After forty years of being the Member of Parliament for the Centerville and Farm Road constituency, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, Prime Minister, now claims that it is time to rejuvenate the inner cities.  What were the objectives of Urban Renewal 1.0, 2.0 and any other version and is the Prime Minister conceding failure of this initiative as he now presents ‘new’ plans to the people of a mere months before the next general election?  These ‘new’ initiatives seeming to echo some of the principles put forth by the leader of the Opposition, Free National Movement Dr. Hubert Minnis, as a way to improve the lives and living conditions of the residents of these areas when he becomes the next Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

“Plan to overhaul inner city areas” – The Tribune, Friday July 29^th 2016

Excerpt from this article; “The city of Nassau and the historic Charles Towns communities could undergo major overhauls in the coming years if the government decides to move forward with plans presented by the Economic Development Planning Unit on Thursday.

The ‘Sustainable Nassau initiative’, hailed by Prime Minister Perry Christie as a saving grace for several Over-the-Hill communities, was officially unveiled yesterday by officials at a ceremony at the Nassau Art Gallery on West Street.

The project aims to provide a roadmap for developments in inner-city communities over the next several decades, ensuring the first time in the history of New Providence, systematic town-planning effort.

Mr. Christie said the renaissance of Nassau has been overdue. He said that in many ways the heart of the nation in recent times has become the face of poverty and decay.

‘The city that we are building must be one that is alive, with exciting cultural activates, opportunities for wealth creation for our young people, and hubs for creativity and innovation so the country will retain local talent needed to grow our economy,” said Christie.

He put forth that through this initiative, The Bahamas would attract the international resources it needs to thrive.”

Barring the fact that this ‘new’ initiative sounds very familiar, as it seems to put forth some of the components put forth by the leader of the Opposition, Free National Movement Dr. Hubert Minnis grafted into those of the late Edmund Moxey; the language being used by the Prime Minister is very disturbing to say the very least, especially given his track record in delivering on major initiatives.

“The city of Nassau and the historic Charles Towns communities COULD undergo major overhauls in the coming years IF the government decides to move forward with plans presented by the Economic Development Planning Unit on Thursday.”, it all sounds very speculative; like a promise of what could happen if the people vote the Progressive Liberal Party back into power but we all know how successful  they have been in fulfilling their promises, as we await for many of their campaign promises from 2012 to yet be fulfilled.

Now the Progressive Liberal Party has re-launched its ‘Stronger Bahamas” initiative, making it more obvious that is no more than a false façade hiding an empty store that is occupied only by failed and unfulfilled promises that they as a government have been unable to deliver.

Given the dire needs of the inner city communities, is it best to leave their faith up to a government that keeps promising but has yet to deliver? 

END