Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works & Urban Development Phillip “Brave” Davis announced several capital work projects that include $1 million dollars in road repairs and major developments through urban renewal throughout the country during his contribution to the budget debate yesterday.
Mr. Davis said the ministry’s capital budget allocation this year was $124,614,000 a bit more than $12.6 million over last year’s allocation.
He also added that even though the figure is short of the ministry’s requirement, he and his ministry remains committed to ensure every dollar is properly expended for the building of a modern Bahamas.
“On the recurrent side, the significant decrease in allocations reflects the transfer of administration of the staff of Roads and Parks to the Beaches and Parks Authority. The residents and island of Rum Cay are recovering the ravages of Hurricane Joaquin. Again, we are in the Hurricane Season and I encourage all residents of The Bahamas to get themselves in a state of preparedness for any storm that may visit,” he said.
“In San Salvador, works are nearing completion to ensure that every home damaged by Hurricane Joaquin is repaired or replaced. The primary school was also damaged. While the summer break will offer some reprieve, we expect construction of a new primary school to commence within the coming weeks. For Cat Island, Mr. Speaker Comprehensive infrastructural developments are afoot. We have constructed over 4,500 feet of seawall and carried out sand seal repair works to the roadway throughout the island and works are ongoing.”
The Member of Parliament for Cat Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador noted various public works being implemented not only within his islands but Grand Bahama, New Providence, Eleuthera, Acklins and many others.
“The Minister of Grand Bahama was expansive in his articulation of the works that have been done and are ongoing there. Good on-time progress has been made in the construction of a new state-of-the-art Police Fire Station at a contract amount of just over $6.1M. As well, my Ministry is also supervising the renewal and resurfacing of major roads and sea defenses in Abaco, including Elbow Cay and Green Turtle Cay, at a cost of over $21.5 million,” Mr. Davis said.
The minister of Works and Urban Development thanked the prime minister and his ministry for their hard work and securing the consistent reduction of the government’s GFS deficit.
He further added that his ministry is intent on securing private sector involvement in building roads, bridges, airports and other structures – the physical underpinnings of a modern Bahamas that will lead to better quality services, lower cost services and enhanced value for Bahamians.
