOM, WHO IS VERY COMPETITIVE BY NATURE AND I AM CERTAIN HE WOULD NOT BE OUT-PERFORMED.  MR. SPEAKER, THE NEW PLP IS ABOUT POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE LIVES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE IN OUR LAND.

MR. SPEAKER, I ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE BAHAMIANS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN HELPING TO HOUSE THE NATION.  IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO SEE THE TRANSFORMATION THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE LIVES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE WHEN THEY BECOME OWNERS OF THEIR OWN HOMES.

MR. SPEAKER THE CHALLENGES ARE MANY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE; PARTICULRLY YOUNG MEN, NOT ONLY IN OUR INNER CITY, BUT INDEED THROUGHOUT THE NATION.  THE MINISTER OF YOUTH OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS AND PROGRAMMES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO BRING ABOUT A TRANSFORMATION IN THE LIVES OF OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.
MR. SPEAKER, I WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY TO MY CONSTITUENTS OF BAIN AND GRANTS TOWN, IN MY CONCLUDING REMARKS.

WATER AND SEWERAGE CORPORATION
MR. SPEAKER, I WISH TO SPEAK ON THE REVOLUTIONARY AND VISIONARY APPROACH OF THIS GOVERNMENT TOWARDS WATER AND SEWERAGE SERVICES IN THIS COUNTRY.  IN SO DOING, I WISH TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE TO THE STATE OF AFFAIRS OF THIS PORTFOLIO.  IN THIS REGARD I WISH TO REMIND HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE ONGOING CHALLENGES AT THE CORPORATION, WHICH HAVE SPANNED SEVERAL DECADES, CHALLENGES THAT INCLUDE:

? UNRELIABLE POTABLE WATER SUPPLY
? INADEQUATE POTABLE WATER SUPPLY
? POOR WATER QUALITY
? NO PIPED WATER SUPPLY – IN SOME PLACES IN NEW PROVIDENCE AND THE FAMILY ISLANDS
? THE ANDROS BARGING PROGRAM
? HIGH UNACCOUNTED FOR WATER/NON-REVENUE WATER (53%) IN NEW PROVIDENCE
? UNRELIABLE AND ANTIQUATED SEWERAGE PROGRAMS
? INADEQUATE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AND POLLUTION CONTROL

THESE CHALLENGES, MR. SPEAKER, HAVE HINDERED THE WATER AND SEWERAGE CORPORATION FROM ACHIEVING ITS FULL POTENTIAL.  IN FACT THE LONG STANDING NATURE OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE SYMPTOMATIC OF THE PRIORITY THAT SUCCESSIVE ADMINISTRATIONS MAY HAVE PLACED ON THIS MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.  INDEED, AS I HAVE SAID SO MANY TIMES IN THESE HALLOWED HALLS, WATER IS THE QUINTESSENCE OF OUR VERY EXISTENCE.  WHILST MAN CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AND TELEPHONE MAN CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT WATER AND HAS NOT DONE SO FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

MR. SPEAKER, IN SIMPLISTIC TERMS WATER IS THE ESSENCE OF LIFE – IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMODITY IN THE WORLD.  THE RECENT EXPERIENCE OF HURRICANE KATRINA HAS AMPLIFIED JUST HOW IMPORTANT QUALITY WATER IS TO HUMAN EXISTENCE AND LIFE. IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THE AFTERMATH OF THAT DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE, EVEN THOUGH ELECTRICITY AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES WERE RESTORED IN REASONABLY SHORT ORDER, NOTHING WAS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN IN THAT CITY UNTIL POTABLE WATER WAS MADE AVAILABLE AND THE TOILETS COULD BE FLUSHED.

WATER FOR THE BAHAMAS AND THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE IS A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER!! MR. SPEAKER, SOLVING OUR WATER ISSUES IS OF PARAMOUNT CONCERN TO THIS GOVERNMENT AND I SUBMIT THAT THIS IS THE SAME POSITION THAT THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION SHOULD HAVE EMBRACED.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THAT THE PROVISION OF SAFE (AND AFFORDABLE) DRINKING WATER AND THE DISPOSABLE AND TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER HAVE TO BE INTEGRATED INTO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, AS THEY IMPACT THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE.  WE HAVE TO RAISE THE AWARENESS OF OUR PEOPLE, TO AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF SERIOUSNESS, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER.  WE IN NEW PROVIDENCE, WHERE THE LARGEST POPULATION CENTER RESIDES, CAN ILL-AFFORD TO WASTE THIS PRECIOUS COMMODITY.  WE MUST EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN, FROM PRE-SCHOOL AGE, OF THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF WATER.

MR. SPEAKER, HONOURABLE MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THIS IS AN AWESOME TASK, WHICH REQUIRES THE TOTAL COMMITMENT OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS TO HELP ADDRESS THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

MR. SPEAKER, AS A RESIDENT OF THE FAMILY ISLAND OF ELEUTHERA, YOU CAN EASILY ATTEST TO THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS, AS IT PERTAINS TO WATER AND SEWAGE.  YOU CAN ATTEST TO THE DESPAIR THAT OUR FELLOW BAHAMIANS FEEL WHEN THEY CANNOT ENJOY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS HAVING A DRINK OF FRESH WATER OR CATCHING A NICE REFRESHING BATH.  MR. SPEAKER - YOU CAN ATTEST TO THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER!

IT IS WITH THIS IMAGE IN MIND THAT THIS CARING PLP GOVERNMENT HAS DEVELOPED A STRATEGIC PLAN TO ARREST AND ADDRESS THE WOES THAT BEFALL THE BAHAMIAN PUBLIC, AS A RESULT OF THE CORPORATION’S LONG-STANDING CHALLENGES.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS WAS THE IMAGE THAT LED THE LEADER OF THIS RESPONSIBLE AND CARING PLP GOVERNMENT, THE RT. HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER PERRY GLADSTONE CHRISTIE, TO DIRECT THE WATER AND SEWERAGE CORPORATION TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CITIZEN OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY, RELIABLE POTABLE WATER IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME-FRAME.

THIS DIRECTIVE, MR. SPEAKER, RESULTED IN THE FORMULATION OF A NEW NATIONAL WATER & WASTEWATER STRATEGY, THE EXPRESSED PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO PRODUCE A HIGH QUALITY, RELIABLE POTABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND A MODERN SEWERAGE COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL NETWORK, IN COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, FOR NEW PROVIDENCE AND THE FAMILY ISLANDS.

THE CORNERSTONE OF THIS STRATEGY IS THIS GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PHILOSOPHY, WHICH HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN THE DELIVERY OF HIGH QUALITY, RELIABLE POTABLE WATER, BY DESALINATION, TO MANY RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMONWEALTH, WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD EITHER A POOR QUALITY SUPPLY OR NO WATER.

MR. SPEAKER, AS OUR HONOURABLE LEADER ATTESTED TO EARLIER, TO-DATE THIS PLP GOVERNMENT HAS COMMISSIONED TEN (10) DESALINATION PLANTS IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS, NOTABLY IN: -

? MOORES ISLAND, ABACO
? BIMINI
? WATERFORD, ELEUTHERA
? FARMER’S CAY EXUMA
? GEORGETOWN, EXUMA
? STANIEL CAY, EXUMA
? MATTHEW TOWN, INAGUA
? DEADMAN’S CAY, LONG ISLAND
? DUNCAN TOWN, RAGGED ISLAND
? COCKBURN TOWN, SAN SALVADOR

NOT TO LEAVE ANY STONE UNTURNED, THIS GOVERNMENT, ALSO ENTERED INTO A CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT WITH THE EMERALD BAY RESORT IN EXUMA, FOR THE SUPPLY OF ADDITIONAL DESALINATED WATER FOR WESTERN EXUMA.  I MUST HASTEN TO ADD THAT THIS WAS IN COMPENSATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE, CAUSED TO THE FRESHWATER LENS, DURING THE BUILDING OF THE RESORT.
 
MR. SPEAKER, THIS PLP GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER AND HEARING THE CRIES OF ITS PEOPLE, IS POISED TO COMMISSION YET ANOTHER DESALINATION PLANT - IN CENTRAL ELEUTHERA.  THIS NEWLY COMPLETED RO PLANT WILL BE COMMISSIONED SHORTLY. THIS PLANT IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 400,000 IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY, MAKING IT THE CORPORATION’S LARGEST FAMILY ISLAND DESALINATION FACILITY.  THE CORPORATION IS ALSO CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING TO INCREASE THE PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE GEORGETOWN RO PLANT FROM 200,000 IGD TO A MINIMUM OF 330,000 IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY, TO MEET THE EVER-INCREASING DEMAND FOR POTABLE WATER IN EXUMA.

MR. SPEAKER, AS IS OUR CUSTOM, THIS GOVERNMENT PERFORMS DUE DILIGENCE ON ALL PROJECTS.  IN SO DOING FOR THE CENTRAL ELEUTHERA RO PROJECT, SOME ALARMING INFORMATION WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.  I WAS SHOCKED AND DISMAYED TO DISCOVER THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SETTLEMENTS WHERE WATER MAINS, INSTALLED DURING THE 1950S AND 1960S, WERE NEVER REPLACED OR RENEWED.

MR. SPEAKER, MANY OF THESE OLD MAINS, WHICH ARE COMPRISED OF SURFACE LAID GALVANIZED PIPES, WERE ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF WORKS TO BE REPLACED IN THE 1994 ‘ELEUTHERA WATER IMPROVEMENT’ PROJECT.  THIS PROJECT, WHICH WAS FUNDED BY THE CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, WAS COMPLETED UNDER THE WATCH OF THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION.  I AM ADVISED THAT, IN TYPICAL FASHION, THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY ALLOWED THESE WORKS TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE PROJECT, WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE FUNDS ADVANCED COULD NOT MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS.  IT BEGS THE QUESTION – ‘HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?’ ‘WHY WERE NO ACTIONS TAKEN TO CORRECT THIS CRITICAL ERROR’?  MR. SPEAKER, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE PEOPLE OF ELEUTHERA WERE MISLED, AS APPARENTLY NO EXPLANATIONS WERE OFFERED.

MR. SPEAKER, I UNDERSTAND THAT DURING THIS INCOMPLETE EXERCISE, SETTLEMENT MAINS WERE REPLACED IN SPANISH WELLS, THE BLUFF, CURRENT, GREGORY TOWN, ALICE TOWN, GOVERNORS HARBOUR, TARPUM BAY, AND ROCK SOUND BUT NO PIPES WERE REPLACED IN UPPER & LOWER BOGUE, JAMES CISTERN, NORTH & SOUTH PALMETTO POINT AND SAVANNAH SOUND, THE AREAS WHERE MANY OF THE OLD SURFACE LAID GALVANIZED PIPES RESIDE.

MR. SPEAKER, IT GETS MORE INTERESTING, THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION AMONGST OTHER THINGS ALSO INSTALLED UNDERWATER MAINS TO SERVICE HARBOUR ISLAND AND SPANISH WELLS; AND SUBSEQUENTLY IN 2000, IN AN IDB FUNDED PROJECT, INSTALLED NEW PIPES IN THE SOUTHERN SETTLEMENTS NAMELY GREENCASTLE, WATERFORD, DEEP CREEK, AND WEMMYSS BIGHT, WITH TRANSMISSION MAINS LINKING ALL OF THESE.

HOWEVER, MR. SPEAKER, IN SPITE OF ALL THE ABOVE, INCLUDING THE INCOMPLETE PROJECT, THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION FAILED TO APPRECIATE THAT WHEN YOU EXTEND YOUR TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, OR OFFER SERVICES TO MORE PEOPLE, YOU NEED TO INCREASE YOUR ACTUAL WATER SUPPLY.  A CLASSIC CASE OF A LACK OF VISION AND AS THE SAYING GOES, “WHERE THERE IS NO VISION….”.

RESULT – INSUFFICIENT WATER TO MANY AREAS OF ELEUTHERA, INCLUDING HARBOUR ISLAND, WHERE THE LOUDEST CRIES EMANATED!

THIS SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS WAS TYPICAL OF THE PRIORITY PLACED ON WATER BY THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION BUT THIS CARING AND VISIONARY GOVERNMENT IS MOVING RESOLUTELY TO ADDRESS THESE SHORTCOMINGS.

THIS GOVERNMENT, WITH ITS STRATEGY TO PROVIDE SAFE QUALITY POTABLE WATER TO ALL BAHAMIAN RESIDENTS, HAS ALREADY COMMITTED TO THE IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF WATER MAINS IN UPPER & LOWER BOGUE, JAMES CISTERN, NORTH & SOUTH PALMETTO POINT, AND SAVANNAH SOUND.   IN THE EYES OF THIS CARING VISIONARY GOVERNMENT IT MAKES NO SENSE TO PUMP FIRST CLASS POTABLE WATER THROUGH OLD GALVANIZED RUSTY PIPES.

THE COST OF THESE NEW WATER MAINS AND PIPES WILL EXCEED $2 MILLION.

MR. SPEAKER, THE NEXT MAJOR PROGRAM, SLATED FOR 2007 WILL BE CONNECTING ROCK SOUND AND TARPUM BAY WITH RO SUPPLIED WATER.

MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO REMIND THIS PARLIAMENT OF THE ELECTION PLOY USED BY THE HUBERT INGRAHAM LED FNM GOVERNMENT, ON THE GOOD PEOPLE OF LONG ISLAND, WHERE WATER MAINS WERE INSTALLED IN THE DEADMANS CAY AREA OF LONG ISLAND, YEARS IN ADVANCE OF THE INSTALLATION OF A RO PLANT.  IT TOOK THIS GOVERNMENT TO COME TO THE RESCUE OF THE PEOPLE OF LONG ISLAND AND INSTALL A RO PLANT. IT WAS ALSO OUR INTENTION TO EXTEND WATER MAINS TO SALT POND AND CLARENCE TOWN AND THEN TO OTHER AREAS.

REGRETFULLY, MR. SPEAKER, OUR INTENTIONS AND THE HOPES OF THE PEOPLE OF LONG ISLAND WERE DASHED, WHEN WE DISCOVERED THAT THE ‘ELECTION PLOY’ PIPES WERE OF INFERIOR QUALITY AND COULD NOT HOLD QUALITY PORTABLE WATER.  IN SHORT THE PIPES BURST AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ALMOST $700,000.

WAS THIS THE ACTION OF AN ACCOUNTABLE AND CARING GOVERNMENT?

MR. SPEAKER AND HONOURABLE MEMBERS, IT DID NOT STOP THERE.  IT WAS ACTUALLY WORSE IN INAGUA, WHERE THE WATER CONNECTIONS FOR THE MAINS THAT WERE LAID HAD TO BE DUG UP AND REPLACED BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DRY-ROTTED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF WATER FLOWING THROUGH THEM. IS THIS WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT OF A GOVERNMENT?  THIS WAS A TERRIBLE HOAX, PERPETRATED BY PERSONS WHO HAD THE GALL TO CALL THEMSELVES AN ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT.

I INVITE THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE, WHEN THESE PERSONS COME KNOCKING AT THE DOORS THIS TIME, TO SIMPLY LOOK THEM STRAIGHT IN THE EYES AND TO SAY THAT ‘WE ARE SUPPORTING PERRY CHRISTIE’S PLP, A PRODUCTIVE, DYNAMIC, ACCOUNTABLE AND CARING GOVERNMENT!’

MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES TO LIFESTYLES AND DEVELOPMENTAL GROWTH IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS AND IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THIS LONG-STANDING AND DAMNING PROBLEM.  WHILST WE ARE OPPORTUNISTICALLY SEEKING TO SUPPLEMENT OUR EFFORTS BY PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIPS (PPP) IN KEY GROWTH AREAS, LIKE EXUMA, WEST-END GRAND BAHAMA AND ELEUTHERA, WE ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY PLANNING TO INSTALL DESALINATION PLANTS IN SPARSELY POPULATED ISLANDS AS WELL.  THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR NEW NATIONAL WATER & WASTEWATER STRATEGY.

THIS GOVERNMENT, MR. SPEAKER, IS CURRENTLY FINALIZING PLANS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL DESALINATION PLANTS, WITHIN THE NEXT SIX (6) MONTHS, IN THE FOLLOWING FAMILY ISLAND AREAS: -

? GREEN TURTLE CAY, ABACO
? SALINA POINT, ACKINS
? SNUG CORNER, ACKLINS
? WILLIAM’S TOWN, EXUMA
? SWEETING’S CAY, GRAND BAHAMA
? LONG CAY, IN THE MICAL CONSTITUENCY

MR. SPEAKER, CONSISTENT WITH OUR PPP POLICY, THIS GOVERNMENT IS WORKING WITH DEVELOPERS OF MAJOR FAMILY ISLAND PROJECTS TO ENSURE THAT ANY WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES DEVELOPED FOR THESE PROJECTS ADDRESS THE DEMANDS OF NEIGHBORING BAHAMIAN COMMUNITIES.  THIS MODEL IS BEING PURSUED IN CHEROKEE SOUND ABACO (WINDING BAY DEVELOPMENT), CAT ISLAND, MAYAGUANA (I-GROUP DEVELOPMENT) AND RUM CAY (MONTANA HOLDINGS DEVELOPMENT).

MR. SPEAKER, THIS STRATEGY IS BY FAR  THE BEST STRATEGY FOR ADVANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SERVICES OF THE WATER AND SEWERAGE CORPORATION, WHILST SIMULTANEOUSLY CREATING WEALTH IN THE BAHAMAS.  MOST CERTAINLY THE FACT THAT FOREIGN GROUPS/INDIVIDUALS ARE CLAMORING TO PROVIDE US WITH ‘ASSISTANCE’ IN THESE AREAS, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE.

WITH REGARDS TO THE WEALTH CREATION ASPECT OF PPP, THIS VISIONARY GOVERNMENT ALSO RECOGNIZES AND ENDORSES THIS SAFE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR BAHAMIAN INSTITUTIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENTS, VIA DEBT OR EQUITY ARRANGEMENTS.

MR. SPEAKER, IN ADDITION TO THE STATED BENEFIT THIS INITIATIVE BRINGS, WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE BENEFITS TO THE CORPORATION, BY WAY OF CULTURAL AND PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT.  THIS WILL BE A BI-PRODUCT OF THE EXPOSURE OF DEDICATED STAFF AT WSC, AS STRATEGIC PARTNERS OPEN THEIR OPERATIONS AND NETWORKS TO THE CORPORATION.

MR. SPEAKER, IN ADDITION TO OUR VIBRANT FAMILY ISLAND PROGRAM, THIS GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO BEEN ACTIVE IN NEW PROVIDENCE, WHERE WE ARE RESPONDING TO THE LOUD CRIES OF THE PEOPLE FOR A GOVERNMENT THAT RECOGNIZES AND ADDRESSES THEIR BASIC NEEDS.  THIS GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO A MODERN METROPOLITAN CITY AND MAJOR TOURISTIC DESTINATION CANNOT BE PREDICATED ON THE BARGING OF WATER AND MINING OF DEPLETED WELL FIELDS.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT, TRUE TO FORM, SOUGHT TO ADDRESS THIS PERPLEXING STATE OF AFFAIRS.  CONSISTENT WITH OUR PPP PHILOSOPHY, WE HAVE AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR A FIVE (5) MILLION IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY, DESALINATION PLANT AT BLUE HILLS, TO CONSOLIDATED WATER COMPANY LIMITED.  THE PLANT WAS PARTIALLY COMMISSIONED LAST MONTH AND HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO SUPPLY 1.6 MILLIONS IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY OF POTABLE WATER.  FULL COMMISSIONING IS EXPECTED BY AUGUST 2006.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THAT THE BARGING OF WATER FROM ANDROS, WHICH WAS INTENDED TO BE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, WAS ALLOWED TO DRAG ON, BECOMING INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE AND UNRELIABLE, DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND MECHANICAL FAILURES.  THE REALITY IS THAT THE PRICE OF RO WATER IS CHEAPER THAN THE COST OF BARGING AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS.  IN ADDITION, SPECIAL PURPOSE WATER BARGES ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY SCARCE.

MR. SPEAKER, OUR STRATEGIC PLANS FOR ERADICATING THE WATER PROBLEMS IN NEW PROVIDENCE EXTEND BEYOND THE BLUE HILLS RO PLANT AND WE ARE FINALIZING NEGOTIATIONS FOR ANOTHER PLANT FOR NORTHERN NEW PROVIDENCE.  IN ADDITION, DIRECTIVES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED TO INITIATE PLANS FOR YET ANOTHER PLANT IN THE WINTON AREA.

THIS PLP GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THE BLUE HILLS RO PLANT REPRESENTS AN HISTORIC STEP IN OUR VISION TO GUARANTEE THE SUPPLY OF HIGH QUALITY, RELIABLE POTABLE WATER TO EACH AND EVERY RESIDENT OF AND VISITOR TO NEW PROVIDENCE AND PARADISE ISLAND.

HOWEVER, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO ADVISE THE RESIDENTS OF NEW PROVIDENCE THAT ONCE THIS SYSTEM BECOMES FULLY OPERATIONAL, ANYONE DESIROUS OF SAVING MONEY AND/OR ENJOYING A CONSISTENT SUPPLY OF QUALITY POTABLE WATER SHOULD QUICKLY EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A NEW OR RETURNING CUSTOMER OF THE CORPORATION.

IN ADDITION, MR. SPEAKER, AS MENTIONED TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF EXUMA, DURING THE CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY FOR THE EXTENSION OF WATER MAINS THROUGHOUT THAT ISLAND, A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE INTRODUCTION OF RO WATER WILL MEAN THAT RESIDENTS IN NEW PROVIDENCE WILL BE ABLE TO, IN DUE COURSE, TAKE BATHS, AND SHAMPOO THEIR HAIR, USING VERY LITTLE SOAP AND SHAMPOO. EXPENDITURE ON THESE ITEMS SHOULD DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY.

IN ADDITION, MR. SPEAKER, THE QUALITY OF POTABLE WATER WILL BE EQUAL TO THAT OF BOTTLED WATER. QUALITY POTABLE WATER WILL TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW PROVIDENCE AND ELSEWHERE IN THE BAHAMAS.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT ALSO RECOGNIZES THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF USING WELL WATER, WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ONE’S HEALTH, AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO UTILIZE THEIR WELL WATER SUPPLIES FOR IRRIGATION ONLY.  IN THIS VEIN, THE CORPORATION IS SPEARHEADING THE GLOBAL AND REGIONAL SPONSORED INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME, TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING GROUNDWATER.

WATER DELIVERY STRATEGY
MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO EQUIP THE BAHAMAS TO MAINTAIN THE STANDARD OF LIVING IT IS ACCUSTOMED TO AND TO CONTINUE THE TREND OF ATTRACTING QUALITY INVESTORS AND TOURISTS.

CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY ARE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE IN GENERAL BUT SPECIFICALLY ON CONSISTENT SUPPLIES OF QUALITY POTABLE WATER AND PROPER WASTEWATER SERVICES FOR CONTINUED SURVIVAL.  CONSEQUENTLY THE ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF WATER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODERN BAHAMAS.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE THAT THE WORLD-CLASS REVERSE OSMOSIS FACILITIES THAT WE ARE BUILDING TO MEET OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS WILL BE OF LITTLE OR NO BENEFIT TO THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE WITHOUT AN EQUALLY ROBUST WORLD-CLASS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

AS IS THE CASE WITH OTHER ISLANDS, NEW PROVIDENCE ALSO SUFFERS FROM OLD AND FAULTY MAINS.  THIS IS PARTICULARLY UNACCEPTABLE AS NEGLECT, AND/OR LACK OF FOCUS IN NEW PROVIDENCE, HAS LEAD TO DAILY LEAKAGES AND LOSSES FROM THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN EXCESS OF 50%.

MR. SPEAKER, I AM ADVISED THAT THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION MET THE NRW LOSSES IN NEW PROVIDENCE AT 50+% AND LEFT IT AT 50+%.  NO VISION AND NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACT THAT WHEN YOUR CITIZENS ARE CRYING FOR WATER, YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUALLY WASTE 50% OF THE PRECIOUS COMMODITY.

WATER CONSERVATION

MR. SPEAKER, I EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THE SUBJECT OF WATER CONSERVATION. I MUST CAUTION ALL REGARDING THE WASTAGE OF POTABLE WATER. TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, ONE MAY ASK THE QUESTION – ‘DOES A LITTLE LEAK IN YOUR HOME REALLY WASTE WATER, OR MEAN ANYTHING?’  THE ANSWER IS YES!  IT IS THE LITTLE LEAK THAT KEEPS ON LEAKING AND WASTES THIS IMPORTANT COMMODITY. IT IS THE LITTLE LEAK THAT IS OFTENTIMES IGNORED AND AMOUNTS TO GALLONS OF WASTED WATER.   MR. SPEAKER, IN MANY OF OUR TOILETS, THESE LEAKS CAN EASILY TRANSLATE TO SOMEWHERE IN THE REGION OF 22 WASTED GALLONS PER DAY.  IN ANNUAL TERMS THAT AMOUNTS TO 8,000 GALLONS PER YEAR - FOR ONE TOILET.  MANY OF OUR HOMES HAVE MULTIPLE TOILETS!

MORE PROFOUNDLY, THE LEAKY WATER LINE LEADING INTO YOUR HOME, LOSING 1 GALLON OF WATER PER MINUTE EQUATES TO POTENTIAL LOSES OF 144 GALLONS PER DAY AND 52,560 GALLONS PER YEAR.

MR. SPEAKER, NO REASONABLE PERSON WORKS HARD FOR THEIR MONEY TO TURN AROUND AND TOSS IT AWAY.  CONSERVATION IS THE WAY TO GO.  A DROP OF BLUE INTO THE TANK OF YOUR WATER CLOSET, ONCE A WEEK, WILL COST YOU PEANUTS BUT SAVE YOU LONG DOLLARS.

SINCE COMING INTO POWER, THIS GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT IN EXCESS OF $7.0MN ON WATER MAINS UPGRADES AND EXTENSIONS IN NEW PROVIDENCE.  THIS IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH, AS THERE ARE STILL MANY KEY AREAS IN NEW PROVIDENCE WHERE THERE ARE NO PIPED WATER SUPPLIES.  HOWEVER MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF APPROVING A STRATEGIC PROPOSAL TO COMPLETE A LANDMARK WATER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM UPGRADE AND EXTENSION PROGRAMME FOR NEW PROVIDENCE, VIA A BOND ISSUE, TO EXTEND PIPED WATER SUPPLIES TO THOSE AREAS NOT COVERED.

IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS, THIS GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY COMPLETED WATER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM UPGRADES AND EXTENSIONS IN: -
? TREASURE CAY, ABACO  (PRIVATELY OWNED UNTIL RECENTLY)
? SANDY POINT, ABACO
? HARBOUR ISLAND, ELEUTHERA
? FARMERS CAY, STANIEL CAY AND MOSS TOWN, EXUMA

OTHER WORKS IN PROGRESS INCLUDE: -

? THE REPLACEMENT OF STORAGE TANKS - IN SANDY POINT ABACO AT A COST OF $197,000, IN MANGROVE CAY AT A COST OF $181,000 AND IN THE BLUFF SOUTH ANDROS AT A COST OF $211,000 AND THE BOGUE ELEUTHERA A 250,000 IMPERIAL GALLON TANK AT A COST OF $583,000,  FOR A TOTAL PROJECT VALUE OF $1.172 MILLION.
? THE REPLACEMENT OF 4.5 MILES OF WATER MAINS IN CENTRAL LONG ISLAND, FOR A TOTAL PROJECT VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY $700,000.
? THE EXTENSION OF THE WATER MAIN SYSTEM IN SAN SALVADOR, FROM COCKBURN TOWN TO UNITED ESTATES AND SETTLEMENTS ALONG THE WAY, AT A TOTAL PROJECT VALUE OF $350,000.

WORKS SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE IN THE SHORT-TERM, INCLUDE: -

? NORTH/WEST EXUMA WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT – EXTENSION OF EXISTING SYSTEM TO ROLLEVILLE, STUART MANOR, CURTIS, BARRATARRE; MAINS RENEWAL IN CENTRAL EXUMA AND THE INSTALLATION OF A RO UNIT AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN WILLIAMS TOWN.  PROJECT VALUE OF $2.58 MILLION.
? RO PLANTS AND WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS INSTALLATION IN SALINA POINT AND SNUG CORNER ACKLINS AND LONG CAY, AT A TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $1.22 MILLION.
? LONG ISLAND – EXTENSION OF WATER MAINS IN THE ISLAND.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT’S OBJECTIVE IS NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE POTABLE WATER AND SEWERAGE SERVICES TO ALL RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO TO TRANSFORM THE WATER AND SEWERAGE CORPORATION INTO A SELF-SUSTAINING PROFITABLE ENTITY.
 
THIS STRATEGY, ALSO SUPPORTS THE EFFECTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF BAHAMIANS IN THE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER AND WASTEWATER FACILITIES, AND COMMITS THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE CORPORATION, WILL PROVIDE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES TO ALL NEW MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS. IN THIS VEIN, THE CORPORATION IS NOW ENGAGED IN ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS WITH KERZNER INTERNATIONAL, BAHA MAR AND THE SOUTH OCEAN DEVELOPMENT.  INCOME FROM THESE OPPORTUNITIES, ARE TO BE LEVERAGED TO PROVIDE CAPITAL FUNDING FOR THE PROVISION OF WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES TO ALL BAHAMIAN CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS.

RECOGNIZING THE SOUNDNESS OF THIS STRATEGY, MR. SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENACT THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN THE CORPORATION’S POSITION AS THE PROVIDER OF CHOICE OF WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES IN THE BAHAMAS.

WASTEWATER DELIVERY STRATEGY

MR. SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPER SEWERAGE OR WASTEWATER TREATMENT MODEL TO ADDRESS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANTS AND FACILITIES IN NEW PROVIDENCE AND THROUGHOUT THE FAMILY ISLANDS.

SEWERAGE/WASTEWATER, WHILST PERENNIALLY LISTED AS AN AREA OF CONCERN FOR THE CORPORATION, WAS NEVER PAID PROPER ATTENTION, OVER PAST ADMINISTRATIONS.  THIS AREA IS POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY EXPLOSIVE, AND CAN DAMAGE OUR TOURISM IMAGE, IF NOT PROMPTLY ADDRESSED.  ONE NEEDS ONLY LOOK AT THE INNER CITY AND THE NUMBER OF OUTSIDE TOILETS STILL PREVALENT IN NEW PROVIDENCE AND THE FAMILY ISLANDS.

MR. SPEAKER, I AM ASHAMED TO SAY THAT OF THE FIVE (5) WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS WE INHERITED WHEN ASSUMING OFFICE, NONE COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS MEETING INTERNATIONAL ‘UTILITY STANDARDS’.

AS WITH WATER, THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO LEVERAGING WASTEWATER SERVICES PROVIDED TO INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS, TO MODERNIZE THESE FACILITIES AND IMPROVE THE STATE OF AFFAIRS THROUGHOUT THE BAHAMAS.

MR. SPEAKER, SINCE COMING TO POWER, THIS GOVERNMENT ALSO COMPLETED THE PURCHASE OF THE PRIVATELY OPERATED ABACO UTILITIES WATER & SEWERAGE SYSTEM, A TRANSACTION THAT WAS PENDING FOR MANY YEARS.  WE CONNECTED THE RESIDENTS OF TREASURE CAY TO THE CORPORATION’S WATER SYSTEM, PROVIDING THE QUALITY WATER PROMISED FOR YEARS, AND COMPLETED THE INITIAL UPGRADE OF THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM.

MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO ADVISE HONOURABLE MEMBERS, HOWEVER, THAT RAW SEWAGE WAS FOR YEARS BEING DISCHARGED INTO AN OPEN POND, POSING A SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARD FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY, HOWEVER, NOTHING WAS DONE TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD.

WITHOUT CALLING NAMES, GUESS WHO REPRESENTED THIS AREA OF ABACO FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS?  WHO BOLDLY TOLD THE PEOPLE OF NORTH ABACO IN 2002, WITH CHEST STUCK OUT; THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST TIME HE WOULD SOLICIT THEIR VOTE?

NO NAMES, MR. SPEAKER, BUT I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT THIS GOVERNMENT, WILL VERY SHORTLY BE AWARDING A CONTRACT, FOR A DEEP DISPOSAL WELL, IN TREASURE CAY, TO ELIMINATE THE DISCOMFIT THAT THE RESIDENTS ENDURED FOR YEARS.  THANKS TO THEIR UNCARING MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.  THE SAME INDIVIDUAL WHO NOW CONTENDS THAT BAHAMIANS FROM ALL OVER OUR NATION WANT HIM TO COME BACK BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MESSAGE THAT IS REALLY BEING SENT FROM THE PEOPLE OF HIS OWN CONSTITUENCY IS – “HIT THE ROAD JACK!’

ADDITIONAL SEWERAGE WORKS IN PROGRESS OR SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE IN THE SHORT-TERM, INCLUDE: -

? THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WASTEWATER TERTIARY TREATMENT PLANT, OFF GLADSTONE ROAD, TO SERVICE BAHA MAR AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE JOHN F. KENNEDY DRIVE/GLADSTONE ROAD AREA;
? THE UPGRADE OF THE PINEWOOD GARDENS AND FLAMINGO GARDENS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
? IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HAROLD ROAD SEPTAGE & SLUDGE HANDLING FACILITY

SUMMARY
MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATER AND WASTEWATER SECTOR, AND THE PROVISION OF BASIC HUMAN SERVICES, EFFECTIVELY BUT WITH MINIMAL COST TO THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE.

THE WATER AND SEWERAGE CORPORATION HAS BEEN EMPOWERED TO INITIATE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS TO SUCCESSFULLY ARTICULATE THIS STRATEGY.  THESE INITIATIVES INCLUDE:

1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW NATIONAL WATER & WASTEWATER STRATEGIC PLAN;
2. THE INCLUSION OF A ONE MILLION IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY NRW (LEAKAGE) REDUCTION PROGRAMME, AS A PART OF THE BLUE HILLS DESALINATION PROJECT.  THIS PROJECT IS NOW AT 30% COMPLETION.
3. THE CHAMPIONING OF AN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PROGRAM, TO HEIGHTEN THE PUBLIC’S AWARENESS OF THE NATION’S WATER RESOURCES AND WHAT IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN IT.  A NECESSARY MEASURE, TO ENSURE THE ONGOING VIABILITY OF THE WATER AND SEWERAGE CORPORATION AND THE PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PAY LIP SERVICE TO THE DELIVERY OF WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. THIS GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS THAT WATER AND DEVELOPMENT GO HAND IN HAND, WITH WATER LEADING THE WAY.  THIS GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS THAT THE PROVISION OF CONSISTENT, QUALITY WATER SERVICES TO LARGE INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS IS THE PRUDENT WAY TO RAISE CAPITAL TO DELIVER THE SAME TO ALL RESIDENTS.  MOST IMPORTANTLY MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO UPLIFTING THE WATER AND SEWERAGE CORPORATION AND LIFTING THE BURDEN OF CONTINUOUS SUBSIDIES AND POOR QUALITY SERVICE DELIVERY OF WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES FROM THE SHOULDERS OF ALL BAHAMIANS.

MR. SPEAKER, I WILL NOW TURN MY ATTENTION TO THE BAHAMAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY.
PRIVATIZATION

I MUST RE-ITERATE, MR. SPEAKER, THAT IT IS MY GOVERNMENT’S PHILOSOPHY AND INTENTION TO FACILITATE PRIVATIZATION, BUT WE WILL DO IT IN A MANNER THAT IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE BAHAMAS.

IT IS NOT THE INTENTION OF MY GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A FIRE SALE FOR THE TREASURES OF THE BAHAMAS. AND TODAY, BTC IS NOT FIRE SALE MATERIAL WHEN ONE ACCOUNTS FOR ITS REVENUES, PROFITS AND NETWORK UPGRADES.

MR. SPEAKER, I WILL QUICKLY REVIEW SOME OF THE COMPANY’S ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE LAST BUDGET YEAR.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS YEAR 2004 – 2005

REDUCTION OF INTERNATIONAL LONG DISTANCE (ILD) AND DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE (DLD) RATES.

MR. SPEAKER, IN 2005, BTC PERMANENTLY REDUCED ITS INTERNATIONAL LONG DISTANCE RATES BY UP TO SEVENTY PERCENT AFTER A NINETY DAY PROMOTIONAL PERIOD. BTC ALSO REDUCED ITS DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE RATES BY FIFTY FIVE PERCENT.
INCREASE OF RENTAL RATES
MR. SPEAKER, THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION (PUC) CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF TOWN MEETINGS IN NEW PROVIDENCE, GRAND BAHAMA AND ABACO ON BTC’S APPLICATION FOR PROPOSED RATE INCREASES FOR TELEPHONE LINE RENTAL.

ONCE THOSE TOWN MEETINGS WERE CONCLUDED, THE PUC APPROVED THE APPLICATION FOR THE RATE INCREASE.

INTEREST PAYMENT ON SECURITY DEPOSITS
AS PER THE PLANS OF MY GOVERNMENT MR. SPEAKER, BTC INTRODUCED THE PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON SECURITY DEPOSITS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICES PAID BY ITS CUSTOMERS.
FINANCIAL REPORT 2005
MR. SPEAKER, I OFFER A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF BTC’S FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST 2005. I INTEND TO TABLE A FULL FINANCIAL REPORT ON BTC TO THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE IN THE COMING WEEKS.
• 2005 TOTAL ASSETS OF $494,771,000.00 COMPARED TO $461,832,000.00 IN 2004
• 2005 TOTAL REVENUES OF $300,570,000.00 COMPARED TO $274,464,000.00 IN 2004
• 2005 OPERATING PROFIT OF $26,008,000.00 COMPARED TO $9,757,000.00 IN 2004
• TOTAL NET PROFIT OF $34,533,000.00 COMPARED TO $8,340,000.00 IN 2004.

MR. SPEAKER, BTC’S PERFORMANCE FOR THE FIRST QUARTER 2006 IS CONTINUING IN ITS 2005 TREND.
• FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, THE COMPANY GENERATED $28.4 MILLION AND EARNED A NET PROFIT OF $2.0 MILLION.
• FIRST QUARTER 2006 GROSS REVENUES HAVE INCREASED $11.7 MILLION OVER THE SAME PERIOD 2005. THIS INCREASE IS PRIMARILY DUE TO A $9.6 MILLION INCREASE IN GSM REVENUES
• FIRST QUARTER 2006 EBITDA HAS INCREASED BY $10.3 MILLION  OVER 2005
• FIRST QUARTER 2006 NET PROFIT HAS INCREASED BY $7.4 MILLION OVER FIRST QUARTER 2005.
• FIRST QUARTER 2006 NET PROFITS HAS EXCEEDED THE BUDGETED AMOUNT BY $6.3 MILLION
• FIRST QUARTER 2006 NET WORKING CAPITAL SHOWS A POSITIVE BALANCE OF $42.0 MILLION WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 2005
• FIRST QUARTER 2006 NET ASSETS ARE RECORDED AT $422.9 MILLION AN INCREASE OF $43.7 MILLION WHEN COMPARED TO DECEMBER 2005

GRAND BAHAMA BIMINI SUBMARINE CABLE NETWORK (GBBSN)

MR. SPEAKER, AS WAS MY GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE BAHAMAS THAT IS TO PROVIDE RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES, MY GOVERNMENT APPROVED IN THE SPRING OF 2005 FOR BTC TO EXPEND $6.1 MILLION TO CONNECT THE ISLAND OF BIMINI TO GRAND BAHAMA AND THUS THE REST OF THE WORLD VIA A FIRST CLASS, MODERN, FIBER OPTIC CABLE NETWORK.

THIS NEW SUBMARINE FIBER CABLE REPLACES THE MANUFACTURED DISCONTINUED TROPO MICROWAVE SYSTEM THAT FAILED CHRONICALLY AND LEFT THE RESIDENTS OF BIMINI ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD SOMETIMES FOR DAYS.

AS MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR BTC, I COMMISSIONED THIS NETWORK IN DECEMBER 2005 WITH A TELEPHONE CALL ON THE NEW NETWORK TO THE HONORABLE PRIME MINISTER PERRY GLADSTONE CHRISTIE.

SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THIS NEW FIBER OPTIC CABLE, THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN BIMINI ARE NOW ABLE TO ACCESS THE INTERNET AT HIGH SPEEDS USING DSL JUST LIKE THE RESIDENTS IN NEW PROVIDENCE AND GRAND BAHAMA.

SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THIS NEW CABLE, BTC IS IN THE PROCESS OF TESTING A NEW GSM NETWORK THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN BIMINI AT A COST OF $1 MILLION.

MR. SPEAKER, NO LONGER DO THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF BIMINI HAVE TO SUFFER FROM NOISY CIRCUITS THAT ARE OFTEN BUSY AND FADING OUT. THEY NOW HAVE MODERN QUALITY VOICE AND DATA CIRCUITS.

IT IS THE INTENTION OF MY GOVERNMENT THAT THE RESIDENTS OF BIMINI HAVE THE SAME QUALITY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND PRODUCTS AS THE RESIDENTS IN NEW PROVIDENCE.

BAHAMAS DOMESTIC SUBMARINE CABLE NETWORK INTERNATIONAL (BDSNI) PHASE 1

MR. SPEAKER, MY GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THAT NO GOVERNMENT SHOULD ISOLATE ITS CITIZENS ALONG LINES OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND THAT EVERY RESIDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO COMMUNICATE.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OR NON ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE PROJECT, MY GOVERNMENT APPROVED BTC TO BUILD A FIBER OPTIC SUBMARINE CABLE NETWORK CONNECTING FOURTEEN OF THE MAJOR ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS IN A SELF HEALING RING TOPOLOGY AT A COST OF $60 MILLION. THIS PROJECT IS REFERRED TO AS THE BAHAMAS DOMESTIC SUBMARINE CABLE NETWORK OR BDSNI.
I AM PLEASE TO REPORT TO THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE, THAT PHASE 1 OF THIS PROJECT, I.E. CONNECTING NEW PROVIDENCE TO INAGUA VIA ANDROS, ELEUTHERA, EXUMA, LONG ISLAND, AND RAGGED ISLAND WAS COMPLETED ON TIME DECEMBER 31ST 2005. THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRAFFIC BETWEEN THESE ISLANDS AND NEW PROVIDENCE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD IS NOW BEING CARRIED BY THIS NEW FIBER OPTIC SUBMARINE CABLE NETWORK.

BTC RE-BRANDING
MR. SPEAKER, ON SEPTEMBER 4TH 2002 THE BAHAMAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LTD. TRADING AS BTC WAS CREATED BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING, THE NAME BATELCO WAS CONSISTENTLY USED.

IN 2005 A RE-BRANDING PROGRAM BEGAN AND IS CONTINUING. IT SHOULD BE NOTED MR. SPEAKER, THIS PROGRAM IS MORE THAN A NAME CHANGE; IT IS ABOUT CHANGING THE MODUS OPERADII OF THE COMPANY. IN ESSENCE, CHANGING THE DNA OR CULTURE OF THE COMPANY, THAT IS PREPARING THE COMPANY FOR THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.

THE COMPANY IS CHANGING FROM A TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN COMPANY TO A MARKET LED COMPANY, FROM A COMPANY CENTRIC COMPANY TO A CUSTOMER CENTRIC COMPANY.

YOU WOULD NOTE THE CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP AT BTC FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT AS THE COMPANY PREPARES TO RE-INVENT ITSELF. MR. SPEAKER YOU WOULD NOTE THE ADVERTISEMENTS AND SPONSORSHIPS OF THE COMPANY. THIS IS ALL IN KEEPING WITH PRIVATE SECTOR, BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES.

HURRICANE RESTORATION
MR. SPEAKER, A NUMBER OF UNWELCOMED VISITORS CAME TO OUR COUNTRY ON A TOUR IN THE LAST TWO YEARS NAMELY; HURRICANES FRANCES, JEANNE AND WILMA. THESE UNWELCOME VISITORS WREAKED HAVOC ON OUR NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE.

I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE NETWORK HAS BEEN RESTORED AND WHERE POSSIBLE MADE MORE ROBUST AND REDUNDANT.

I WISH TO PUBLICLY THANK BTC STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATION DURING THESE HURRICANES.
GSM FOR GRAND CAY
AS A RESULT OF BTC HAVING TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GRAND CAY, BECAUSE OF THE DESTRUCTION BY THE HURRICANE, BTC TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSTALL GSM CELLULAR SERVICES.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT GRAND CAY AND WALKERS CAY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS HAVE HAD ANY KIND OF CELLULAR SERVICES.

AND NOW MR. SPEAKER I TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO WHAT IS PRESENTLY HAPPENING AT BTC AND ITS PLANS FOR THIS 2006 – 2007 BUDGET YEAR.
 
 

BAHAMAS DOMESTIC SUBMARINE CABLE NETWORK INTERNATIONAL (BDSNI) II
AS I SPEAK, MR. SPEAKER, BTC ENGINEERS ARE IN THE ISLANDS PERFORMING ACCEPTANCE TESTING ON PHASE II OF BDSNI WHICH STARTED 2ND JANUARY 2006 IS EXPECTED TO BE FULLY COMPLETED  BY AUGUST 2006.

PHASE II IS CONNECTING INAGUA TO NEW PROVIDENCE VIA SAN SALVADOR, RUM CAY, ACKLINS, MAYGUANA, CROOKED ISLAND, CAT ISLAND, ABACO AND GRAND BAHAMA.

PHASE II ALSO CONNECTS PORT AU PRINCE HAITI WITH MATHEW TOWN, INAGUA.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS NATIONAL CABLE NETWORK WILL PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR THE DELIVERY OF MY GOVERNMENT’S ECOMMERCE INITIATIVES, BTC’S GSM AND HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS (DSL) AND THE CABLE NETWORK ALSO HAS THE CAPACITY OF TWO HUNDRED DIGITAL TELEVISION CHANNELS.

GSM FAMILY ISLAND EXPANSION
MR. SPEAKER, BTC HAS ALLOCATED $35 MILLION THIS YEAR TO COMPLETE DEPLOYMENT OF GSM TO THE REMAINING FAMILY ISLANDS. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ALLOCATION OF $6.1 MILLION TO DEPLOY GSM IN EXUMA AND THE $14 MILLION PRESENTLY BEING SPENT TO PROVIDE GSM IN ABACO OR THE $1.1 MILLION SPENT FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF GSM IN BIMINI.

BTC IS ALSO SPENDING AN ADDITIONAL $6 MILLION TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY THE GSM NETWORK FROM 120,000 TO 250,000 SUBSCRIBERS.
AN ADDITIONAL $6 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO IMPROVE THE COVERAGE OF GSM IN NEW PROVIDENCE AND GRAND BAHAMA.

CDMA CELLULAR SERVICES
MR. SPEAKER, MANY OF OUR VISITORS COME TO THE BAHAMAS FROM NETWORKS THAT ARE NOT TDMA OR GSM TECHNOLOGY. WIRELESS PROVIDER LIKE VERIZON AND SPRINT USE THE CDMA TECHNOLOGY.

BTC IS SPENDING $6 MILLION TO INSTALL AN OVERLAY CDMA NETWORK FOR IN-BOUND ROAMERS ONLY. THIS NETWORK WILL BE INSTALLED IN HOTSPOTS LIKE PORTS OF ENTRY AND HOTELS.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED, THAT BTC IS DEPLOYING CDMA AS AN IN-BOUND ROAMING SERVICE ONLY.

• BTC IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE CDMA CELLULAR SERVICES WITH CELL-SITES IN NEW PROVIDENCE; CABLE BEACH, DELAPORTE, EAST STREET, NASSAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, LYFORD CAY, PERPALL TRACT AND PARADISE ISLAND. IN GRAND BAHAMA THERE ARE CELL –SITES AT BAHAMIA, EIGHT MILE ROCK, FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA HIGHWAY, TAINO BEACH, LUCAYA AND SETTLERS WAY HAVE BEEN BUILT. CELL-SITES ARE TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN EXUMA ARE FARMERS HILL AND GEORGE TOWN AND IN ELEUTHERA GOVERNORS HARBOUR AND HARBOUR ISLAND AND IN BIMINI BAILEY TOWN.

• THE MSC (MOBILE SWITCHING CENTRE FOR CDMA) IS INSTALLED AND TESTED AT BTC’S SOLDIER ROAD’S TECHNICAL CENTRE.
BLACKBERRY (SHOW MY NEW BLACKBERRY)
MR. SPEAKER, BTC SIGNED AN AGREEMENT LAST YEAR WITH RIM (RESEARCH IN MOTION) THE OWNERS OF THE BLACKBERRY SERVICES TO FACILITATE BLACKBERRY. PRIOR TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE BAHAMAS MARKET WAS CONSIDERED TOO SMALL.
• BTC TWO MONTHS AGO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED IOT (INTER OPERABILITY TESTING) WITH RIM.
• BTC HAS ORDERED THE BLACKBERRY HANDSETS AND THE SETS ARE NOW IN STOCK IN THE BAHAMAS.
• BTC STARTED BETA TESTING IN-HOUSE AT THE END OF MAY 2006 AND WILL PUBLICLY TEST WITH ITS POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS IN JULY 2006.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHILE THE PRODUCT IS BEING BETA TESTED FOR THE DOMESTIC MARKET, BTC IS ALSO WORKING ON OUTBOUND AND IN BOUND ROAMING.

NEXT GENERATION NETWORK (NGN)
MR. SPEAKER, BTC PLANS TO MIGRATE ITS PRESENT TELEPHONE NETWORK TO A NEXT GENERATION NETWORK (NGN) SO THAT IT CAN CREATE NEW REVENUE STREAMS, REDUCE COST AND MAINTENANCE AND ALSO PROVIDE THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES LIKE IPTV.

THIS PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST $53 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS WITH $40 MILLION TO BE SPENT IN 2006.

TV 13 AND CHANNEL 40
MR. SPEAKER, BTC IS WORKING WITH THE BROADCASTING CORPORATION OF THE BAHAMAS ON HOW BEST TO DEPLOY TELEVISION CHANNELS 13 AND 40 TO THE REST OF THE BAHAMAS.

ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE FORCE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

MR. SPEAKER, BTC IS WORKING WITH THE ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE FORCE AND THE MINISTRY IN EXPANDING THE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK FOR THE ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE FORCE IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS.

SUBSIDIARY CAPITAL PROJECTS
MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT BTC HAS MADE ALLOCATION FOR E.G.  $4 MILLION FOR BATTERY PLANT REPLACEMENT AND ENHANCEMENT, $10 MILLION UPGRADE OF DSL AND BATELNET PLATFORMS, $3 MILLION FOR WI-FI DEPLOYMENT, $10 MILLION FOR UPGRADE OF THE FAMILY ISLAND FIBER OPTIC NETWORKS, $10 MILLION FOR OUTSIDE PLANT UPGRADES, $2.5 MILLION FOR UPGRADES IN DEADMAN’S CAY, NORTH ANDROS, CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY AND HARBOUR ISLAND.
COMMENTS BY IDB
MR SPEAKER, IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME AS THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS IF I DID NOT ADDRESS THE ARTICLE WITH THE SUBJECT “HIGH COST OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RETARDING BAHAMAS ADVANTAGES” APPEARING IN THE PRINT MEDIA ON 14TH JUNE 2006.

IT IS IMPORTANT, MR SPEAKER, THAT INFORMATION IS ALWAYS PRESENTED IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND IN A BALANCED CONTEXT.

I SUGGEST TO THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE THAT THE CHALLENGE THAT THIS GOVERNMENT HAS IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE CARIBBEAN OR THIS REGION. AND FURTHER, THERE ARE FEW COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT HAVE THIS CHALLENGE.

MR SPEAKER, THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS HAS A POPULATION OF JUST OVER 300,000 DISPERSED ON MANY ISLANDS AND CAYS SPREAD OVER 100,000 SQUARE MILES.

MR SPEAKER, THERE ARE NO DUTY EXEMPTIONS TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH ADDS FORTY-FIVE PERCENT CUSTOMS DUTY AND AN ADDITIONAL SEVEN PER PERCENT STAMP TAX ABOVE THAT WHICH IS PAID BY MAJOR PROVIDERS E.G. IN THE UNITED STATES.

MR SPEAKER, NERA (NATIONAL ECONOMIC RESEARCH ASSOCIATE), A WORLD RENOWNED CONSULTING FIRM COMPLETED A COST ANALYSIS FOR BTC AND IN THE COSTING, IT ARTICULATED THAT THE PROVISION OF A SINGLE LINE TELEPHONE IN NEW PROVIDENCE WAS $511 AND THE COST FOR GRAND BAHAMA AVERAGED $900 BUT THE COST FOR THE SAME LINE IN MAYGUANA WAS $4,200.00

MR SPEAKER, YOU CAN THEREFORE SEE THAT THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICE IS LOP-SIDED AND THE CITIZENS WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD THE COST HAS THE HIGHEST COST.

THE GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE MR SPEAKER, AS A MATTER OF SOCIAL CONSCIENCE DECIDED NOTWITHSTANDING THE ASYMMETRICAL COST TO KEEP THE TARIFFS EQUAL.  AS THEY WOULD SAY IN THE INDUSTRY THERE IS “POSTALIZATION OF RATES.”

THE ARTICLE DOES GIVE THE BAHAMAS SOME CREDIT AND I QUOTE “ON ANOTHER NOTE, THE BAHAMAS CAN BOAST OF A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN MAKING HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENT OF NEW PROVIDENCE, GRAND BAHAMA AND ABACO AT AFFORDABLE PRICES,”

MR SPEAKER, THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION (ITU), THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ARM OF THE UNITED NATIONS RATED THE BAHAMAS NUMBER ONE IN THE CARIBBEAN AND NUMBER 3 IN THE AMERICAS FOR DIGITAL INTERCONNECTIVITY. AS I SPEAK, MR. SPEAKER, EQUIPMENT IS ON ORDER FOR LONG ISLAND AND EXUMA SO AS TO UPGRADE THESE ISLANDS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET DSL.

MR SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF BUILDING A TEN GIGABYTE SELF-HEALING FIBER OPTIC SUBMARINE CABLE CONNECTING FOURTEEN ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS AT A COST OF SOME $60 MILLION. LAST YEAR DECEMBER MR SPEAKER, AS MINISTER RESPONSIBLE, I COMMISSIONED A $6.1 MILLION DOLLAR FIBER OPTIC SUBMARINE CABLE BETWEEN BIMINI AND GRAND BAHAMA. ONE MUST FIRST LAY THE FOUNDATION IN ORDER TO BUILD THE HOUSE. THE OLD TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WAS MANUFACTURE DISCONTINUED WAS COSTLY TO MAINTAIN AND DID NOT ALLOW THE COST TO BE EASILY REDUCED.

ON THE MATTER OF FIXED LINE PENETRATION, THE UNITED STATES HAS A PENETRATION RATE OF SIXTY-TWO PERCENT WITH ZERO GROWTH AFTER TWENTY- TWO YEARS OF DEREGULATION.

MR SPEAKER, TO PROPERLY APPRECIATE THE POSITION OF THE BAHAMAS, I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU OF THE PENETRATION FIGURES SOURCED BY THE WORLD BANK. THE US HAS A PENETRATION LEVEL OF 62.2%, THE BAHAMAS IS 43%, OCEANIA COUNTRIES PENETRATION IS 39.68%, EUROPE IS AT 32.95%, LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN IS 8.89% AND AFRICA IS AT 1.74%.

ON THE MATTER OF RATES AND TARIFFS, MR SPEAKER, IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE ARTICLE GIVES CREDIT TO THE RATES FOR DSL.
MR SPEAKER, I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE MODELS AND BENCHMARKS USED FOR DSL ARE THE SAME USED FOR ALL OTHER PRODUCTS AND SERVICE.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE RATIONALE USED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION OF THE UNITED STATES TO ESTABLISH THE CONCEPT OF RATE RE-BALANCING BACK IN 1996 WAS THAT THE LOCAL SERVICE WAS BEING PROVIDED BELOW COST AND THAT INTERNATIONAL LONG DISTANCE WAS BEING USED BY FOREIGN CARRIERS TO SUBSIDIZE THE LOCAL NETWORK. IN THAT CASE, MR SPEAKER, BTC’S LOCAL RATES ARE BELOW COST.

FURTHER, MR SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT HAS REDUCED DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE RATES BY 55% AND INTERNATIONAL LONG DISTANCE RATES BY UP TO 75% SINCE COMING TO POWER WITH THE INTENT TO VERY SHORTLY REDUCE THE RATES ANOTHER FOUR CENTS PER MINUTE.

MR SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING A VERY ROBUST, CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY NETWORK FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE BAHAMAS.

MR SPEAKER, WITH REFERENCE TO THE COMMENTS ON ROAMING, THE TARIFF BETWEEN PROVIDERS IS A FUNCTION OF THE BILATERAL AGREEMENTS. THE PROVIDERS OF THE NETWORKS THAT BTC CUSTOMERS USE E.G., CINGULAR, VODAPHONE AND T MOBILE SET THEIR OWN TARIFFS AND RATES. BTC’S ROAMING RATES ARE GUIDED BY THE RATES OF FOREIGN CARRIERS AS A PART OF A BILATERAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL CARRIERS.

THE TARIFF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CINGULAR, AT&T, CABLE & WIRELESS ARE NOT JUST BETWEEN THE PROVIDERS BUT ALSO BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS’ NETWORK.

CUSTOMERS TRAVELING TO THE US FROM THE BAHAMAS USING BTC’S GSM PHONE HAVE A CHOICE IN SOME INSTANCE OF EITHER USING T-MOBILE OR AT&T CINGUGLAR.  HOWEVER, SINCE THIS SERVICE IS CONSIDERED A LUXURY OR CONVENIENCE, THE PRODUCT IS BEING COMMODITIZED.

BTC’S ROAMING RATES FOR VISITORS COMING INTO THE BAHAMAS IS A FUNCTION OF THE BI-LATERAL AGREEMENT.
 
BTC, ON ITS ON INITIATIVE IS WORKING WITH ITS PARTNERS TO SEE HOW BEST THEY CAN FIND THE MOST COST-EFFICIENT TARIFF FOR THEIR ROAMING CUSTOMERS.

BTC PRESENTLY HAS 48 ROAMING PARTNERS AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATIONS TO REDUCE THE ROAMING RATES WILL HAVE TO BE DONE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.

IN ADDRESSING THE BY PASS OF BTC’S NETWORK, MR SPEAKER, THERE IS A TWO PRONG APPROACH.

LET ME SAY THAT NETWORK BYPASS IS NOT UNIQUE TO BTC. CABLE & WIRELESS IS ADDRESSING BYPASS WITH AN ALLIANCE WITH NET2PHONE AND BY BUILDING A NGN (NEXT GENERATION NETWORK).

A FEW WEEKS AGO, AN EXECUTIVE OF BTL (BELIZE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED) VISITED MY OFFICE AND SHARED WITH ME THEIR APPROACH TO BYPASS. SINCE THEY OWN THE INTERNATIONAL PIPE AND ALL OTHER LICENSED OPERATORS BUY CAPACITY FROM BTL, BTL BLOCKED VONAGE AND SKYPE LIKE SERVICES AT THEIR GATEWAY.
BELIZE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION THEN HELD A PUBLIC FORUM ON THE MATTER.

MR SPEAKER, BTL VIEWS THESE TYPE SERVICES AS PARASITIC. THE OPERATORS PAY NO LICENSE FEES OR TAXES TO THE GOVERNMENT, OWN NO PROPERTIES IN COUNTRY, RENT NO FACILITIES, HAVE NO BUSINESS LICENSE, PROVIDE NO JOBS IN THE COUNTRY, LEAVE NO MONEY TO CIRCULATE IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE  PAYMENTS ARE MADE VIA CREDIT CARDS.  THEY BUILD NO INFRASTRUCTURE IN COUNTRY, CONTRIBUTE NO FUNDS TO THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION AND PAY ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO GET THEIR NETWORK CONNECTED IN BELIZE, BAHAMAS AND THE CARIBBEAN.

THEY ARE CONSIDERED FREELOADERS BECAUSE INCUMBENT OPERATORS WHOSE NETWORKS THEY USE FREE OF CHARGE ARE FORCED TO UPGRADE THEIR DATA NETWORKS IN ORDER TO HANDLE THE ADDITIONAL VOICE TRAFFIC WITH NO CONTRIBUTION FROM THEM.

BTC COULD TAKE THE SAME APPROACHED AS BTL IN BELIZE AND BLOCK THE SIGNALS OF SKYPE AND VONAGE LIKE SERVICES ON ITS INTERNATIONAL PIPE.

BTC IS AGGRESSIVELY WORKING TO INTRODUCE NGN (NEXT GENERATION NETWORK)  IN ORDER TO REDUCE ITS COST.  THIS SAVINGS WILL BE PASSED THROUGH TO ITS CUSTOMERS IN REDUCED RATES.

BTC HAS ALWAYS EMBRACED NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND IS WORKING AGGRESSIVELY TO INTRODUCE ITS OWN VONAGE TYPE SERVICES IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

MR SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE THREATS TO THE DEVALUATION OF BTC AND THE ATTACK ON ITS REVENUE STREAMS FROM PARASITIC OPERATORS. BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO AWARE THAT IF THE BAHAMAS IS TO STAY COMPETITIVE IN THE TOURISM AND FINANCIAL SECTORS, IT MUST CONTINUE TO BUILD A MODERN, ROBUST TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE. UNFORTUNATELY MR SPEAKER IT HAS TO BE BUILT WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE PARASITES THAT USE THE SAME INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE ENORMOUS PROFITS WITHOUT CONTRIBUTING A DIME TO ITS DEPLOYMENT AND AMIDST CRITICISMS OF THOSE WHO USE THESE SERVICES.

SUMMARY
AS YOU CAN SEE, MR. SPEAKER, BTC’S CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 2006 IS IN ACCESS OF $150.8 MILLION.

MR. SPEAKER, I WISH TO THANK THE BOARD AND STAFF AT THE BTC FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING IN KEEPING THE BAHAMAS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HELPING TO KEEP THE BAHAMAS COMPETITIVE IN ITS TOURISM AND FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTORS.

MR SPEAKER, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS MY CONGRATULATIONS TO BTC FOR WINING THE CHAIR OF THE CARIBBEAN ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATIONS (CANTO). CANTO HAS 75 MEMBERS IN 33 COUNTRIES. BTC’S ACTING PRESIDENT & CEO WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN TRINIDAD IN FEBRUARY 2006.

MR. SPEAKER, IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME AS THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR BTC IF I DID NOT ADDRESS THE ARTICLE APPEARING IN THE MONDAY 29TH MAY 2006 DAILY SUBJECT “BTC VIOLATING LICENCE TERMS WITH IMPUNITY.”

LET ME STATE FOR THE RECORD, MR. SPEAKER, THAT BTC’S HAS PLANT ASSETS OF OVER $458 MILLION IN THIS LITTLE COUNTRY OF OURS. THIS YEAR AS I ARTICULATED IN THIS COMMUNICATION TO THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE, BTC IS SPENDING AN ADDITIONAL $150 MILLION TO IMPROVE THAT ASSET.
THE PROJECTED OPERATING EXPENSE FOR THIS COMPANY IS OVER $290 MILLION. IT PAYS THE SALARIES OF 1,197 BAHAMIANS. IT IS CONNECTING ISLANDS OF THIS COUNTRY WITH FIBER OPTIC THAT NO PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WOULD DO.

IN ADDITION MR. SPEAKER, BTC HAS ADOPTED SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTRY, FUNDS THE TECHNICAL CADET CORPS PROGRAM, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAMS, DONATES COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO BAHAMIANS, SPONSORS CARIFTA, AND CACC GAMES, PARTNERS WITH THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND THE BROADCASTING CORPORATION OF THE BAHAMAS AND THE YOUTH OF THIS COUNTRY, AND GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH CHARITIES FROM THE SALES OF ITS HELLO CARD.

BTC MR. SPEAKER THROUGH ITS LICENSE IS OBLIGATED TO GO WHERE NO ONE ELSE WILL GO. THAT IS, IT IS OBLIGATED BY LAW TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TO EVERY SETTLEMENT WITH TEN HOUSEHOLD OR MORE NOTWITHSTANDING THE COST.

BTC IS PAYING THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION (PUC) IN EXCESS OF $1.2 MILLION PER ANNUM FOR IT LICENSE WHILE THE COMPLAINANT RECEIVED ITS LICENSE FOR A MERE $40,000.

MR. SPEAKER, BTC HAS 134,000 INSTALLED TELEPHONE LINES IN THIS COUNTRY AND ALMOST 200,000 CELLULAR SUBSCRIBERS THAT THE COMPLAINANT WANTS TO CONNECT TO. HOW MANY SUBSCRIBERS DOES THE COMPLAINANT HAVE TO OFFER BTC TO CONNECT TO?

IF BTC WAS YOUR PERSONAL COMPANY MR. SPEAKER WOULD YOU NOT BE WARY THAT YOUR NETWORK COULD BE EXPLOITED FURTHER BY VOIP OPERATORS?

BTC HAS BUILT AN ATM/DSL PLATFORM AT A COST OF OVER $34 MILLION. COMPANIES LIKE VONAGE, USE BTC’S DSL PLATFORM TO SELL LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE SERVICES ERODING BTC’S REVENUES WITH NO INVESTMENT IN BTC’S NETWORK. VONAGE LIKE SERVICES PAY NO LICENSE FEES TO THE PUC, NO CUSTOMS DUTIES OR TAXES TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS, EMPLOY NO BAHAMIANS IN COUNTRY, SPONSOR NO CHARITIES AND LEAVE NO MONIES IN THE ECONOMY OF THE BAHAMAS.

MR. SPEAKER I REST MY CASE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.

MINISTRY OF WORKS & UTILITIES

MR. SPEAKER, I NOW TURN TO THE MINISTRY OF WORKS & UTILITIES.

MR. SPEAKER, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO I   INFORMED THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE OF THE CONTINUING HEALTHY STATE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THE BAHAMAS.  AGAIN I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BOLDLY REASSURE BAHAMIANS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THE BAHAMAS IS ON THE STRONGEST FOOTING IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY.

THE EVIDENCE IS IN THE FIGURES PROVIDED BY THE BUILDINGS CONTROL DIVISION OF MY MINISTRY, FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2006; NAMELY JANUARY THROUGH MAY.

MR. SPEAKER, IN FEBRUARY I APPRISED MEMBERS OF THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE AS WELL AS THE BAHAMIAN PUBLIC OF THE BUILDING CONTROL STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005.  AT THAT TIME THE STATISTICS CONFIRMED, BEYOND DOUBT, THE EXTREMELY HEALTHY STATE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN OUR BAHAMALAND.

I THEN STRONGLY ENCOURAGED BAHAMIANS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS THAT CAN BE DERIVED FROM THIS INDUSTRY.

MR SPEAKER, I AM NOW PLEASED TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING BUILDING STATISTICS FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2006. (JANUARY TO MAY)

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETIONS

MR. SPEAKER, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TO GROW AT AN ALARMING RATE. BUILDING INSPECTION STATISTICS SHOW THAT THERE WERE 681 BUILDINGS COMPLETED IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2006, A 98.5% INCREASE (ALMOST DOUBLE) IN THE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS RECEIVING OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATES DURING THE SAME PERIOD OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

MR SPEAKER, AS INDICATED EARLIER, THE VALUE OF THESE STRUCTURES HAS DECREASED BY 34%.
THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE COMPLETIONS CONSISTED OF SMALLER BUILDINGS SUCH AS PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND APARTMENTS AS OPPOSED TO VERY LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND RESORTS AS WAS THE CASE DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

CONSTRUCTION STARTS

MR. SPEAKER, WITH RESPECT TO CONSTRUCTION STARTS IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTH OF 2006, THE STATISTICS ALSO REVEAL A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF 108% IN BUILDING STARTS REPRESENTING 638 BUILDINGS INSPECTIONS (ALMOST TWICE AS MANY AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR).

THIS INCREASE IN BUILDING STARTS WAS ALSO ACCOMPANIED WITH A GROWTH IN VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY $105,325,753.00 REPRESENTING A 98.7% INCREASE OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF 2005.

BUILDING PERMIT APPROVALS
MR SPEAKER, THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR THE 1ST FIVE MONTHS OF 2006.  APPLICATIONS FOR THE PERIOD TOTALED 1580; THIS TRANSLATES INTO A 41% INCREASE OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 2005.

OVER THE FIVE MONTH PERIOD (JANUARY TO MAY 2006) MY MINISTRY HAS APPROVED 821 OF THE TOTAL 1580 BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS AT A VALUE OF $313,409,492.00 WHICH REPRESENTS A 115% INCREASE IN APPROVALS AND A 93% INCREASE IN BUILDING PERMIT FEES OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

MR. SPEAKER, I SHOULD AGAIN POINT OUT THAT THE ABOVE FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ON GRAND BAHAMA NOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS WHERE THE COMPLETE STATISTICS FOR THESE ISLANDS WERE NEVER TABULATED.

HOWEVER, LOCAL FAMILY ISLAND BOARDS HAVE NOW BEEN INSTRUCTED TO BEGIN COMPILING THIS DATA AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE FORTHCOMING YEAR’S BUILDING STATISTICS WILL REFLECT THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF GRAND BAHAMA.
MR. SPEAKER, I REQUESTED THE GBPA TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION  ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION STATISTICS IN THE FREEPORT AREA  ONLY AND I AM PLEASED TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WHICH I RECENTLY RECEIVED.  MR. SPEAKER, IT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE CLAIM BY THE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR LUCAYA THAT THE ECONOMY OF GRAND BAHAMA IS IN SHAMBLES.

BUILDING PERMITS:

BUILDING INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT PROCESSED A TOTAL OF FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE (4629) BUILDING PERMITS, WITH AN ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION VALUE OF $573,149,763.00.

YEARLY SUMMARIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
MAY 2001 – MAY 2002:  SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY (680) MAY 2002 – MAY 2003:  SIX HUNDRED THIRTY SIX (636) MAY 2003 – MAY 2004:  EIGHT HUNDRED ELEVEN (811)
MAY 2004 – MAY 2005:  ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE (1395)
MAY 2005 – MAY 2006:  ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVEN (1107) BUILDING PERMITS

OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATES:
TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN (2216) OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED AT A VALUE OF $391,990,158.89.

YEARLY SUMMARIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
MAY 2001–MAY 2002: THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE (369)
MAY 2002 – MAY 2003:  THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX (376)
MAY 2003 – MAY 2004:  FOUR HUNDRED TWELVE (412)
MAY 2004 – MAY 2005:  FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY (450)
MAY 2005 – MAY 2006:  FIVE HUNDRED THREE (503)
MR.SPEAKER, THESE ARE THE FIGURES PROVIDED BY THE GRAND BAHAMA PORT AUTHORITY.  THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES; THEY DO NOT INCLUDE THE LARGE AMOUNT SPENT FOR HURRICANE RESTORATION,  AS A RESULT OF INSURANCE CLAIMS OR ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT.   NO AMOUNT OF GRAND STANDING BY THE MEMBER FOR LUCAYA, NO DISTORTION, NO UNTRUTHS CAN OVERSHADOW OR REPLACE THE FACTS.  MR. SPEAKER I AM PLEASED TO HAVE PRESENTED THESE FACTS TO THIS PARLIAMENT ON THE STATE OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION IN THE PORT AREA OF GRAND BAHAMA.

MR. SPEAKER, THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY GOVERNMENT, LED BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PERRY CHRISTIE MADE A SOLEMN PROMISE TO THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE TO TRANSFORM THE ECONOMY OF THE BAHAMAS. EVEN OUR STRONGEST CRITICS CANNOT DENY THIS UNDISPUTED FACT AND SHOULD HAVE NO HESITATION IN JOINING ME IN ACKNOWLEDGING - SO SAID; SO DONE.  THANKS TO ALMIGHTY GOD.

ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT
MR. SPEAKER, WITHIN THE NEXT THIRTY (30) DAYS MY MINISTRY PROPOSES TO UNVEIL A SPECIAL COMPUTER SOFTWARE WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE PUBLIC, USING A SPECIAL ACCESS CODE, TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THE STATUS OF THEIR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES USING THE MINISTRY’S  WEBSITE www.bahamas.gov.bs/publicworks.  FURTHER, A DEDICATED TERMINAL WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE FOYER ON THE GROUND FLOOR AT THE MINISTRY FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE COMPUTERS AT HOME.

MR. SPEAKER, CONTRACTORS WILL BE GIVEN A SPECIAL CLIENT ACCESS CODE WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO VIEW THE STATUS OF THEIR CLIENT’S ACCOUNT AS IT RELATES TO:
• PROJECT CONTRACTS
• PAYMENTS; AND
• PROGRESS OF SUBMITTED PLANS

CLIENT MINISTRIES WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO LOG ON USING THEIR UNIQUE ACCESS CODE AND VIEW THE STATUS OF THEIR BUILDING PROJECTS BEING MANAGED BY THE MINISTRY, CONSULTING DIRECTLY WITH THE PROJECT OFFICERS.

MR. SPEAKER, ADDITIONALLY, EACH STAFF MEMBER WILL BE GIVEN AN INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFICATION CODE (PASSWORD PROTECTED) TO ENABLE THEM TO LOG ON-LINE TO TRACK:
• VACATION LEAVE;
• APPLY FOR VACATION;
• VIEW PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS; AND
• OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION

MR. SPEAKER, IT IS ALSO ENVISAGED THAT MORTICIANS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO SUBMIT ONLINE REQUESTS FOR PLOTS. MORTICIANS WILL BE ABLE TO RECORD BURIALS IN PREVIOSLY PURCHASED PLOTS OR EVEN REQUEST GRAVE RE-OPENINGS ALL USING THE COMPUTER AT THE OFFICE.  AND MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS POINT I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY ON THE CORNER OF AGUSTA AND DELANCY STREETS WHICH WILL CONNECT TO THE EXISTING WESTERN CEMETERY AND PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 1000 ADDITIONAL DOUBLE PLOTS.  I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THESE PLOTS WILL BE DEVELOPED ON THE SAME BASIS AS PRIVATE CEMETARIES.

MR. SPEAKER, BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCES OF PAST HURRICANES WHERE CASKETS WERE EXHUMED, THE GOVERNMENT AS A MATTER OF POLICY HAS MANDATED THAT ALL NEW CEMETERIES MUST BE BUILT AWAY FROM COASTAL AREA AND ON HIGHER GROUND, STARTING IN GRAND BAHAMA.  CEMETERY ENHANCEMENTS WILL BE CARRIED OUT AT THE PINDER POINT, HUNTERS, EIGHT MILE ROCK AND HOLMES ROCK CEMETERIES.   THE CEMETERIES IN JAMES CISTERN, ELEUTHERA WILL ALSO BE ENHANCED.

NEW PROVIDENCE & FAMILY ISLAND ROADS
MR. SPEAKER, I NOW WISH TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ROAD PAVING WORKS AND OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS TO BE CARRIED OUT IN NEW PROVIDENCE AND THE FAMILY ISLANDS DURING THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

MR. SPEAKER, PRESENTLY ROAD PAVING PROJECTS ARE ONGOING IN CAT ISLAND, SPANISH WELLS WEST AND EAST GRAND BAHAMA AND MANGROVE CAY, ANDROS.  HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHORTLY BE AWARDING CONTRACTS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF SETTLEMENT ROADS IN ELEUTHERA, FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.  AND WE EXPECT TO GO OUT TO BIDS VERY SHORTLY FOR ROADWORKS IN:
• ABACO
• ACKLINS
• NORTH ANDROS
• CROOKED ISLAND
• LONG CAY
• LONG ISLAND
• MAYAGUANA
• RAGGED ISLAND  (E. U. FUNDING) AND
• WEST GRAND BAHAMA (COASTAL ROADS)

MR SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW ASPHALT PLANT WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BECOME OPERATIONAL VERY SOON.  THIS NEW EQUIPMENT WILL CONSIDERABLY ENHANCE THE RE-PAVING OF ROADS HERE IN NEW PROVIDENCE, WHICH IS PRESENTLY AN ONGOING EXERCISE.
MR SPEAKER, YOU WOULD BE AWARE THAT MY MINISTRY HAS HAD  TO REPAVE A NUMBER OF ROADS IN PRIVATE SUBDIVISIONS BECAUSE THE DEVELOPERS IN MANY INSTANCES COULD NOT BE FOUND AND OUR BAHAMIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS LIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES.  VERY SHORTLY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BEGIN TO REPAVE ALL OF THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES SUCH AS SHIRLEY STREET, A PORTION OF BAY STREET, BERNARD ROAD, EASTERN ROAD AND PRINCE CHARLES DRIVE AND OTHERS .  WHILE SOME OF THESE ROADS FALL UNDER THE WORK SCHEDULE OF THE NPRIP, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE REMEDIAL ACTION BECAUSE THE BAHAMIAN MOTORING PUBLIC IS ENTITLED TO GOOD ROADS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH GASOLINE TAXES THEY PAY.

MR. SPEAKER, FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE TONIQUE WILLIAMS-DARLING HWY BY BAHAMIAN CONTRACTORS, THE NEW PROVIDENCE ROADS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME (NPRIP) PROGRAMME CONTINUES WITH THE EXTENSION FROM THE ROUND-ABOUT AT BALLIOU HILL TO ROBINSON ROAD.  AND I WISH TO REMIND THIS HOUSE THAT UPON COMPLETION OF THIS WORK, THE PLAN CALLS FOR THE CONVERSION OF BALLIOU HILL ROAD TO A ONE-WAY-TWO-LANE THOROUGHFARE FROM ROBINSON ROAD RUNNING NORTH TO MALBOROUGH STREET.  AT THE SAME TIME MARKET STREET WILL BE CONVERTED TO A TWO LANE ONE WAY STREET GOING SOUTH, FROM THE INTERSECTION AT DUKE AND PRINCESS STREETS EXTENDING TO ROBINSON ROAD.

BIDS FOR THE REMAINING CORRIDORS OF THE NEW PROVIDENCE ROADS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME (NPRIP) ARE EXPECTED SHORTLY FROM BOTH BAHAMIANS AND FOREIGN ROAD BUILDING CONTRACTORS.

SCHOOLS
MR SPEAKER, THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH THE DETAILS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S BOLD AND PROGRESSIVE NEW SCHOOLS PROGRAM. HOWEVER, MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT TENDERS ARE CURRENTLY BEING EVALUATED FOR THE STATE-OF-THE- ART T G GLOVER PRIMARY SCHOOL IN NEW PROVIDENCE.  VERY SHORTLY, TENDERS WILL BE REQUESTED FOR OTHER SCHOOLS IN:
• WESTERN NEW PROVIDENCE;
• GRAND BAHAMA;
• LOWE SOUND & FRESH CREEK, ANDROS;
• CAT ISLAND;
• EXUMA;
• SAN SALVADOR;
• ACKLINS;  AND
• INAGUA;

ONGOING/ PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION/DREDGING PROJECTS
MR. SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY COMMENCED OR WILL BE CARRYING OUT A NUMBER OF OTHER DREDGING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS INCLUDING:

• THE EUGENE DUPUCH LAW SCHOOL LIBRARY
• POLICE EXHIBIT FACILITY & DNA LABS
• THE BAY STREET STRAW MARKET
• THE REGISTRAR GENERAL OFFICE
• THE GLASS WINDOW CAUSEWAY
• DREDGING IN SWEETING’S AND WATER CAY
• A DOCK AT WATER CAY
• DOCKS IN ABACO AT COOPER’S  TOWN, MOUNT HOPE AND CROWN HAVEN
• A RAMP AT MOORES ISLAND
• A DOCK AT BENNETT’S HARBOUR, CAT ISLAND
• A DOCK AT FRESH CREEK, ANDROS (E.U. FUNDING)
• A DOCK AT RAGGED ISLAND (E.U. FUNDING)
• A DOCK AT LANDRAIL POINT, ACKLINS
• REPAIRS TO DOCK AT SIMMS AND SALT POND
• AN AIRPORT TERMINAL AT NEW BIGHT, CAT ISLAND (E.U. FUNDING)
• RUNWAY AT RAGGED ISLAND (E.U. FUNDING)
• TERMINAL BUILDING & CONTROL TOWER AT MARSH HARBOUR, ABACO;
• RUNWAY AT STELLA MARIS, LONG ISLAND
• RUNWAY AND TERMINAL AT DEADMAN’S CAY, LONG ISLAND
• EXTENSION OF THE RUNWAY AT ANDROS TOWN
• DOCK REPAIRS INAGUA
• TERMINAL AT INAGUA; AND
• A 300 CELL MAXIMUM SECURITY BLOCK AT HMP

MR. SPEAKER, THE MEMBER FOR HIGH ROCK, IN HIS CONTRIBUTION, SAID THAT THE DREDGING OF THE SWEETING’S CAY CHANNEL IS STILL AN ISSUE BUT HE EXPECTS THAT IT WILL COMMENCE BEFORE ELECTIONS.  HIGH ROCK WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE IDEA IS TO TIME IT TO COINCIDE WITH THE CAMPAIGN TO SHOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING.

MR. SPEAKER, I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THOSE WORDS COMING FROM THE LIPS OF THE MEMBER FOR HIGH ROCK. FOR IT WAS HE MR. SPEAKER WHO MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN GRAND BAHAMA JUST BEFORE THE 2002 ELECTIONS THAT HE AS MINISTER OF WORKS HAD ISSUED A CONTRACT TO TREASURE COAST MARINE TO DREDGE A CHANNEL TO SWEETING’S CAY.   ON COMING TO OFFICE AFTER THE ELECTIONS I WAS INFORMED, THAT THE TECHNICAL PEOPLE AT THE MINISTRY OF WORKS, WIITHOUT REFERENCE TO ME, AS THE THEN NEW MINISTER, CANCELLED THE CONTRACT BECAUSE PROPER ENGINEERING OF THE DREDGING WORKS HAD NOT BEEN CARRIED OUT.

I AM ADVISED MR. SPEAKER THAT THE DREDGING WORKS THAT WERE EXECUTED UP TO THE TIME OF THE CANCELLATION OF THE CONTRACT FAILED AND WAS A TOTAL WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

YET MR. SPEAKER, THE MEMBER FOR HIGH ROCK HAD THE “GALL” AND THE AUDACITY, (HYPOCRACY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL) WITH A BIG BOLD FACE, TO GET UP HERE IN THIS PARLIAMENT AND ACCUSE THIS GOVERNMENT OF TIMING THE PROPOSED DREDGING TO COINCIDE WITH THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO SHOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING.

MR. SPEAKER, I WISH TO REMIND THIS PARLIAMENT THAT IT WAS THE MEMBER FOR NORTH ABACO, IN HIS ADDRESS TO THIS PARLIAMENT ON THE 1996/1997 BUDGETARY DEFICIT, SAID AND I QUOTE: “WHAT MEMBERS OPPOSITE (MEANING PLP MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT) MUST COME TO ACCEPT IS THAT THE COMPLETION OF PLANNED GOVERNMENT PROJECTS IS NOT ELECTION-SPENDING.  IT IS THE FULLFILMENT OF COMMITMENTS, OF OBLIGATIONS, OF DUTY TO THE PEOPLE”.

MR. SPEAKER, IF WHAT THE MEMBER  FOR NORTH ABACO ASSERTED IN THE 1996/1997 BUDGETARY DEFICIT COMMUNICATION WAS TRUE, WHY SHOULD IT BE DIFFERENT NOW, SINCE THE PEOPLE IN THEIR WISDOM ON MAY 2ND 2002 DECIDED THAT THE ROLES SHOULD CHANGE.

MR. SPEAKER,   WE SHOULD ALSO BE REMINDED THAT IT WAS THE MEMBER FOR NORTH ABACO IN THE 1997 GENERAL ELECTIONS WHO REMINDED THE POLICE ON THE DAY BEFORE THEY VOTED THAT THEY SHOULD REMEMBER THE MONEY - MEANING THE LUMP SUM PAYMENT OF SOME $1,500.00 THAT WAS PAID TO POLICE OFFICERS.  DID I HEAR SOMEONE SAY THAT THIS WAS WICKED?  I WILL GO FURTHER; IT WAS THE LOWEST LEVEL TO WHICH ANY LEADER COULD HAVE DECENDED TO INDUCE ANYONE TO SUPPORT A POLITICAL ORGANISATION.
 
MR. SPEAKER, I WISH TO ASSURE THE BAHAMIAN TAXPAYERS THAT THE PERRY CHRISTIE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OUR PREDESSORS MADE WITH THE MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH BUILDINGS WHEN THEY  DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED THESE BUILDINGS. ONE WAS DESIGNED WITH A DEFICIENT VENTILATION SYSTEM BY SOMEONE WHO THE TECHNICAL STAFF AT THE MINISTRY STRONGLY ADVISED AGAINST AND THE OTHER WITH DOORS LEADING TO NOWHERE.

SEAWALLS
MR. SPEAKER, IN 1999, THE SEAWALLS IN NEW PROVIDENCE, CAT ISLAND AND ELEUTHERA WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  AS A RESULT, THE GOVERNMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE INTER AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, (IDB) CARRIED OUT THE REPAIRS TO THE SEAWALLS HERE IN NEW PROVIDENCE, CAT ISLAND, ELEUTHERA, EXUMA, GRAND BAHAMA, ABACO AND SAN SALAVADOR USING THE DESIGN AND SUPERVISION BY WSP INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS.
HOWEVER, ONLY A FEW YEARS LATER DURING, HURRICANES FRANCES AND JEANNE, THE SEA DEFENSES IN THESE ISLANDS WERE AGAIN IMPACTED. LAST AUGUST LOCAL BAHAMIAN CONTRACTORS WERE ASKED TO EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THESE SEAWALLS USING A STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNIQUE.

MR. SPEAKER, I AM PLEASED TO INFORM MEMBERS THAT REPAIRS TO SEA WALLS HAVE COMMENCED IN NEW PROVIDENCE, CAT ISLAND AND ELEUTHERA AT A TOTAL COST OF SOME $6.13 MILLION. THE WORK IS PROGRESSING WELL AND I INVITE ALL HERE TODAY TO DRIVE ALONG THE ISLAND’S FORESHORE TO VIEW THE QUALITY OF THE WORK.

MR. SPEAKER, I AM ALSO PLEASED TO ADVISE THAT THIS WORK IS ALL BEING SUPERVISED BY LOCAL BAHAMIAN ENGINEERS.

MR. SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO BUILD NEW SEAWALLS AT WILLIAMS TOWN AND SMITH’S POINT GRAND BAHAMA AS THE RECENT HURRICANE WILMA DESTROYED WHATEVER SEA DEFENSES EXISTED THERE PREVIOUSLY.

MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MEMBER FOR LUCAYA “ROME WAS NOW BUILT IN A DAY”.  DAMAGES TO SEAWALLS IN NEW PROVIDENCE, CAT ISLAND AND OTHER ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS OCCURRED DURING THE FNM’S TENURE.  THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THOSE SEAWALLS UTILIZING THE STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY IS NOW BEING EXECUTED.  PERHAPS MR. SPEAKER, THE MEMBER WOULD BE HONEST ENOUGH TO TELL THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE WHY THOSE WORKS WERE NOT EXECUTED DURING THE FNM’S TENURE?   THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID, BUT SEE THE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR LUCAYA FOR WHAT HE REALLY IS, A POLITICAL CHARLATAN (HYPOCRITE).

MR. SPEAKER, I NOW MOVE TO CONCLUSION, BUT BEFORE DOING SO I WISH TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO THE STAFF AT THE MINISTRY OF WORKS, THE WATER & SEWERAGE CORPORATION, THE BAHAMAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LTD., AND THE BRIDGE AUTHORITY, AT EVERY LEVEL WHEREVER THEY ARE POSTED THROUGHOUT THE BAHAMAS, FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINISTRY AND THE AGENCIES WHICH I HAVE THE HONOUR TO REPRESENT.  I PRAY GOD’S CONTINUED BLESSING ON EACH ANY EVERY ONE OF YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU DURING THE ENSUING YEAR.

CONCLUSION
MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE BY REMINDING THE PUBLIC OF A FEW THINGS, AS THIS IS THE LAST BUDGET DEBATE BEFORE THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION IS CALLED. I WISH FOR THE PUBLIC TO RECALL THE TRUE STATE OF AFFAIRS LEFT IN PLACE BY THE FNM GOVERNMENT, WHO CALLED THEMSELVES CARING, COMMITTED, FOCUSED AND EVEN BETTER. LET’S START WITH THE NASSAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:

NASSAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RUNWAY
FILES INDICATE THAT THE FNM RECEIVED AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR SERIOUS PROPOSALS FROM HIGHLY QUALIFIED U.S. AIRPORT DEVELOPERS BETWEEN 1992 AND 1994.  CLEARLY, THE FNM GOVERNMENT WAS NOT FOCUSED ON THE MOST ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY’S TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE, “THE GATEWAY TO THE BAHAMAS”. AND CONSEQUENTLY UNDER THEIR GOVERNANCE WE WERE VERY NEARLY CLOSED DOWN BY THE FAA, FOLLOWING A SERIES OF COMPLAINTS FROM U.S. AIRLINE PILOTS WHO USED NIA.
 
MR. SPEAKER, YOUR PLP GOVERNMENT, IMMEDIATELY, AFTER COMING INTO OFFICE  HAD TO SECURE A US$125 MILLION LOAN TO PAY SOME OF THE BILLS LEFT BEHIND BY THE DISMISSED FNM GOVERNMENT. WE ALSO HAD TO COMMIT TO A FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL UPGRADE OF NIA RUNWAY TO THE TUNE OF $40+ MILLION. YOUR PLP GOVERNMENT SECURED THE SAFETY OF THE FLYING PUBLIC AND OUR TOURISM SECTOR.
MR SPEAKER IN THE ISLANDS WE HAVE ALSO COMPLETED COSTLY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AIRPORT AT SAN SALVADOR WHERE UNDER OUR GOVERNANCE NIGHT FLIGHTS FROM AS FAR AWAY AS EUROPE CAN NOW USE THE FACILITY. AT STELLA MARIS, NORTH LONG ISLAND, AGAIN EMERGENCY UPGRADES HAD TO BE CARRIED OUT TO THE RUNWAY, SIMILARLY AS NIA.  HERE, THE RUNWAY WAS IN AN EXTREME STATE OF DISREPAIR. EXUMA, GREAT HARBOUR CAY, AND ACKLINS HAVE ALSO BEEN IMPROVED.  THE GOOD PEOPLE OF RUM CAY WERE PROVIDED WITH A PAVED RUNWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY. SECURITY AROUND THE DEADMANS CAY AIRPORT WILL BE ENHANCED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A FENCE THEREBY ELIMINATING THE ACCESS OF SHEEP AND GOATS TO THE RUNWAY WHICH HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR PILOTS. REPAVING OF THE RUNWAY AND THE INSTALLATION OF LIGHTS FOR NIGHT TIME FLYING HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR IN THIS BUDGET.

MR. SPEAKER, BY 2010 NIA WILL HAVE A STATE OF THE ART NEW TERMINAL MANAGED BY YVR, THE CANADIAN AIRPORT MANAGEMENT CO., WHO WILL BE STARTING DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF NIA IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. THIS ACHIEVEMENT WILL COMPLIMENT THE OPENING OF ATLANTIS PHASE: 3 AND BAHA MAR IN 2010.  THIS WILL THEN SECURE OUR HOTEL EMPLOYMENT AND TOURISM SECTOR.
ANCHOR PROJECTS
WE HEAR THE CRITICISM OF THOSE OPPOSITE THAT THESE 'ANCHOR PROJECTS ARE NOT POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS. HOWEVER MAY I ASK THEM WHATEVER ELSE DO THEY PROPOSE OTHER THAN DEVELOPING THE WELL TRIED AND PROVEN TOURISM SECTOR AND REAL ESTATE SECTOR AS THE QUICKEST AND EASIEST ECONOMIC APPROACH TO CREATE IMPROVEMENTS IN WEALTH AND LIVING CONDITIONS FOR OUR PEOPLE?

MR. SPEAKER, ARE THOSE OPPOSITE AND THOSE WHO OPPOSE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE THOSE ISLANDS TO RELY ON THE TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND EXIST WITHOUT LITTLE CHANCE OF IMPROVING THEIR SOCIAL OR MATERIAL WELL-BEING?
MR. SPEAKER, IF THIS IS THE POLICY OF THOSE OPPOSITE, THEN I SUGGEST THAT THEY SHOULD BE BOLD ENOUGH TO TELL THOSE BAHAMIANS IN MAYAGUANA, RUM CAY, BIMINI, WEST GRAND BAHAMA, CAT ISLAND, ELEUTHERA, BERRY ISLANDS THAT THE FNM DOES NOT WANT THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF BAHAMIANS IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS TO IMPROVE.

MR SPEAKER, THE GINN CORPORATION’S RECORD AS DEVELOPERS IN THE UNITED STATES IS STELLAR. THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE LISTED AMONG THE WHO’S WHO ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD IS ALSO STELLAR. THEY COULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IF THEY WERE ENEMIES OF THE ENVIRONMENT AS WAS STRONGLY IMPLIED BY THE MP’S FOR HIGH ROCK AND LUCAYA. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THEY ATTACKED THE GINN PROJECT IN WEST END BECAUSE OF POLITICAL JEALOUSY, BUT I ASK THE FATHER TO FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY WERE DOING BECAUSE OF INGORANCE.

 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE FNM’S ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENT IS AS FOLLOWS:

IN NOVEMBER 1992 THE FNM SIGNED OFF ON A PROPOSAL FOR A DEVELOPMENT AT CAPE ELEUTHERA…. NOW 14-YEARS LATER VERY LITTLE HAS TAKEN PLACE, THERE IS NO 240 ROOM HYATT REGENCY HOTEL, THERE IS NO 225 ROOM MARRIOTT HOTEL. BUT RECENTLY THIS PLP GOVERNMENT GAVE APPROVAL TO THE SAME DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOP A SMALLER PROJECT AT THE CAPE AND WORKS HAVE COMMENCED. YES, SOL KERZNER RETURNED HAVING BEEN HERE AND TALKED TO SIR LYNDEN PINDLING.

  HOWEVER, THE PLP THEN WAS UNABLE TO APPROVE HIS INTENT TO THEN PURCHASE IN 1990 RESORTS INTERNATIONAL, OWING TO THE BAN ON ALL BUSINESS WITH SOUTH AFRICAN/APARTHIED LINKS. HOWEVER, WE DO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE 'DOUBLING' OF THE VALUE OF HIS INITIAL INVESTMENT THROUGH THE APPROVAL OF PHASE: 3 OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND SINCERELY THANK KERZNER INTERNATIONAL FOR THEIR ON-GOING SUPPORT OF OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY AND FOR THE SIGNIFICANT UNSEEN BUT RECOGNIZED MARKETING EFFECT THEY HAVE HAD ON THE PERSONA OF THE BAHAMAS AS A 'GOOD INVESTMENT’ LOCATION.

MR. SPEAKER,    YES HUTCHISON-WHAMPAO WE CREDIT TO THOSE OPPOSITE, HOWEVER, THE OPPOSITION MUST ALSO TAKE SHAMEFUL CREDIT FOR THE SALE AT ROCK-BOTTOM BARGIN-BASEMENT PRICE OF THE  AMBASSADOR BEACH AND THE BALMORAL HOTELS.  CERTAINLY THESE HOTELS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY MAJORITY OWNED BAHAMIAN GROUPS OF INVESTORS.  AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE PROJECTS THE FNM CUPBOARD WAS EMPTY.

PLP GOVERNMENT’S ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENT
MR. SPEAKER, TO-DATE SINCE 2002 YOUR PLP GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A CAPITAL VALUE OF 'DEVELOPED PROJECTS' TO EXCEED $ 8 BILLION + DOLLARS. THIS WILL CREATE SOME 4,500 HOTEL ROOMS…..  IMAGINE THAT LEVEL OF NEW PURCHASING POWER IN OUR ECONOMY? AND YET, THE OPPOSITION SAYS THAT THERE WAS AND IS NO TRICKLE DOWN BENEFITS FROM THE ANCHOR PROJECTS INITIATED UNDER THE PLP GOVERNMENT.

FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE AND PRACTICE

MR. SPEAKER, CERTAINLY THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE CANNOT FORGET THE HORROR OF THE FNM GOVERNMENT’S APPROACH TO FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE LAWS. BUT THE PLP GOVERNMENT HAS BROUGHT SENSE TO WHAT WAS A CHAOTIC SITUATION UNDER THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. THE CENTRAL BANK REPORTS THAT OVER THE PAST 12-MONTHS THEY HAVE RECEIVED A MUCH REDUCED LEVEL OF ENQUIRIES FROM OTHER EXTERNAL JURISDICTIONS ASKING FOR CENTRAL BANK INPUT AS TO BUSINESS ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN BUSINESS PEOPLE. THIS AUGURS WELL FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OECD AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES CONCERNING OUR APPROACH TO THE TIGHTENING OF OUR COMPLIANCE RESPONSIBILITIES IN OUR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL BANKING SECTORS.

MR. SPEAKER, CLEARLY THERE IS A TRUTHFUL AND FACTUAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NEW PLP GOVERNMENT AND THE FNM GOVERNMENT AND WHAT GOOD GOVERNANCE MEANS. THE DANGEROUS PART IN TAKING A CHANCE ON RE-ELECTING THE FNM GOVERNMENT UNDER THE DOMINATION OF A MAXIMUM LEADER IS THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN HIS ACT BEFORE, AND TO BRING HIM BACK IS TO SAY TO HIM THAT YOU WANT MORE OF THE ARROGANT, DISTASTEFUL AND UNCOUTH
BEHAVIOR, THAT SENT HIM PACKING IN 2002.

MR SPEAKER, I FIRST STOOD FOR ELECTION IN THE THEN NEWLY RECREATED CONSTITUENCY OF SHIRLEA AGAINST THE THEN SAID TO BE RICHEST MAN IN THE BAHAMAS SIR ROLAND SYMONETTE, THE FATHER OF THE MEMBER FOR MONTAGU.  I HAD LESS THAN SEVEN WEEKS TO CAMPAIGN BUT WAS ABLE TO CARRY POLLING DIVISION NO 5, THANKS MAINLY TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF OKRA HILL. I  ALSO CAME CLOSE IN CARRYING POLLING DIVISON NO 4. IT WAS MY POLITICAL BAPTISM.

MR SPEAKER, THE PEOPLE OF GRANTS TOWN ELECTED ME TO REPRESENT THEM IN THIS PLACE IN THE BY-ELECTIONS FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF OUR BROTHER AND FRIEND THE LATE SHADRICK A MORRIS IN 1982. THE PEOPLE OF GRANTS TOWN CONTINUED TO RELECT ME IN 1987-1992-1997-AND IN 2002 WHEN HALF OF GRANTS TOWN WAS ADDED TO HALF OF BAIN TOWN. I SHALL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL TO THEM.
MR SPEAKER, MANY PEOPLE ASK WHAT HAS DRIVEN ME OVER THESE MANY YEARS TO SET ASIDE AN EVENING A WEEK MANY NIGHTS AS LATE AS TWO  IN THE MORNINGS TO MEET WITH CONSTITUENTS AND OTHERS FROM OTHER CONSTITUECIES. THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE, I BELIEVE THAT I WAS CHOSEN TO HELP PEOPLE. IT IS AN HONOUR AND PROFOUND PRIVILEGE TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE MY PEOPLE OVER THESE MANY YEARS. I HAVE ESTABLISHED MANY FREINDSHIPS GOING BACK TO MY DAYS IN SHIRLEA. I CANNOT AND SHALL NEVER FORGET THESE GOOD PEOPLE AND SHALL ALWAYS BE INDEBTED TO THEM AS LONG AS LIFE LAST.

MR. SPEAKER, I RECALL AFTER BEING SWORN IN AS A MEMBER, THE THEN SPEAKER, NOW SIR CLIFFORD DARLING, WARMLY WELCOMED ME AND GAVE ME SOME GOOD ADVICE.  HE SAID THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY WAS A SLIPPERY PLACE WHERE ONE CAN SLIP IN BUT YOU CAN ALSO SLIP OUT.  I THINK WHAT SIR CLIFFORD WAS SAYING WAS THAT IF YOU REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WELL THEY WOULD KEEP ON RE-ELECTING YOU AND IF YOU DID NOT THEY WOULD SLIP YOU OUT.  I URGE THE NEW COMERS, AND THOSE DESIROUS OF ENTERING THIS PLACE, TO HEED WELL THE ADMONITION OF SIR CLIFFORD DARLING, NATIONAL HERO OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS WHO SERVED THE INTEREST OF HIS CONSTITUENTS WELL AND WAS ELEVATED TO THE HIGHEST POSITION IN OUR LAND.

ON BEHALF OF THE GOOD PEOPLE OF BAIN AND GRANTS TOWN I TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN LENDING MY SUPPORT TO THE BEST BUDGET EVER TO BE PRESENTED TO THIS PARLIAMENT SINCE I HAD THE HONOUR TO SIT AS A MEMBER OF THIS PLACE. I THANK YOU, MR SPEAKER, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO RICHLY BLESS THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS.