Urban Renewal Commission Co-chairperson Algernon Allen said yesterday Urban Renewal should not be subject to any budget cuts. Allen called the re-launched initiative an "amalgamation of essential government services" to impoverished Bahamians. He was responding to a question posed by The Nassau Guardian on whether the government has instructed the commission to restructure or halt spending.
As widely reported, the government ordered its various departments and agencies to cut 10 percent from their budgets in response to serious challenges facing public finances. They are being asked to trim 25 percent in 2014/2015. However, this does not apply to essential services such as social services. "We are hoping and praying that Urban Renewal is not negatively affected in that way because Urban Renewal is a powerful transformative tool," said Allen during a press conference at Evangelistic Temple on Collins Avenue.
"It touches the lives of the marginalized and the very impoverished. Those who are in most need of help in our beloved country, and like social services, which is rarely, very rarely, impacted by cuts, the Urban Renewal program falls within that category." He added, "Urban Renewal centers provide essential mentoring services. Some provide social services. There are health officers attached to some of the areas, and so there is an amalgamation of essential government services provided."
Minister of Works and Urban Development Philip Brave Davis could not confirm whether the government's heralded social intervention program would be on the chopping block. He said in a separate interview there is a common misconception that a $15 million line item in the 2012/2013 budget is strictly for Urban Renewal. "The prime minister and the minister of finance thought it fit to set aside $15 million to ensure at some point it time, whatever initiatives, policies or programs set out in the Charter for Governance, that are required to be implemented would [have] some source [of funding]," Davis said.
Allen said Urban Renewal does not rely entirely on government funding, noting members from the private sector have donated a total of $76,500. The program has received $5,000 from original 'Golden Knight' Sir Durwood Knowles; $30,000 from Frank Forbes; $40,000 from Chairman of Arawak Homes Franklyn Wilson and $1,500 from Frank Hanna of Frank Hanna's Contract Cleaning Company.
According to Allen, the commission is also in the process of removing Urban Renewal from "the grasping hands of government". He said based on all indications from the government legislation could be passed in Parliament within the next six months to create a statutory Urban Renewal board. "This is an apolitical commission, that will in no way be influenced by the politics of the government and it certainly will in no way be caught in the traps of some, who may wish it to be used for their own selfish political agenda," Allen added.
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