Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts is calling on prominent members of society to assist in restoring the Over-The-Hill community to its former glory days.

“I take this opportunity to call on Bahamian families everywhere with origins in over-the-hill communities to join this venture and do your part in restoring socially disadvantaged and economically depressed inner city enclaves,” he said. “You can begin by restoring your family homesteads.”

He made the call while speaking at the funeral service for well-known businessman Alfred Bismark Coakley held at St. Agnes Anglican Church last week.

Coakley, 73, who was also a friend of Roberts for nearly six decades, was known as an avid supporter and community builder of the Over-The-Hill community – the area where he was born and raised.

Coakley worked his way up the corporate ladder to become the president and CEO of Arawak Homes, a company known for providing affordable homes for Bahamians all over the country.

Roberts said there are many other products of Over-The-Hill that can, like Coakley and himself, use their success to give back to areas in need of urban renewal, beginning with the places of their birth.

Roberts’ proposal is an initiative that has been a constant call for more than a decade.

Under its 2002-2007 administration, the PLP introduced the Urban Renewal Program, a non-political program implemented to strengthen local communities.

During its current administration, Urban Renewal 2.0 was launched in 2012.

At the launch of the Urban Renewal Foundation back in October 2013, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development Philip Davis described the newest urban renewal program as the government’s “visionary initiative to implement its social and economic policies in inner city communities throughout The Bahamas in a single proactive and dynamic mechanism, involving government and non-government agencies in this inclusive platform.”

Main objectives of Urban Renewal 2.0 include examining the quality of life and the social and environmental conditions of high crime communities, involving the community in problem solving and empowering citizens to play an active role in their communities.

Roberts’ call for products of those older communities falls in line with the fundamentals of community program.
“With faith in Almighty God, self-confidence, dedication and hard-work – anything is possible because we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us,” he said.

He also made a proposal to the prime minister to begin the process of rebuilding the Over-The-Hill community, beginning with King Street, the place of Coakley’s birth.

“Let’s begin the process in the name of Alfred Bismark Coakley,” Roberts said.