NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Cabinet Office has announced a State Recognized Funeral will be held for former Member of Parliament Oscar N. Johnson, Saturday, January 2, 2010.

The service will be held at 2:00 p.m., at Bahamas Faith Ministries, Diplomat Centre, Carmichael Road. Interment is private.

Mr Johnson died, Tuesday, December 22, 2009, at the Princess Margaret Hospital. He was 76.

He was a Progressive Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Cat Island 1968-1977.

Mr Johnson was born at Dumfries, Cat Island, on July 8, 1932.

During his public career, he was also former chairman of the Bahamas Housing Authority (1970-1971) and the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (1974-1976).

Mr Johnson owned the Craftsman Press and entered the printing industry at age 14 as an apprentice. His establishment encouraged many of the newspapermen of the 1950s and 1960s to get training.

In 1950, Johnson married Sylvia Ethlyn Roberts and had six children, inclusive of Cora Johnson-Cooper, former Speaker of the House of Assembly Rome Italia Johnson, Gladys Johnson-Sands, Oscar N Johnson Jr, Cathleen Johnson Hassan, and Dr Daniel Johnson.

The ?State? will sign the Book of Condolence between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., Thursday, December 31, 2009, at Demeritte Fealy Funeral Home, Market Street. Thereafter, the public will sign between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the same day and from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, January 2, 2010 at the Diplomat Centre.

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, right, is greeted by United States President Barack Obama at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark.

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Ministry of Housing employees took part in a professional day seminar on Friday to help them provide improved services and employee training seminars.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Housing Brensil Rolle said the Government launched the Service Improvement Program in 2008, which marked a commitment to provide real and tangible improvements to customer service delivery.

He noted that the seminar will help the Ministry staff to make those improvements.

?There are a number of values, associated with training exercises, Mr Rolle said. ?These include increased productivity and heightened morale,? Mr Rolle.

?An increase in skill usually results in a steady increase in both quality and quantity of output.?

Equally important to generating maximum output, is heightened morale among, staff members, Mr Rolle said.

During those times when it is short staff or when staff members leave, the Ministry must remain stabilised, he added.
?We must be able to maintain effective service. One of the ways that can be done is to develop a reservoir of efficient employees. We must all strive to become more flexible. We must strive to attain multiple skills to better benefit the organization,? Mr Rolle said.

The Ministry?s employees have an obligation to serve with excellence at all times, he explained.

Acting Permanent Secretary, Lorraine Armbrister said many persons around the world and The Bahamas have lost their jobs due to the economic crisis being felt around the world.
This should cause staff members to think twice about their productivity and future in the public service, she said.
?We ought to treasure our jobs, and remain committed to providing the best service we can to our customers. Today?s seminar is all about sensitizing us to this reality,? Ms Armbrister said.

?We will never be able to provide a house for every person who walks through the doors of our agencies.

?But there is any reason we cannot greet someone with a smile, a pleasant attitude and ensure that each person who has interacted with us can go away feeling that he or she has been given the very best treatment??

?Surely this is not a difficult feat to accomplish,? she said.

Nassau, Bahamas -- The Government of The Bahamas signed a $16.63 million contract for the architectural design of the Supreme Court and selected buildings in Parliament Square.

The buildings to be refurbished are the Hansard, the Public Library, the Supreme Court, the Senate and the Magistrates Court on Bank Lane. The three-part project is expected to begin in April of 2010 and be completed in 18 months.

The contract signing ceremony took place in the boardroom of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Thursday, December 17.

Minister of Public Works and Transport the Hon. Neko C Grant and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Senator the Hon John Delaney were in attendance.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport were Colin Higgs, Permanent Secretary; Gordon Major, Acting Director and Nicole Campbell, Undersecretary. Officials from the Attorney General?s Office included Leroy Sumner, Deputy Permanent Secretary and Dolly King, Director of Court Services.
Mr Grant said, ?All of the works outlined take into account the existing architectural style and the historic importance of the buildings at this site.?

The designs are being prepared in consultation with the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation, he added.
Mr Delaney said a ?more efficient? administration of justice is a priority of the Government.

The work includes repairs and reinstatement of verandahs to the Senate, refurbishment and extension of the Public Library and the enhancement of public areas including landscaping and placement of paving stones and street furniture.

The project also includes construction of a new Central Services building that will provide all buildings with electrical and water services.

The contract for the architectural design services was awarded to ARCOP Architects.