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Family Island Development |
For too long Bahamian communities outside of New Providence have been treated as step-children by the central Government in Nassau. Residents have had little opportunity to influence developments in their communities and have been forced to accept deficient infrastructural development, poor educational facilities, inadequate health and social services and limited economic opportunities.
The Free National Movement came to Office in 1992 with a firm commitment to change prospects and opportunities for Family Island residents. Conscious that the lack of attention given to the Family Islands was directly responsible for the historic abandonment of the communities located there by far too many of the young, talented and bright persons born in those communities, immediately upon coming to office, the FNM put in motion a multifaceted programme of development for the Family Islands.
Four and a half years later, some 400 miles of roadway, excluding settlement roads which are also being upgraded, have been reconstructed, repaired and/or repaved in Family Island Communities.
Airports have been repaved and upgraded.
And, hundreds of families who have, for generations, occupied and developed Crown Lands in the Family Islands without benefit of security of tenure, have had title to their land granted by the Free National Movement Government.
Electricity service has been extended to the furthest reaches of our archipelago and by December, 1997, every community in The Bahamas will have electricity. Improved water - supply and quality - is being achieved throughout the Family Islands and the extension of telecommunication services is bringing to an end the decades of isolation for the many families who live in Family Island Communities. This isolation will be further pierced with the introduction of cable television service. The entire Bahamas is scheduled to be linked by fiber optic and satellite by the end of 1998, making state-of-the-art communications as easily accessible in a Family Island as in New Providence.Significant additional resources have been spent upgrading public buildings and schools in the Family Island and extending the health care network.
New community health care facilities have been constructed at Cooper’s Town, Abaco, and at Simms, Long Island. Similar facilities are under construction in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, Bimini and San Salvador.
And, hundreds of families who have, for generations, occupied and developed Crown Lands in the Family Islands without benefit of security of tenure, have had title to their land granted by the Free National Movement Government. Finally, the introduction of effective Local Government in the Family Islands in 1996 set the tone for Family Island development in the 21st century to be directed by the needs and desires of the people who reside there. The Free National Movement believes that it is important, while expanding economic and employment opportunities for residents in the Family Islands, to also respect the desires of Family Island residents to preserve their special character.The FNM in its second term will:
Complete and provide for the maintenance of Family Island infrastructure. As the installation of cable television services permit, introduce inter-active Distance Education to Family Island Schools particularly to facilitate instruction in the sciences and specialist subjects, where the small number of students does not warrant the posting of full-time specialist instructors. Continue to make Agricultural Crown Lands available on a concessionary basis to support the expansion of Family Island agriculture. Support and facilitate the development of food processing, storage and transportation facilities in support of agriculture. Transform the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas into an agency to encourage, support and promote the development of Family Island resorts. In addition to the extension of concessions available under the Hotels Encouragement Act to "Time Share" and "Vacation Club" facilities, extend such concessions to residences constructed as a part of a "rental pool" of hotels located in the Family Islands. Cause the Tourism Development Corporation of The Bahamas to develop a section of the former US Base at Governor’s Harbour into a tourism resort, consisting of several small hotels and lease the same to Bahamians with an option to purchase. Cause the development of similar small hotels in Abaco, Andros, Exuma, Long Island, Cat Island, Crooked Island and Acklins and other Family Islands for lease to Bahamians with an option to purchase. Facilitate Government-guaranteed loans with Private Sector financial institutions for Bahamian-owned Family Island Resort Developments of five or more rooms, or for other tourism related facilities such as marinas, golf courses and restaurants. Develop port and harbour facilities in West End, Grand Bahama and Bimini to accommodate day cruises by cruise ships from Florida. Declare, for a period of up to three years (July 1, 1997 - June 30, 2,000) economically impoverished islands and communities such as Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island and Long Cay, Cat Island and Exuma and Long Islands, "customs duty free zones" for building materials and construction supplies.