2016/2017 Budget Contribution by Youth, Sports & Culture Minister Hon. Dr. Daniel Johnson

Tue, Jun 21st 2016, 12:02 PM

Mr. Speaker:

I wish to begin my final budget contribution during this term by firstly thanking the residents of the great Constituency of Carmichael for the trust they have bestowed on me over these past years several years.

Mr. Speaker:

The Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture continues to create “Access and Opportunities” for young people by providing ongoing programmes to enable our young people to function as contributing citizens within communities throughout the Bahamas. Generally, over the past four years we have had a number of successes within the Ministry and while budget allocations in the Divisions of Youth, Sports & Culture have remained generally constant over the past four cycles, the numbers of programmes executed within the Divisions have increased tremendously.

Mr. Speaker:

The Ministry remains committed to the empowerment of young Bahamians through the vehicles of wholesome Youth activities, Sports development and continued cultural enlightenment.

DIVISION OF YOUTH

Mr. Speaker:

The work of youth development could never be accomplished without the important contribution of both the staff of the Division of Youth and the stakeholders that make it all possible to have the level of success amongst youth today. Those organizations that have remained both committed and compliant with the Division of Youth Policies must be commended and recognized for their fantastic work.

Therefore, I wish to further recognize Ms. Denise Mortimer and Mr. Philip Simon who continue to lead what I consider to be the two premier youth organizations in the country - the Governor-General’s Youth Award Programme and the Junior Achievement Programme.

Mr. Speaker:

These two organizations, as well as their leaders and volunteers, must be commended for the tremendous impact that programmes associated with these organisations continue to have over these many years. As my Ministry continues to recognize their great work, it will remain committed to funding these two organizations, as they have proven to provide both results and impact within communities throughout our archipelago. Mr. Speaker.

For months I have been alluding to the National Youth Policy of The Bahamas and, I am particularly proud of a fantastic group of young people who have led the charge for bringing a dream into reality. Led by Mr. Tavarrie Smith - Chairman of the National Youth Policy Team, this group has developed a workable policy that has been reviewed internationally and recognized regionally as a best practice document in the world of National Youth Policies.

Mr. Speaker:

What many of my predecessors have talked about doing, I have been able to empower these young dynamic and intelligent youth to simply do. I am certain that these many accomplishments have made one of my senior officers very proud. Mr. Speaker, that officer is Mrs. Louise Simmons who will retire very shortly after having served the Government of The Bahamas for over forty (40) years, in the area of youth development. Mrs. Simmons retires as an outstanding Senior Officer in my Ministry with an impeccable record and, it is now that we take time out to celebrate her sterling services and, to recognize her long years of effective work in educating, equipping and inspiring the young people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

For years Mrs. Simmons has been recognised by her supervisors as a professional, one who took pride in her work and was chosen “Employee of the Year” in 2009, as well as 3rd runner-up National Public Service Officer of the Year. Mrs. Simmons has done her country well and deserves every moment of this recognition. We salute her for exemplary performance, decorum and work ethics as a distinguished Public Officer.

Mr. Speaker:

This year, my Ministry, suffered a tragic lost when we said farewell to Mrs. Patty Miller, a quiet giant as we called her. Mrs Miller’s passing left us in a state of shock, with feelings of emptiness in the Division of Youth. Mrs. Miller’s successful work with the National Youth Ambassador Programme and the National Youth Leaders Certification Programme has left a positive mark on both the young and the old. We take this time out to remember her and her family as they continue to heal during this very difficult time. We continue to pray for her husband Wellington Miller and her children Wellicia and Padero.

Mr. Speaker:

When we see young people doing extraordinary things, we must celebrate them in an extra-ordinary way. Consequently, I wish to also recognize a young lady by the name of Edaline affectionately called Eddie who has been a member of the cast of the “Thief of Love” for a few years now. We discovered this young lady during our usual after-school theatrical program headed by Mrs. Terez Davis –Nixon. Mr. Speaker:

I venture to say that this young lady is probably the best young female actress in The Bahamas. Eddie is a young woman born to foreign parents who reside in this country without any formal status. She is energetic, talented and engaged; but frustrated by a system that she considers to be so unfair to her. Mr. Speaker, when I witness this talent on stage, I am only left to imagine how many others are caught up in a similar delicate circumstance, but who are not as focused as Eddie, to remain in the right side of the law.

Mr. Speaker:

The active and ongoing participation, inclusion and consultation of young people at all levels of society, remain the central strategy in connecting our future leaders because, there is interconnectedness between youth development and national development. One cannot be separated from the other; they are inextricably linked and, failure to recognize this linkage implies a lack of vision on our behalf ultimately leading to failure by a significant proportion of the population.

Young people are vulnerable to so many pressures and obstacles on the journey to self-empowerment; they can easily become overwhelmed. Some have unrealistic expectations, some experience extreme competition for jobs, unemployment, recruitment into crime, poor formal education and peer pressure to name a few. Hence, this justifies the need for the very existence of my Ministry, which seeks to empower them.

National Youth Policy

Going forward then Mr. Speaker, our programs must be cocooned by The National Youth Policy. I am pleased now to report on what we have been doing, what we will continue to do to build upon and expand existing and effective programs and, what new initiatives we seek to undertake during this fiscal period 2015-2016.

The purpose of this instrument is to guide youth in development work in our country. Additionally, this document will provide a common and mutual understanding of the importance of youth development among all stakeholders and serve as the blueprint for the delivery of services and programmes related to the development of youth through a cross-sectoral and integrated approach. The document will be the national framework approved by the Bahamas Government for sustainable youth development work across the length and breadth of these islands.

The National Youth Policy seeks to ensure sufficient investment by the Government and other national stakeholders on issues impacting youth through the provision of resources, skilled labour and facilities. It will also recognize the need for the Government and other stakeholders to collaborate in achieving a long-term, comprehensive approach that is well organized, coherent and meaningful.

To date, the Ministry has progressed the printing of the Policy document and is currently awaiting the enabling Legislation that is presently under review by the Office of the Attorney General thereafter tabled before Parliament along with its empowering and supporting Acts.

National Youth Leaders Programme

The Training of practitioners in the area of youth development is a priority for my Ministry as a study conducted by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, which is one of the most effective and dynamic international bodies concentrating on Youth in Development Work, revealed that a difficulty inherent in youth work is the fact that few persons come to the task with the requisite training for the job. For many youth leaders, their first introduction to youth work emerged from a desire to do something to help young people. The result in most cases is that their work is unfruitful and incapable of being measured. Mr. Speaker, one cannot work effectively with young people without having some essential skills, hence, the relevance of this programme.

Since 2002, approximately 1,000 persons have been trained in techniques and methods of youth work by the Ministry. Over 500 persons have benefited in New Providence and approximately 300 in the Family Islands.

This year, my Ministry will target the Islands of Bimini, Exuma, Eleuthera and San Salvador. It is paramount that the Youth Leaders Certification Programme continues because it is the key to sustaining youth work.

Mr. Speaker:

I wish to provide an update on the development of a new programme in my Ministry which was introduced at the start of this fiscal period. YouthGOV is designed to provide a higher level of engagement of our young persons in leadership and government, foster a greater sense of civic activism and calls-to-action regarding matters of interest locally and internationally. Mr. Speaker:

As a developing nation, it is important that the National Development Agenda give consideration to exposing young people to the value and important role of the main societal sectors; these being Government, Private/Corporate and Civil Society. It is only with pre-exposure that our young people will be able to appreciate, understand and be prepared to lead in key roles that drive the machinery needed, to facilitate corporative national sustainability and future sectoral growth and advancement.

Mr. Speaker:

During this fiscal period, my Ministry proposes to engage its partners from Civil Society, Academia, Commerce and Government with a view to developing specially tailored training strategies for our young leaders which will inspire innovation, civic engagement, internship and resilience. My Ministry will partner with eight (8) schools in the Pilot Phase and will include the participation of forty-eight (48) student leaders from across section of public and private, Junior, Senior and College level Institutions. It is anticipated that this programme will have a far reaching effect in our schools and their surrounding communities, which will benefit from the programmes and activities that our young people will develop and execute as a follow-up to their training.

Mr. Speaker:

The mandate for the execution ties in with The Bahamas Government’s commitment to the Commonwealth Youth Engagement Strategy and is also in line with the strategies developed by the Youth Division of my Ministry on the basis of the National Youth Policy research findings regarding youth engagement. National Summer Programme.

The Summer Youth Programme ran from July 6-31.

· An estimated 600 applications were directed to the Youth Division; at least 90% of the applicants were placed in income earning positions

· Approximately 660 persons were hired in the Summer Youth Program-2015; 540 in New Providence and 120 in Grand Bahama

· 53% increase in employment with no increase in the Summer Youth Program budget

· Total program costs-$436,360 (i.e. the expenditures for both New Providence and Grand Bahama

· 85 corporate partners (45 in New Providence and 40 in Grand Bahama)

· 36 Summer camps were supported or directed by the Division of Youth, (28 in New Providence and 8 in Grand Bahama) from Kemp Road to Gambier Village in New Providence and from East End to West End in Grand Bahama

· $78,625 in grants and payroll support to independent summer programmes in New Providence

The primary goal for the Summer Youth Programme 2015 was to successfully remediate the underlying issues that contribute to youth unemployment. Based on Youth Employment Trends in The Bahamas 2014, the IDB Report by Marcia Fazio, the factors are identified as:

i. Significant skills gaps between required skills and level of skill development of youth

ii. Lack of specific occupational skills

iii. Lack of work experience

iv. Weak soft skills i.e. responsibility and commitment

An “integrated, interdisciplinary approach for youth groups” as recommended by the Report, embodied through the Summer Youth Programme.

The Summer Youth Programme has been a signature programme of the Division of Youth that could be further adapted to address specific underlying issues of youth unemployment. In its current format, the Summer Youth Programme offers short term job placement for youth (15-25 years) and enrichment through the camp experience for the young ages 7-15.

Overall, the Summer Youth Programme aims to:

i. Create summer employment opportunities for youth

ii. Encourage the discovery of youth potential

iii. Expose youth to work ethics in real world scenarios through short-term apprenticeships

The 2015 Summer Youth Programme was expanded to address the issues of the “skills gap” of youth entering the workforce.

Fresh Start Programme

Mr. Speaker:

As articulated by the National Youth Policy of The Bahamas, the goal of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture as it relates to expanding, extending and creating cooperative links between researched-based knowledge and the application of this knowledge is beginning to move forward at an accelerated pace. As we progress to actualize the goals of the Policy, I am excited to report during this mid-term budget period on one of our great successes, the Fresh Start Programme. The Ministry’s Fresh Start Programme has now become one that sits as a potential regional best practice. This programme has been implemented aggressively in both Grand Bahama and New Providence.

The primary objectives of this programme are as follows:

· Equip the unemployed, unattached youth with the skills necessary to improve their ability to become employed

· Identify potential employment opportunities

· Encourage youth to become more proactive in their personal job search

· Provide on the job training opportunities for youth through corporate partnerships with the Ministry

· Track employment success

Within this fiscal period, we have offered a total of 250 plus applicants to be a part of this programme lasting for a total of 15- 20 weeks, depending on the training prescribed. The support of our vendors and the overwhelming response by the youth to participate in this programme has proven to be a success. To date, we have sixty (60) participants currently enrolled in the second cycle in New Providence and seventy nine (79) participants currently enrolled in Grand Bahama.

Mr. Speaker:

My Parliamentary Colleague from Grand Bahama would be aware of the great successes we have were witnessed on that island as a result of the Fresh Start Programme. The programme continues to provide so many of our young people with opportunities that they have either not been trained or skilled to do. The soft skills training, technical training, mentorship, and tracking have proven to be a best practice and, a success.

Mr. Speaker,

I wish to extend our sincere thanks to the following Training Providers who have assisted us.

· The Training Department of Ministry of the Tourism

· Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute

· Coterie of Caribbean Butlers

· Full Scope Mixology Training

· Synergy Bahamas

· Kenneth McPhee and Bartending Training

Mr. Speaker,

I am happy to report that in recent months our monitoring and evaluation of this programme shows a high conversion rate from unemployed to employable and also an increased amount of participants who are able to convert to being employed at the completion of their internships.

This programme, Mr. Speaker, has set the standard of employment readiness programmes in the country. I am resolved that the doors opened by this programme for our participants, coupled its overwhelming success on the Island of Grand Bahama, which is currently coming to a close , proves the strength of my Ministry, to provide relevant and revolutionary programming with significant impact.

Mr. Speaker,

The success of this programme is most evident when employers contact my officers two days after placing trainees with their establishments to advise that they are not only pleased with the trainees, but that they want to keep them as full -time employees!

Youth Development through the Arts.

Mr. Speaker:

Under the direction of Mrs. Terez Davis-Nixon, my Ministry has been focusing on an after school programme that provides a perfect marriage between culture and youth. The cast of thirty- five young people have made a significant impact on over 4,000 youth through the stage play production The “Thief of Love” which addresses youth and Immigration. We thank the Ring Play Productions for their ongoing support and the staff of the Dundas Centre for Performing Arts who played a major role in the success of these productions.

I am also pleased to report that due to the overwhelming success of this stage play in April of this year, the entire cast of the “Thief of Love” took to the stage at the Regency Theatre for two (2) dynamic performances that truly displayed the talent of our youth. Due to the programmes success, I am also excited to report that Mrs. Nixon has taken this programme to a new level as members and their constituents would be able to see both “Thief of Love” parts one (1) and two (2) on both Cable 12 and ZNS.

Mr. Speaker,

The Ministry appreciates the value of partnerships with various stakeholders. This partnership helps the Government to extend its reach throughout the country.

To further mobilize the youth development vehicle, we have continued our financial support through Grants to organizations that remain compliant with my Ministry’s mandatory registering and reporting practices.

Mr. Speaker:

I reiterate, organizations MUST remain COMPLIANT with the policies we have established in- house in order to receive Grants from the Ministry. We are mindful of our responsibility to ensure that due diligence is done before approving the disbursement of funds.

Mr. Speaker:

My Ministry has had a number of successes this year in the execution and expansion of a number of its programmes and activities for youth. In particular, a number of the flagship programmes of the Youth Division have now been expanded to the Family Islands, and have been piloted as such to determine the most efficient modality for operations in consideration of the limited available trainers and facilitators in some island districts. DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS

Sports Heritage Month / National Sports Hall of Fame

Mr. Speaker:

As has become customary, we again propose to designate the month of November as Sports Heritage Month. It is during this time that my Ministry gives special attention to the achievements of both current and former outstanding sportsmen and women. Such formal recognition is intended to;

a) preserve the historical memories and achievements of Bahamians in all sports;

b) inspire a quest for excellence among the young men and women;

c) and to reward outstanding athletic accomplishments.

As is customary, another group of outstanding persons will be inducted into the National Sports Hall of Fame.  Mr. Speaker

This is an opportune time to make special mention of several sporting heroes in our midst who deserve just a little recognition…for example the like of Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee – Mr McPhee, is small in stature but a giant among giants when it comes to coaching basketball. To his credit, among his pupils through his HOYTES basketball camp in Grand Bahama, stars such as Jonquel Jones, Buddy Hield and Youlette McPhee-Mcquinn got their start.

I also wish to make special mention to Mark Knowles who has for years held the banner for the Bahamas on the international circuit. Mr. Speaker:

Next month at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships, two of our own golf legends, Fred Higgs and former Bahamas Golf federation President Ambrose Guthro will be honoured during the event.

International Sporting Events:

Mr. Speaker,

The Bahamas’ brand of “Sports in Paradise’’ is taking great shape. We are quickly becoming the destination of choice when it comes to international sporting competitions. You would be aware that the Bahamas has successfully hosted the IAAF World Relays on two occasions, 2014 and 2015 with the former being the inaugural games. Since this time, the interest in hosting sporting events here has exploded exponentially. Mr. Speaker;

In April of this year, we hosted the Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational where dozens of Olympic and world class athletes participated. In June we will host the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships where we welcome the best of the best Caribbean swimmers to our facilities. Immediately following these championships, the Bahamas Golf federation will host the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships which too will bring the best Caribbean golfers to our facilities. Not to be left out, Grand Bahama is currently preparing to host an International Flag Football Championships this September. Mr. Speaker.

The interest in the Bahamas as a sports destination extends beyond 2016 and into 2017 which will see major sports events with worldwide appeal. In April 2017 the Bahamas has been selected as the host country for both FIFA World Cup Beach Soccer as well as the third edition of the IAAF World Relays.

FIFA World Cup: This event, held every two years will be contested by sixteen teams over 10 days of fierce competition. The Bahamas, as host nation will be entered into the competition.

IAAF World Relays: This event, now the envy of many world suitors is in its third year with us. Carifta Swimming: The Bahamas will host this event in 2017 for its third time, the last being in 2012.

Carifta Judo: An inaugural Carifta Judo competition is also being planned for 2017.

Commonwealth Youth Games (2017) – The first multi-sport competition to be held in The Bahamas (9 events)

Mr. Speaker:

As you can see, the inevitable significant economic impact to the Bahamas will be tremendous. Records already reflect that the Economic Impact to the Bahamas for only one edition of the World Relays which was a two day event was $25 million dollars. It can be easily projected that an event such as the FIFA World Cup of Beach Soccer, a 10 day event and the Commonwealth Youth Games will together bring a significant economic stimulus to the country and substantially more economic impact to the country than the IAAF World Relays alone.

For this reason Mr. Speaker,

My Ministry will ensure that resources are made available to develop and expand the sporting facilities to an acceptable international standard that will continue to attract major sporting events to the Bahamas.

Mr. Speaker,

This summer the Ministry plans to support of Team Bahamas as they prepare and compete in the XXXI Summer Olympic Games. In addition to our traditional sports usually represented, we will witness Emily Morley represent the sport of rowing as the first Bahamian to compete at this level in this sport.

National Endowment for Sports Fund

Mr. Speaker,

The National Endowment for Sports Fund disburses grants primarily to registered Sports Federations, Associations and Clubs annually to assist in the development of their respective sport with the core sports, such as basketball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, swimming and soccer eligible to receive larger grants. The Fund also provides for athletes to be awarded Incentive Grants for outstanding performances at a World Outdoor Championship or Olympic Games. With the Olympic Games to be held in just two months, we can all reasonably expect to be rewarding some of our athletes again.

Athlete Subvention Programme:

Mr. Speaker:

The Athlete Subvention Programme provides financial assistance in the amount of $1.4M to our elite and developing athletes to minimize their concerns associated with training and competition expenses. The benefits of this Programme have seen the fruits of success many times over through international medal performances by many of the athletes participating in the Programme. Some of these athletes include; our Golden Girls, Golden Knights, Donald Thomas (HJ) and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace (swimming). More recently we have been able to celebrate the success of a new generation of emerging stars such as; Shaunae Miller (400m) and Jeffery Gibson (400mH). We anticipate that the continuation of this programme will result in our

athletes continuing to excel on the international competition stage.

ANTI-DOPING COMMISSION

Mr. Speaker:

An attempt was made earlier in the year to bring discredit and disrepute to our jurisdiction through allegation of a ‘state sponsored’ programme of performance enhancing substances. Perhaps to the surprise due to the ignorance of the instigators, the Bahamas was among the first signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code. The Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission was established out of the Anti-Doping in Sports Act, 2009 which came into effect on 15th March, 2010 serves as our local watchdog and education vehicle to discourage the use of drugs and doping methods in sport in The Bahamas.

Acknowledging the increasing interest and sporting events coming to the Bahamas along with the continued elite performances of our athletes, my Ministry recognizes the important value that the Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission plays in protecting the reputation of our sporting heritage and jurisdiction. We therefore have proposed to increase the funding of this organization by some $50,000 so they can meet the expanding demand upon them. THE NATIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY:

Mr. Speaker,

The National Sports Authority, the Board with legislative authority for the ongoing development of the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, (QESC) has embarked on a series of refurbishment projects within the sports park. Improvements to the Thomas Robinson Stadium, Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium and the Betty Kelly-Kenning Swim Complex are all simultaneously being worked on as we speak. For this reason, a sum of $2 million dollars has been earmarked for the continued facility improvements. At the completion of this exercise the area will be even more attractive to not only local event organizers and patrons but also international sports planners as they will be representative of first class sporting facilities. Cultural Affairs Division:

Mr. Speaker:

As the world becomes even more connected, with increasing competition around the region and across the globe, it is necessary now, more so than ever before, for The Bahamas to differentiate itself from its neighbours and the rest of the world. The Cultural Affairs Division is working diligently to sustain the culture of The Bahamas and adhere to the budget constraints of the division.

We have conceptualized a nationwide initiative known as “Team Bahamas”. This is not limited to our Olympic Athletes, but extends throughout the Bahamas as a way of life. To be on the team is to understand the genesis of our narrative, to be your brother’s keeper, to speak out against violent crimes and injustice, to be innovative, to care for your environment, to take pride in Bahamian Culture and embrace all that it means to be a Bahamian.

To this end, you will take note of an intentional push by the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture to generate, promote and encourage year-round cultural activity throughout the islands of The Bahamas; with a view to future job creation, economic stimulus and sustainability. Key areas of focus have been:

· E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival

· Junior Junkanoo and Senior Junkanoo Parades

· The National Dance School of The Bahamas

· Road To Majority Rule 50th Year round Celebrations

· Cultural Affairs Division Endeavours

The E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival

The E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival is in its 56th year and is held in every major island and cay as it continues to grow in participation and entries. This programme is open to not only the Public and Private schools, but also entire communities and is true in its nationalistic endeavour to find and cultivate the talents of the Bahamian people. The programme comprises of Music, Dance, Drama, Choral Speaking, Drumming and Visual Arts. Experts in the various disciplines adjudicate participants. Festival champions attend international workshops in dance and music at noted institutions as well as workshops here in The Bahamas. This year's festival began in March in Grand Bahama and ends in June in Inagua and Mayaguana. To date adjudications have been in Grand Bahama, New Providence, Ragged Island, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Abaco, Mangrove Cay, Moore's Island, Farmers Cay, and Black Point.

Building on the solid foundation of the festival, the vision ahead for the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival is a four-part approach. The goal being to keep our Bahamian artists keyed in to what is current and relevant in today’s competitive performing arts global market.

The Approach:

· Create a Regional Competition component

This component will group islands according to region that will compete against each other. The regional winners will then have the opportunity to compete nationally in the capital.

· Increase in marketing and public relations

An increase in marketing campaigns across the Bahamas will engage the Bahamian public to attend and support festival events. This will also give people across the Bahamas an opportunity to view and support participants in every island and Cay. The expectation is that participants will feel a sense of pride in having this great exposure.

· Nationals in the capital

Regional winners will have the opportunity to attend the National Competition in the Capital where former winners will perform as participants vie for the championship. A panel of experts in the respective fields will judge participants.

· Incentives

Champions of the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival will win opportunities for further education in their craft, have their stories shared nationally, participate in local workshops, perform in year round national events, be pared with a performing arts career mentor, serve and travel as cultural ambassadors to the Bahamas and prepare emerging artists for upcoming festivals.

A total of 11,152 school-aged children and community persons participated in the 2015 National Arts Festival in the following categories:

· Music - 6,430

· Drama - 3602

· Dance 1020

· Art & Craft - 100

These participants came from various public and private schools and pre-schools, after school and community groups through-out the islands of The Bahamas. The 2016 adjudications are presently under way and will end in June 2016.

Junior Junkanoo Programme

The Junior Junkanoo Programme has grown throughout the islands of The Bahamas. The New Providence Parade was held at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium for a third year in December. Other Junior parades were held in North and South Andros, Abaco, Bimini, Grand Bahama and this year for the first time Cat island.

The Ministry is currently receiving requests for next year’s parades and we hope to have many more participants in this cultural expression. The upcoming summer programme will give students the opportunity to prepare for the 2017 Junior Junkanoo, focusing on this year’s theme, Celebrating 50 years of the Road to Majority Rule.

Senior Junkanoo Parades

Mr. Speaker:

The Senior Junkanoo Parades are also growing throughout the Country. A calendar of Junkanoo Parades has been created to schedule and highlight the parades in each of the Family Islands. The Junkanoo Parades are held from December through June.

The Junkanoo Parades accounts for three quarters of the allotted budget of the Cultural Division. This year saw the first increase to Group seed funding, in decades. Therefore, it is imperative that we now begin to view Junkanoo as a business similarly as the Junkanoo Carnival Band owners do.

Mr. Speaker:

Greater efforts are being made to develop the parades in every Family Island with an annually fixed date set for all parades in order that those in the Family Islands can reap the economic benefits through the attendance of both local and international visitors.

The National Dance School of The Bahamas

Mr. Speaker:

The National Dance School of The Bahamas continues to excel in all styles of dance and drumming. Students are performing at professional levels in both areas. The schools mission is to train and develop professional dancers and drummers. We are pleased to report that there are 3 dancers and 6 drummers from the school studying their respective arts in college abroad.

Since 2011, we have outgrown the current facility and urgently need this addressed. The enrollment is currently at 632 students with an excellent staff of 20 dedicated to the instruction and development of our young people in these areas. We are eager to continue this work and to provide a suitable and comfortable environment conducive to producing first-rate performers.

The National Dance School will celebrate its 40th anniversary on November 1st, 2016 and recently began the celebrations, with its annual concert on April 7 - 16, 2016 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts under the theme 40 Years and Counting, Continuing to Preserve and Protect our Traditions". The concert was well received by the audience who attended.

Mr. Speaker:

I wish to invite Members to a dance concert planned for the November 1st Anniversary date where all Alumni who are now dance or drum instructors, namely Lawrence Carroll, Victoria McIntosh-Josey, Giovanni Wilkinson, and Sonovia Williams, will be invited to make a presentation. Tribute will also be paid to those deceased persons such as E. Clement Bethel, Mayna Hepburn, Shirley Hall-Bass, Alex Zybine, and Ednal Wright, who were instrumental in the development of the school throughout the years.

Road to Majority Rule 50th Year round Celebrations

Mr. Speaker:

The 50th anniversary of Majority Rule in The Bahamas gives us an amazing opportunity to share our story. The Road to Majority Rule is the compelling tale of The Bahamas' own Civil Rights Movement. Coming more than 130 years after the emancipation, The Road to Majority Rule embodied the critical struggle for equality and human dignity, for all Bahamians thus paving the way toward an independent Bahamas, and an end to colonial rule. This struggle was perhaps our greatest collective achievement as a nation, in modern times.

Consequently, the Ministry will commemorate this monumental occasion with culturally-enriching events, leading up to the 50th anniversary of Majority Rule, on January 10th, 2017. Events planned include:

Culture Under the Stars

This will span over the period of six weekends featuring live performances of our National entities

Folk Tale Saturdays

This will highlight the unique stories of our islands in the Bahamas during this time in history. We have identified parks and communities where this sharing will take place through the expressions of quadrille dancing, music storytelling and much more.

Re-enactments

We will also have theatrical re-enactments of key moments in Bahamian history, lectures, fashion, National Dress, song, monologue and poetry competitions.

Our students kicked-off Majority Rule celebrations in April, during Youth Culture Fest 2016. It was a dynamic and colourful musical parade and concert, featuring scores of young people from community and youth groups, across New Providence. They chronicled the landfall of Christopher Columbus in 1942 through to The Road to Majority Rule in '67.

CALENDER OF EVENTS

APRIL

27th Official Launch of 50th Anniversary Celebration: Road to Majority Rule at the Ministry of Youth Sports & Culture 11:00 am

MAY

5th Road to Majority Rule Lecture Series I “Creativity, Technology & Life Design” Host: Dr. Desiree Cox @ National Art Gallery of the Bahamas 6:30pm – 8:30pm

JUNE

2nd Road To Majority Rule Lecture Series II : Sir Randol Fawkes & H.E. Arthur D. Hanna Folktale Saturdays I : Nassau @ Mason's Addition Park 4pm – 9pm JULY

Folktale Saturdays II :Eleuthera @ Bay Front Park

4th - 29th Road to Majority Rule Culture Summer Programme

11th Independence Day

TBA Road To Majority Rule Lecture Series III: Sir Lynden Pindling

16th Folktale Saturdays III :Exuma

AUGUST

1st Emancipation Day

9th Fox Hill Day

27th Folktale Saturdays IV: Long Island

28th Official Launch : Culture Month Press Conference

TBA Road To Majority Rule Lecture Series III: Bill Cartwright & Sir Milo Butler

SEPTEMBER – CULTURE MONTH

1st – 3rd Road to Majority Rule Song Competition @ National Center for the Performing Arts

9th BahamaTaste : Fashion, National Dress Competition, Food, Arts & Beauty

14th Rake & Scrape and Quadrille Dancing @ Fox Hill Park

17th Night of Rhythm & Rhyming @ Gambier Village Park

24th Culture Under the Stars with The National Entities

29th Drama Under the Heavens @ Flamingo Gardens Park

TBA Road To Majority Rule Lecture Series IV: Sir Arthur Foulkes & Sammy Isaacs  Burma Road Re-enactment

Black Tuesday Re-enactment

Folktale Saturdays V: Bimini

OCTOBER – YOUTH MONTH

Folktale Saturdays VI: Cat Island

10th - 11th Road to Majority Rule Poetry High School Competition

22nd Folktale Saturdays VII : North Andros

TBA Road To Majority Rule Lecture Series V: Doris Johnson & Cyril J. Stephenson

24th – 26th Road to Majority Rule Monologue Competition

@ National Centre For The Performing Arts

NOVEMBER – SPORTS MONTH

2nd Blake Road Closure Salute

TBA Road To Majority Rule Lecture Series VI : Clarence Bain & H. M. Taylor

Folktale Saturdays VIII: Grand Bahama

TBA Faith of the Fathers Tribute : H.W. Brown @ R.E. Cooper DECEMBER – CULTURAL HERITAGE MONTH

TBA Official Launch of Cultural Heritage Month at AAMC

TBA Bahama Madonna Unveiling JANUARY 2017

TBA Road To Majority Rule Lecture Series VII: Mary Ingraham & Sir Cecil Wallace – Whitfield

7th Folktale Saturdays IX : Abaco

8th National Majority Rule Church Service @ Bahamas Faith Ministries International

10th National Majority Rule Day Celebration @ Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium    Cultural Affairs Division Endeavours

As a Division we are seeking to implement a Culture Month as a permanent fixture on our calendar during the month of September. Our goals for this month will be to:

· Recognize and celebrate Bahamian culture

· Encourage all Bahamians to organize and participate in locally organized cultural events around The Bahamas

· Conduct a Cultural Conclave

· Celebrate cultural icons through a Culture Awards ceremony,

· Provide Cultural& Entrepreneur workshops

Cultural Policy, and Council Bill

The Cultural Affairs Division is still working on its National Culture Policy along with the National Arts & Culture Council Bill, which is presently being amended by the Attorney General's office with hopes of completion, passing and implementation of both by the end of 2016.

Education

Culture Curriculum

The Culture Curriculum is being fine tuned through the partnership of the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Summer Programme

The 2016 Performing Arts Summer Workshop Programme will imitate the 2015 Performing Arts Summer Workshop Programme held in July 2015 marking this the fifth expanded artistic summer programme held by the Division of Culture. It will include the following workshops:

Dance, Drum, Theatre Performance, Dramatic Writing, Choral, Piano, Film and Junkanoo Craft

The programme is supervised by professional artists, who are currently working in their field, and staffed by other professional artists and apprentice instructors who have skills in the particular genre of the programme.. Apprentice instructors are not required to have a particular level of education, but are required to have some experience on a basic level, (whether formal classes or regular performances in church or school). They must have some knowledge of the art to pass on what they know to the participants. It is extremely important and essential to the credibility of the programme that the staff hired has the required performing arts skills to offer and teach the proper instruction to the participants of the programme. Otherwise, the programme will be denigrated and will become a babysitting programme, which is a waste of funds.

Summer Programme Mission:

To create performing arts opportunities and workshops that will educate, enhance and empower artists and youth of our nation.

Goals:

ØIntroduce and expose youth between the ages of 5 to 15 years to the performing arts genres;

ØFurther develop the skills of youth already in the performing arts and help them get to the next level in their craft;

ØEmploy youth who have, at least, basic skills in the performing arts so that they may:

· Apprentice under professional performing artists from the Bahamian community

· Learn how to teach their art,

· Improve their skills,

· Realize that they can make a living from the arts;

ØEmploy professional performing artists in the community to help them to:

· Apprentice upcoming performing artists

· Pass on their knowledge to youth members of society

· Make money from their art.

Types of Workshops offered by Division of Culture in 2015:

Dance, Drum, Junkanoo, Circus, Film, Theatre Performance, Dramatic Writing, Choral, and Arts Preservation. A total of 663 students participated in the 2015 Division of Culture's Performing Arts Summer Camps.

Radio and Television Programmes

The Cultural Affairs Division is still looking forward to hosting and producing its own Radio and Television programmes that will be educational, informative and entertaining. Its main objectives will be to instill in ALL Bahamians, the importance of our Culture, how to sustain it and how to have National Pride in self and Country.

Cultural Exchange

In April of this year a Bahamian delegation travelled to Beijing, to perform at one of China’s largest cultural and entertainment market places. The bands, included the #1 party band, Visage, Rake & Scrape masters, and Ting Um Dem. The artists performed at the 798 Art Zone in Beijing, where they put on a series of performances of Bahamian music and culture for thousands of people. They got the opportunity to network with some of the biggest industry performers, movers and shakers in Asia and to explore the possibilities of that huge market.

Due to budget constraints the Division has not been able to award many groups and persons with grants to participate in cultural exchange during the 2015/2016 fiscal year. It is imperative for the development of these industries that the Division will be able to continue to participate in International Cultural Exchanges and Festivals, thereby giving greater exposure of our Culture.

Mr. Speaker:

Due to budget constraints, the Cultural Affairs Division has returned with the same obstacles. The Division has successfully executed very few events and programs. We have not been able to implement many of the proposed programmes put forward over the past eight years. It is anticipated that this year’s budget will enable the Division to bring on stream these proposed new festivals and programmes, namely: ‘The Bahamas Junkanoo Festival’; ‘International Indigenous Music Festival’, ‘National Rake ‘n’ Scrape & Quadrille Festival and Competition’, ‘The Bahamas International Gospel Music Festival’, and ‘The Bahamas International Folk Dance Festival’.

Mr. Speaker,

The Bahamas has been mandated by regional leaders to take the lead in the Cultural and Creative Industries. Mr. Speaker, we have a responsibility to the Bahamian people to pick up this mantle and to give the Bahamian people the tools in this industry for economic success. The Division of Culture seeks to enhance our culture and quality of life throughout the Bahamas and expose it to the world. We are eager to implement ALL of the named new programmes and to further enhance the existing ones. We are pleased to have had ‘RAKE N SCRAPE MUSIC’ declared AS THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF THE BAHAMAS, and look forward to the implementation of ‘THE QUADRILLE’ as THE NATIONAL DANCE, ‘SLOOP SAILING’ as THE NATIONAL SPORT, and the implementation of a ‘NATIONAL DRESS’.

As I conclude Mr. Speaker, I wish to state for the record that My Ministry has made every effort to adhere to the fiscal policies that were put in place to keep our spending in line with our budget allocations. I believe that our diligence has helped us to realize some degree of savings and this would ultimately be reflected in the savings experienced at the National level.

NATIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY

Mr. Speaker:

The National Sports Authority had a very productive 2016/17 year and saw the successful hosting of a number of sporting events.

Events:

This year The NSA demonstrated its venue versatility by hosting several high profile and successful events:

· Second edition of the Popeye’s ESPN Bahamas Bowl

· Frank “Pancho” Rahming National Primary School Track Meet

· Hosting of a record sixty-seven local school and club track meets

· 2015 Summer of Thunder NCAA Division I Basketball tournament (largest to date)

· Heineken Concert Series

· Berres Harmond Island Life Concert

· Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational

· Hennessey Night Under the Stars

· College of the Bahamas 2016 Graduation Exercise

· National Swim Trials

· National High School Soccer Championships

Pending/Upcoming Events

Mr. Speaker:

The NSA will be hosting, organizing and supporting several signature events in the 2016/17-year.

· Caribbean Island Swim Championships June 28 – July 5

· Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships July 24 – 30

· National Swim Time Trials June 26 – 27

· National Time Trials in Track & Field June 23 – 24

· Summer of Thunder 2016 August

· Haiti vs. Jamaica soccer in August

· Gospel Night of Praise Gospel Concert August

· Third edition of Popeye’s ESPN Bahamas Bowl 2016 Dec 23

· CARIFTA Swim in March 2017

· IAAF World Relays in April 2017

· Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 April 27 – May 7

· Commonwealth Youth Games July 12 – 17 2017

Mr. Speaker,

It is anticipated that the Bahamian people will see for the very first time, our 2016 Independence Celebrations hosted at the National Stadium and surrounding grounds.

Investment in Staff

This year the NSA also deepened its working relationship with the Peoples Republic of China by participating in several Technical Training Workshops designed to provide knowledge transfer and a working knowledge of some of the technology used to build the National Stadium.

In fact, the local technical team of the NSA did so well that the Chinese Technical team was able to leave the Bahamas confident that Bahamians were sufficiently skilled to ensure the smooth functioning of the National Stadium. To further strengthen our local staff, two officers, Selwyn Ferguson and Cenario Cunningham were invited to participate in a two- week Workshop in Beijing China during 18th May to 1st June, 2016 where they received further practical training in the maintenance of the facility which speaks to the strong partnership the Bahamas has established with the People’s Republic of China.

Ongoing Projects/Initiatives NSA has engaged in several key special projects this year at the other older facilities, namely:

Betty Kelly-Kenning Swim Complex Phases

· New Bulkheads

· New Starter Blocks

· New Colorado Timing System

· Lane Ropes

· New Deck

· Refurbished locker rooms

· Brand new Entrance

· Upgraded lighting

· Installation of seats

· Upgraded pump system Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium Phases

· Will have a brand new maple floor

· Upgraded lighting

· New scoreboards

· New shot clocks

· Completely new air conditioning system

· New Concessions Stand

· New Logo Shop

· Upgraded locker rooms

· Upgraded outdoor courts

· Upgraded data and Wi-Fi infrastructure

Mr. Speaker:

When completed, these upgrades will raise the standard of our existing facilities well within international standards. The Thomas A. Robinson Stadium (original TAR) has already begun to undergo a massive facelift with improvements that has already been met with a sense of pride by the local Track and Field community.

University/College of the Bahamas

Mr. Speaker:

NSA continues to work closely with the College of The Bahamas as we refine our sporting facilities to meet the requirements of the University of the Bahamas. The team at the NSA has been busy making sure that the patron experiences at our facilities are second to none.

Pending Projects to be launched

· Official construction start of our National Baseball Stadium

· Infrastructural upgrades to our IT, data and voice system at the National Stadium

· Phase III of the Technical Support Agreement with the Peoples Republic of China

· Design drafts of the 6,000 seat multi use arena

· National Tennis Center Upgrades

o Phase II of the Swim Complex Upgrades (re-marcite of pool) o Phase II of the KI Gym upgrades (audio, video boards, new bleachers)

Revenue Generation

Mr. Speaker:

It is also noteworthy that the NSA recently launched its revenue generation plans to include:

· New concessions for food & beverage

· Corporate sponsorships/partnerships

· Advertising and branding

· Meeting Room Rental

· Event Management Services

· Development of functional outdoor space for rental

These efforts are intended to lessen the financial burden on the taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker:

I am also proud to note that the Bahamas, under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture, the Ministry of Tourism the National Sports Authority and its partners, in four short years, have hosted the two largest International Sporting Organizations in the world, namely FIFA and IAAF.

Mr. Speaker,

To add, few countries have ever hosted:

· PGA,

· LPGA,

· FIFA,

· IAAF,

· NCAA Football and Basketball

All in the same year. We are on our way!

Mr. Speaker:

It is also noteworthy the Ministry has also acquired the services of the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), a world renown sports and entertainment to advise as regard the level of sporting and entertainment events capable of being hosted at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Park. As a consequent, discussions are underway with both major league Baseball and the National Football League with a view to have both entities host events in the Bahamas. Mr. Speaker:

I am confident that as we close out this fiscal year, the next twelve months will be the most fantastic and invigorating sports and entertainment experience that Bahamas will ever have and we look forward to leading the way in making the Bahamas the Premier Host Country for all things “Sports and Entertainment” in the World.

NATIONAL ART GALLERY

Mr. Speaker:

The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas has had another successful year in reaching out to Bahamian audiences, particularly the youth, and fulfilling its mandate to “preserve and promote Bahamian art.” Visitor numbers again increased with the largest upsurge in the section of students. With the introduction of VAT, ticket prices were adjusted and now international visitors pay a larger fee than locals. Children under 12 are always free and the successful FREE BAHAMIAN SUNDAY has been extended from once a month to every single Sunday in the year.

Meanwhile, two full months were made completely free for Bahamians: one in the summer through a partnership with Central Bank, and one during the Christmas/Junkanoo season, through a partnership with Insurance Management. Both initiatives saw over 1,000 Bahamians in a single month come through the NAGB (the usual figure is 200-300) and the fact that major brand wish to be associated with that of the NAGB speaks to how the NAGB is seen in the community.

Mr. Speaker:

Despite the increased FREE BAHAMIAN SUNDAYS, revenue from ticket sales is still increasing due to elevated foreign visitors numbers (non-residents pay significantly more) and we have again received a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence award in 2015, which drives tourist audiences to the gallery.

Exhibitions this year expanded the NAGB’s reach, to enter into dialogues with friends from the region. A series of short, small shows entitled “Double Dutch” (referring to the skipping rope game where the players must be in synch with one another) saw one Bahamian artist put in dialogue with one regional artist: Bahamian Blue Curry and Bermudan James Cooper presented “50/50,” while Bahamian John Cox and Jamaican Charles Campbell presented “A Calendar of Conditioning.” All artists in the Double Dutch project are asked to consider problems specific to the region: logistics, post-colonial structures, island life, or racial, social and economic hierarchies. The series asks us to consider our neighbours, not as rivals but as partners in our journey forward. Another show that crossed international boundaries was “From Columbus to Junkanoo,” first staged in Santiago de Cuba as part of the Cuban Cultural Delegation in the summer of 2015 but now re-hung in the lower spaces of The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. This exhibition—with 30 Bahamian artists represented, both young and old—tells the story of our nation as well as the story of our artistic development.

Mr. Speaker:

Lastly as part of our regional outreach, the international travelling exhibition “En Mas: Carnival, Junkanoo and Performance Art of the Caribbean,” curated by Bahamian art-historian Krista Thompson and Guadeloupian Claire Tancons, took the Bahamas with its Junkanoo-based artwork to both New Orleans and Chicago, as well as the Cayman Islands. Currently at the National Art Gallery, more international stops for this show—which delves into our shared cultural heritage of procession, festival, music and dance—are planned, creating partnerships also with institutions in the US and across the region.

The focus however, always remains on Bahamian production and this was underscored with two major shows “Central Bank: 40 Years of Commitment to the Arts,” which highlighted over 60 Bahamian artists who are part of the Central Bank Art collection (with the art-historical texts compiled by NAGB donated to the Central Bank for the production also of an art catalogue) and, finally, the stellar exhibition “R Bent Malone: Reincarnation” which again put Junkanoo at the forefront in our visual art culture, in the stunning 160-piece retrospective. The incredible “Junkanoo room” was the highlight of the show and the Insurance Management initiative allowed many Bahamians to see the outstanding paintings free of charge. Lastly, with UBS bank scaling back its holding in The Bahamas, the NAGB negotiated for the 18-foot long Brent Malone mural “Celebration,” to remain in the country on long term loan to the NAGB. The painting, featuring the groups Roots Saxons, Valley, One Family, was commissioned by UBS Bank specifically for their building on Bay Street but will now be hung in the lobby of the office of the Prime Minster.

Involvement of the Youth, Community Outreach and Family Island Involvement

Mr. Speaker:

The NAGB Education Department has continued to engage in the local community with workshops and Afternoons, but has also executed a week-long trip and exhibition to Grand Bahama, where all the local schools were given a chance to visit and see the “Max/Amos” exhibition (works by Amos Ferguson and Max Taylor), installed in the Sir Charles Hayward Library. The team also visited 17 schools and over 550 students and gave a full set of art catalogues to all school libraries. The exhibition will also travel to Eleuthera (in partnership with the Haynes Library) and Exuma (in partnership with the Exuma Foundation) so that island communities can also enjoy the benefits of the NAGB’s collection and education department.

The NAGB also hosted all the Primary Students of the Year and their families; the New Providence schools came with over 100 attendees and a second trip for the Family island nominees also saw more than 80 students and families from all over the Bahamas. Workshops were executed on site, but also off site in communities such as Gambier, where the NAGB assisted in a mask-making workshop. As always, the NAGB will also participate in the annual Art Supply Drive, in which art supplies are provided to 3 schools across the nation (2 New Porvidence, 1 Family island) in association with Doongalik Art Studios; the artworks from the former year’s initiative are also exhibited in the gallery’s project space.

Last year the NAGB Summer Camp, which supported the children’s attendance from the Ranfurly Home in 2015, had 55 students per week learning about arts and crafts from NAGB staff.

Mr. Speaker:

This summer, the camp returns and will make available 50 free spaces for children from the surrounding schools C. R. Walker, Albury Sayles and Woodcock Primary. Meanwhile, work under the continued Memo of Understanding with the College of The Bahamas sees more contact with COB students, helping with career decisions and portfolio advice and increased attendance from the youth at gallery activities. In fact, a COB class, taught by the Dean of the Faculty of Liberal and Fine Arts, Dr. Ian Bethell-Bennett, was held monthly in the NAGB galleries in order to integrate selections of the artwork into the course and also have the lectures open to the general public, creating a cross pollination of ideas and generations.

Community Outreach has also been a big part of the work begun on the NAGB Sculpture Garden, which is receiving support from the Bahamas National Trust Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve in the donation of plants and knowledge. Community clean-ups and plantings take place monthly and see the involvement of local children and teens, who are also encouraged to enter the galleries and engage with the works inside. Though only in its initial phases, the garden is already drawing members of the public and surrounding communities.

International Recognition

Mr. Speaker:

Aside from the Cuba delegation, where Bahamian visual art was put front and central, The Bahamas has also made a mark internationally. With the support of the NAGB, Bahamian artist Lavar Munroe showed 3 paintings at the prestigious Venice Biennale event in Italy, a show which gets 400,000 visitors over the course of 5 months and endless press.

Mr. Speaker:

Currently a Google Search of his name and the event comes up with 2,110 hits! The NAGB also facilitated the exhibition of local artist Tessa Whitehead in New York’s Armoury Arts Week, where out of all the fairs and shows, with over 2,000 artists exhibiting, she was selected as one of the Top Ten Young Artists to Watch by a local magazine, while she also made sales into American collections. Finally, the exhibition “Nassau Calling” was organized and travelled to Vienna, Austria, featuring 25 Bahamian artists, 8 of whom made the trip to Vienna. The exhibition was staged at a prestigious Austrian gallery and received television coverage that reached over 5 million homes; plans are currently underway to take the show to Leipzig, Germany and Como, Milan.

Mr. Speaker:

A complete re-branding of the NAGB website also has us reaching broader international and local audiences. Now the website has capabilities to show short films, interviews and more images of all of our artists work as well as integrate with social media platforms. Look out for NAGB portraits from locals and visitors at the next International Museum Selfie Day!

In this myriad of ways, the NAGB has worked diligently to bring art into the homes of every Bahamian on every island, with an understanding that people must come to The Bahamas for its Culture rather than for its Sun, Sand and Sea.

Concluding Remarks

Mr. Speaker:

I wish to note that My Ministry’s Agenda has been a very ambitious one over these past four plus years. One which would not have seen the successes had it now been for the confidence bestowed in me by Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie, the leadership and guidance of the technical team comprising Messrs. Darron Turnquest and Timothy Munnings, Director of Youth and Sports respectively, Dr. Linda Moxey-Brown and more recently Ms. Rowena Poitier, Directors of Culture, by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Calvin Balfour, along with his supporting cast of Administrative, Financial, and Secretarial staff at the Ministry.

Mr. Speaker:

I again wish to take this opportunity to assure the BAHAMIAN people that my Ministry will continue to work within the parameters set forth in our fiscal policy. The responsibility entrusted us is an awesome one; to manage your funds. I pledge to continue to take care and diligence as we set out to implement this 2016/2017 Budge

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