I wish to correct the false impression that may have resulted from a misleading front page article in The Bahama Journal of Wednesday, August 24, 2010.
Under the headline, “Minister Admits Mistakes”, the article notes that I stated that “mistakes” were made in the Ministry’s public relations campaign relative to the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP) generally, and the work being undertaken on the Baillou Hill Road and Market Street corridors, specifically.
The “mistake’ that was made was the egregious manner in which my words were twisted to fabricate an incorrect story with a sensational headline. Both the story and the headline say more about the mindset of those who produced the story than the reality of what was said.
What I did suggest was that there is always room for improvement in terms of communicating to the public the extensive and transformative road changes that will dramatically improve traffic flows and the quality of life in New Providence.
My Ministry has engaged in extensive and comprehensive public communications and advertising campaigns on the aforementioned projects. It has done so in the interest of consultation with the public at large as well as an array of stakeholders. It is also in keeping with the Government’s commitment to good governance and accountability.
Public communications activities began as early as 2000, when placements were made in both The Nassau Guardian (May 17, 2000) and The Tribune (May 25, 2000) detailing the proposed changes in traffic flow along the Baillou Hill Road and Market Street corridors.
Five months later in October, 2000 an Environmental and Social Impacts Assessment (ESIA) was undertaken on the 19 proposed road improvement schemes comprising the NPRIP.
In addition to other road corridors, the ESIA included public consultation exercises relative to Corridors 11A and 11B (Baillou Hill Road and Market Streets).
As with other stages in the construction of these two corridors, including quite recently, the Ministry of Works and Transport will continue to utilize town meetings, other public consultations, the mass media and door-to-door visits to communicate with residents and business owners in the communities surrounding these road works.
I have already attended many of the town hall meetings in order to discuss road changes with residents and businesspeople in various neighbourhoods and communities. Public officers have made door-to-door visits a part of our comprehensive communications programme.
Other initiatives have included: walk-a-bouts, the hanging of banners in high profile areas insofar as pedestrian and vehicular traffic is concerned, the distribution of flyers, radio talk-show appearances, public service announcements, visits to school assemblies, presentations to service groups, newspaper placements, press conferences and on site remote radio broadcasts.
I remain proud that my Ministry has engaged in some of the more extensive public communications efforts ever in terms of public works in general, and road works in particular.
