NASSAU, The Bahamas — Minister of Labour and Social Development Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes said Prime Minister the Rt Hon. Hubert Ingraham pushed through a major training initiative for scores of Bahamians to the tune of $8 million overall during his recent visit to China to discuss the Baha Mar project.
During his contribution in the Senate on Wednesday Mr Foulkes said, “Such training will have a ripple effect throughout the economy as workers leverage this training to take advantage of many other opportunities to use their new skills for many years to come.”
Thousands of Bahamians, contractors, unskilled and skilled workers and their families will also significantly benefit from the doubling of contracts from $200 million to $400 million, he said. During his visit, the Prime Minister increased opportunities for Bahamian contractors and workers to work on the core project, which was not a part of the deal before he went to China, the Senator explained. There will be a significant increase the number and variety of jobs for Bahamians who will work on the Baha Mar project, he added.
“In doubling the value of the contracts, more Bahamians will be able to meet their mortgage payments, pay school fees, enjoy family vacations, build up their savings and take pride in a hard day’s work,” Mr Foulkes said.
“The doubling of the contracts will add significant value to the Bahamian economy and the well-being of thousands of workers as well as small, medium and large businesses. The doubling of the contracts will engage more professionals with considerable multiplier effects throughout our economy.”
Mr Foulkes also said the present government has helped to secure over 7,000 permanent jobs and countless opportunities for Bahamian professionals once Baha Mar opens. These include professions ranging from information technology to engineering to hotel management to landscaping to architecture and design work.
Further, when Baha Mar comes on stream, there will be the Lynden Pindling International Airport, a new straw market, and a downtown on the upswing, he said.
The new Gateway Road Project will be an entryway road corridor for millions of tourists going to both Atlantis and Baha Mar, Mr Foulkes said. He also broke down the number of Bahamians versus foreign workers employed in major companies around the country. The table shows the ratio.
The Senator also noted that the government has been proactive in launching training programmes for Bahamians. The government launched the first ever-national Retraining Programme. The government is also revamping the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute under new legislation passed this year, he said.
“The new highways, repaved roads, upgraded parks, and vistas to the sea are for the good of the Bahamian people,” Mr Foulkes said. The present government has built and refurbished schools for students and teachers.
“We dredged the harbour and are relocating the port and transforming the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) to improve our tourism product so that the Bahamian people can prosper as the economy recovers.”
Mr Foulkes said the government is doing everything necessary to secure the needs of its people, thus the dock built in a Family Island is for the people of that area. Every clinic built is for the health needs of the people of that community. He said as a part of the government’s nation-building agenda, it has launched the most ambitious infrastructural investment programme in Bahamian history.
“It is designed to secure our economic recovery and improve the quality of life for all Bahamians. It is also intended to upgrade and expand our tourism product and services as Baha Mar and other projects come on stream,” Mr Foulkes said.
By Llonella Gilbert
Bahamas Information Services
