A “Clown” Meeting- Building Now For the Future Bahamas.

On the evening of August 6th, 2009 with great appreciation and anticipation I respectfully attended the Government of The Bahamas Town Meeting to address the following:

 

Part 1: Nassau Harbour Port Improvement Project & New Providence Road Improvement Project.

Part 2: Container Port Relocation/ EIA Impacts /Mitigation.

Part 3: New Providence Downtown Redevelopment Project. 

 

It was evident from the onset that the town meeting was poorly planned and poorly executed.

Many of the presentations were totally irrelevant to the sentiments being expressed in the local media and daily Bahamian dialogue and discussions. 

The size of the room was very inappropriate and it only infuriated the already skeptic audience who were barely able to squeeze themselves into the little “hot” room. Was it intentional, poor planning, or a tactical blunder?  In any event, it gave the impression that it was purposely done that way to limit the public’s attendance and participation.

Based on observation, and listening to many commenting in the ebullient audience, it appears as if the seats were filled early with government officials, their supporters, media personnel, and numerous presenters with no support to the main critical contentious issue that the public came seeking information on principally Part 2. The Container Port Relocation. 

It was also observed by those attending the meeting that to ensure the time was meticulously exhausted and very limited, some of the irrelevant presenters were discombobulated by the heckling as they muddled over their presentations on issues that the public already have accepted and appreciated, that would be Part 3 and some of Part 2. 

It is not the Nassau Harbour Port Improvement Project that the public has an issue with, Bahamians know that this dredging must be done as it is required for this country not only to compete, but also to protect our cruise ship superiority and keep in sync with the changes in the industry. No disrespect intended but The Minister of Tourism and the present Director General of Tourism and Aviation along with a few others should not have been on this program, but at a separate Town Meeting for themselves. Their valuable expensive time which the Bahamian people pay them extremely well for, could have been spent on more productive matters like ensuring all of the Bahamian people money that is being spent on Ms. Universe Pageant, bring back some return as a future investment for the country as well as getting more tourist back into this country, a job which they have mastered in selling to the politicians but not to the tourist.

Unfortunately, they did nothing but “window dressed” their presentation and “killed precious time” off the clock in order to divert attention from the real purpose which the majority of the Bahamian people came to the so called “Town Meeting” for. The Director of BEST, who knows better and is well aware that the Bahamian people know that it takes longer than Five to Ten minutes to present an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) especially one that appears to have a subterfuge motive and is under so much public scrutiny.

Having some degree of understanding in Project planning, Appraisal, and Management it is and remains in my humble opinion that the presentation of Part 2: Container Port Relocation/ EIA Impacts /Mitigation should have been the only item on this Town meeting’s agenda. 

One such project model, developed by Goodman and Love (1979) called The Integrated Project Planning and Management Cycle illustrated that a model has four distinct phases and showed feedback flows of information and authority, and policy connections. The introduction of feedback was a very important contribution because it introduced the idea that the process of project planning could go backward (to redesign the project if necessary) as well as forward. But at this stage of this project which equates to Project Implementation (Project Cycle- Baum 1970) it is truly criminal to come to the public at this stage now that the people resistance accelerated due to lack of information and present a story created through an EIA when mobilization is already completed, and project execution is in progress. 

Any sensible thinking Bahamian can only conclude that they were not considered a Stakeholder in this venture. If the Bahamian people were given any respectable consideration and had the opportunity to address many concerns in the public forum, this project would have been met with far less resistance and a lot of questions would have been appropriately addressed.

An initial Stakeholder Analysis, Problem Tree Analysis or a Logical Framework would have aided in guiding the initiators of this project to include one of the most important components, the Stakeholders who is the Bahamian public and not the identified chosen few.

The activist have right to demonstrate and voice their concerns even though there are preferred ways to remain respectful while accomplishing your purpose without politicizing the issue. The Government has already showed its hand and the project is moving forward.

The voices of the many Bahamians are not being respected, and our questions are not being addressed as  it appears to be a political agenda with a crafty motive, and one of appeasement or payback rather than substantive dialogue to reveal the truth and do what is in the best interest of all and not just a few. Unfortunately and sad to say it appears that we cannot leave politics out of anything in this country because our Politicians seem to become “the experts” once elected and ignore the real experts that tell them where development should take place, and how to proceed to mitigate any negative impacts.

The only thing that can change the direction of the Container Port Relocation and some parts of the New Providence Road Improvement Project that totally disrespected some of our citizens is the people of the Bahamas. We do not need anymore “Clown” meetings, lame duck speeches, waffling politicians both in Government and Opposition.

If the Government can proceed with these projects in such a manner, it is then evidently clear that the Jitneys can be moved immediately off Bay Street, the Straw Market should be finish, the educational system in our country could be improved, medicine should be in the hospital, and every street light should be working.

If the people of the Bahamas don’t want these projects, many shining human examples exist from around the world that stopped major projects for the satisfaction of a few , just take one example and any sensible Bahamian would know exactly what to do!

 

Anthony U Bostwick

 

Comments

[Rhawli Coakley]

Decisions for the future of the Bahamas are made in the interest of those who feel they are the architects and originators of the modern Bahamian society. They just allowed you to mind the store. Don't think you own it just because you can win a constituency or election.

These plans were laid and moved on long before the dredge entered Nassau Harbour. As fluid as a Baltimore Ravens 3-4 defense, from their playbook, they send out the clowns. The clowns are tasked with convincing you that the screw-job you're getting is in your best interest and it'll allow "massa" to provide opportunity for jobs once the entire north shore is redeveloped. Key question....Who owns the entire north shore of New Providence where some $80M(harbour) and $200M(roads leading you north) is being invested? Putting you more in debt so they can continue to own the country. When will my people wake up?

[Belstaff Abbigliamento UOMO]

So fun article is! I know more from it.