Minister of Transport and Local Government, the Hon. Frankie Campbell asked students to prepare themselves to serve their communities and provide solutions to challenges.

The Minister was speaking during the launch of the Sustainable Nassau Project held at the Harry C. Moore Library of the University of The Bahamas on Thursday, February 1. The event was held under the theme, ‘Empowered People, Revitalized City.”

“You have the vision, the energy and the exposure necessary to make a tremendous impact on the way we do business here in The Bahamas. Through the IDB’s work with the Office of the Prime Minister, we have invited the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to lead you through a process of solving a real challenge of your choosing. I urge you to take advantage of this amazing opportunity,” said Mr. Campbell

“Despite what my generation may tell you, your impatience can in fact serve you well as you demand action and results at a faster pace than has been traditionally accepted. I implore you to be curious, innovative and inventive. Take advantage of the greatest resource you have here at the University of The Bahamas: collective knowledge and creativity, to build the modern Bahamas you want to see.”

The Minister said that in late 2017, the Ministry of Education and the Over-the-Hill project within the Office of the Prime Minister distributed over 100 tablets to the Willard Patton Pre-School in the Bain Town area. The aim of the project, he said, was to use technology to improve how education is delivered.

“Thus far the program is already delivering positive results. This represents the beginning of implementing the Smart City Solutions outlined in the Sustainable Nassau Action Plan,” said Mr. Campbell.

He said that as the country moves to become a “smarter” country, it is necessary to identify the innovations that are needed to take the country there. 

“Perhaps an app that provides drivers with real-time information on traffic and parking availability. Or an app that disseminates emergency alerts and critical information to mobile phones within an impacted geographic area. How about a central command center to coordinate it all? Think of the time you could save by having kiosks located throughout our islands that facilitated driver’s license renewals, and payment of traffic tickets. All of these things exist and can become a reality here in The Bahamas,” said the Minister.

He also spoke of the need for, and how it would assist in, the proper and equitable management of resources.

“Heavily central government structures have often proven themselves too slow and too bureaucratic to adapt and take advantage of these innovations. Therefore, if we are to be successful in making drastic improvements to the quality of life of our citizens and residents, we must empower people to be part of this process of change. The communities that are to be most impacted must have the greatest say and greatest ownership of the prescribed solutions to their problems. The only way to make this happen is through new, more localized, governance models.”

He said that this new model of government administration is already taking shape with legislation currently being drafted to create an agency tasked with managing the development of the Over-the-Hill Community of Nassau.

“Imagine if this model were expanded to include the entire island so as to ensure that development is managed with people at the center!” He exclaimed.

He said that the introduction of true local government here in New Providence and throughout the country would provide a framework for the delivery of high quality services to residents and businesses with effective checks and balances.

“It would allow neighborhoods and districts to decide how to budget scarce resources to best serve them and meet their needs. Increased transparency regarding revenues raised and expenditures would be accompanied by a transfer of resources and responsibilities away from central government to elected and accountable district governments. The Government of The Bahamas is committed to moving the concept of local government in New Providence from plans to reality within the next three years. To this end, the Department of Local Government is working closely with the Office of the Prime Minister to take this initiative forward.”

By Betty Vedrine