NASSAU, Bahamas — Prime Minister Hubert A Ingraham presented 69 Social Intervention Programmes with grants totalling up to $1 million on behalf of The Bahamas Government at a ceremony at the Paul H. Farquharson Centre, Sunday, April 15.
The presentation of the grants is in keeping with the promise that Prime Minister made in his Address on Crime on October 3, 2011.
He indicated that the Government would make $1 million available for social intervention programmes.
“I had an opportunity to address a number of non-governmental organisations on Thursday, 1st December 2011 when the invitations for proposals was officially issued. We were extremely pleased with the response and proud to make good today on the promise made,” the Prime Minister said.
Attending the presentation ceremony were Minister of Labour and Social Development the Hon. Dion Foulkes; the Minister of Education the Hon Charles Maynard and the Minister of National Security the Hon. Tommy Turnquest.
The Secretary to the Cabinet, Anita Bernard; Financial Controller, Mr. Ehurd Cunningham and other senior level Government officials were also in attendance.
Prime Minister Ingraham said, “The government has recognised the fact that youth gangs, unemployment, marginalization, drug abuse, the economic crisis of 2007 to the present, and rapid urban development, are some of the factors that contribute to youth violence and crime in the cities of Nassau and Freeport.
“To address the issues of unemployment and the economic downturn, this government implemented a number of programmes designed to keep its citizens employed, retrain them for employment, or give them opportunities to become entrepreneurs and thus employers in their own right.”
He added, “The National Job Training and Re-Training Programme and the $750 million infrastructure programme kept many of people employed or is given many persons the skills to become employable. However, this government also fully understands that poverty and unemployment are not valid excuses for all criminal activity.
“I grew up poor as did tens of thousands of other Bahamians. I and they choose not to become criminals.”
The Prime Minister noted that the solution to crime cannot be legislated or policed out of existence, so therefore there must be other ways also to fight or prevent crime.
“It is well known that social intervention in early childhood and the teen years significantly reduces crime. More important than stopping criminals from robbing us, is removing the idea that criminal behaviour is acceptable,” he said.
The government cannot cure the disease of crime without the input of other sectors of society, Prime Minister Ingraham added.
“We must tackle the problem together. As such, The Government of The Bahamas has decided to provide funding for community-based organisations.
“The organisations here today are dedicated to social investment in our urban communities and in particular the young people who live there,” he said.
“Some of them focus on sports, others are church-based community outreach programmes, and still others teach leadership and conflict resolution. What all of these have in common is a commitment to nation-building and the continuation of the Bahamian way of life.”
The Prime Minister explained that the objectives of this Social Intervention programme are to:
Prevent and eliminate violence and crime among urban youth
Implement programmes that transform young people into productive citizens
Help young Bahamians to develop positive identities
Encourage our youth to become economically and socially self-sufficient
Discourage negative behaviours such as dropping out of school, engaging in alcohol or drug abuse and delinquency.
“I would like all of the recipients to note that government officials will monitor and evaluate the success of each (church or civic) organisation on an ongoing basis. It is my expectation that the monies granted will be used responsibly and for the betterment of Bahamians,” Prime Minister Ingraham said.
By Llonella Gilbert
Bahamas Information Services
