From Urban Renewal 1.0 to 2.0 ...in the war against crime in The Bahamas

Urban Renewal Revamp 'An Error'

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

REVAMPING the original Urban Renewal was a “fatal error” in the fight against crime, Social Anthropologist and College of the Bahamas professor Dr Nicolette Bethel told The Tribune.

Her analysis of the country’s crime problem comes as tensions over the issue have escalated, with police officers this week expressing alarm at the murder rate.

Speaking with the Tribune, Dr Bethel said: “Urban Renewal 1.0 was an integrated, multifaceted programme that attempted to take a fundamentally different approach to solving the problems of the inner cities.

“That approach involved bringing government services to a single point in a community, to make it easier for the people who have the fewest resources to have access to the governmental services that they needed.

“The idea was that they could pay light bills and phone bills in the Urban Renewal centres, thus shifting the question of inconvenience on to the people providing the services rather than the people who are supposed to be receiving them.

“The idea was to rethink our approach to the inner cities — rather than seeing those areas and the people who live in them as ‘the ghetto’ and dismissing them, by recognising that not all people who live there are criminals and the law-abiding residents of those areas are on the front line of crime and are menaced by violent criminals long before anybody else is.

“Urban Renewal 1.0 was designed to give the law-abiding citizens real opportunities to gain access to social services and community policing worked on the premise that if you can gain the trust of the law-abiding citizens in a troubled area it becomes far easier to solve, deal with and ultimately prevent crime.

“And the programme was accompanied by some real efforts by psychological professionals to help to heal people who had suffered long-term abuse, brutalisation and so on.

“This core is what I considered revolutionary at the time, and which was removed when Urban Renewal was reformed because it was considered a waste of time and money, and a waste of policemen’s training too, as apparently police are supposed to fight crime, not prevent it.”

“By focusing so much on the criminals, we lose sight of the law-abiding citizens in the same communities, and it is a long time since we have really sought to serve them or meet their real needs.”

Dr Bethel added that the policing of inner city communities that arose after Urban Renewal 1.0 ended helped inspire distrust in inner city communities for authorities.

“Imagine if you were,” she said, “a 12 year old living in inner city Nassau in 2002 and in 2003 all of a sudden police are put into your community and they’re not violent or menacing, they are friendly, father figures who are teaching you music. They are walking around, learning your names and so on and for five years you get to know them.

“Then, when you are 17, they are taken away, and the only replacement are police with guns. How are you ever going to trust your country again? That’s what I think part of the root of this particular kind of violence is.”

What replaced Urban Renewal 1.0 was an idea that urban communities are war zones which are entered by policemen, sometimes in riot gear, brandishing guns and threatening residents, she said.

“I have heard first-hand of the experiences of people who, having the misfortune to live in an area where a crime has been committed and the police are in pursuit of a criminal, have themselves been threatened by those police. One family had their dog shot in front of them, simply because the dog barked at police who were running through the yard in pursuit of a perpetrator.

“I cannot see that as something that would have been likely to happen under Urban Renewal 1.0, and I cannot really blame people who have had that happen to them from mistrusting the police and seeking to fend for themselves.”

She added: “The Urban Renewal programme and community policing programme of the early 2000s are things that could have made a difference. It reached into the communities using tactics not being employed under Urban Renewal 2.0, tactics that were important because there is a huge part of the community that does not feel it is a part of the Bahamian society, a part that does not feel there is a place for them so they make a place for themselves.

“Urban Renewal 1.0 also helped deal with the problem of guns by gaining the trust of people which eventually led police to the guns. That trust is now gone.

“With Urban Renewal 2.0, you have no one dealing with people in an intimate way, just people dealing with houses and the like. I have not found anything reasonable for why people thought Urban Renewal 1.0 wouldn’t work in the long run.

“With 2.0, they took the healing part out of it and they can’t put it back in. You’re not going to get those people back because you have to rebuild trust in the inner city community and that will take time. In 2002 there was hope; in 2014 there is no hope.”

As for criticism of Urban Renewal 1.0, which she said was considered a “waste of time” by many, Dr Bethel said the perceptions that the programme failed could “at least be challenged” since the country’s crime spikes began in 2007, after Urban Renewal 1.0 ended.

Tracing the origins of the country’s crime problems, Dr Bethel said a failure to deal with the then burgeoning gang and drug culture of the 1980s is partly responsible.

She said: “I think this upswing in crime is linked to the gang and drug culture that started in the late 80s; but we knew it was an issue back then, it’s just something we never dealt with. Concepts, issues and ideas were put in place to deal with it but they were resisted.

“At the end of the 80s, one of the responses to the rise in gang culture was a mandatory National Service system for young people. It was vigorously resisted from the then opposition and those who supported them, so for the whole of the 90s we did not deal with the youth gang issue, possibly because the change in government brought about better times; Atlantis came, the economy grew, things were great – but the prosperity did not solve structural issues.

“They just gave people opportunity to do something other than rely on the gangs.

“Now, today, I’m not even sure a National Service programme would work if reintroduced. They missed the opportunity.”

“While there was resistance to the proposed National Service in the 1980s when it was set up as a military programme, the resistance continued even after it was reformulated to be a programme of real service. Perhaps the sticking point was that it was to be mandatory, and many of the more privileged members of the society did not think that their children needed to be included in the programme.

“However, once again, I think the idea was a radical one which might have brought about a little more social cohesion. But who knows?

“Another thing we have done,” she added, “we sent a message that our young people are not worth protecting when we took police out of the schools.

“Too many things are done in our society without understanding the consequences of them or what perception they will create. I don’t think police need to be in the school all the time, but I do think students need to feel safe.

“When we took the police out of the schools we put them on Bay Street to protect the tourists. People are not blind and they got the message loud and clear. The safety of our children is less important than the safety of our visitors. Message received.”

Finally, Dr Bethel said the recent crime problems are unlikely to keep on escalating and called for a reform of the justice system,.

“Crime and violent crime rarely escalate and escalate,” she said. “I think this is a spike. In terms of the response in the short run, I think there needs to be a show of law and an imposition of consequences in a very judicious kind of way.

“Opening the courts will be great, putting police on 12 hour shifts will help clamp down on criminal activity yes, but those are not long term solutions.

“We have a group of men that have learned to fend for themselves because they don’t trust anyone else. They have learned to respond brutally.

“Let’s say you arrest them, rush them through the 10 new courts, then what? Fox Hill Prison cannot accommodate the needs that we have.

“Secondly, I’m not sure the justice system is at all just, not in terms of corruption, but that the people who tend to have the most access to all the options our justice system allows, like bail and appeal, tend to be the people that have committed the most serious crimes.

“The people that have committed the least crimes tend to wait the longest because we a trying to rush the hard criminals through.

“The justice system is not fair to the hapless kid arrested for having marijuana or for stealing somebody’s bicycle. They are the ones waiting on remand for their trial to come up for years in the same prison we put the hard criminals in.

“We need to deal with this. We need to be making the system work and the system just, make it serve the perpetrators, the victims and those that are in between.

“That’s something we need to think about, how we tweak, adjust and reform our justice system.

“In addition, we fall in the habit of de-humanising the perpetrators of these crimes. We need to make it a point to say we are all human and all citizens deserve the same attention.

“And we can’t be changing our minds whenever our government changes; we have to come to some consensus as a society on how to deal with crime,” she said.

January 08, 2014

Tribune 242

Urban Renewal 2.0 is working ...and is succeeding within the inner city areas of New Providence

The success of Urban Renewal 2.0

Dear Editor,

 

It is my humble submission that Urban Renewal 2.0, despite the occasional hiccup, is working and is succeeding within the inner city areas of New Providence. Some of the detractors and others who may subscribe to a politically different view than PLPs are quick to condemn and criticize the value and benefits of the same.

I have long held that a massive police presence within the urban renewal program is crucial to its success or otherwise. The bulk of our home grown criminals and other societal miscreants live and operate within our local communities. Generally speaking, we know who they are and many of them look just like us.

With the police actively patrolling on the ground, petty crimes have been noticeably reduced. The occasional alleged homicides are still occurring, especially as they may relate to domestic disputes. It would be difficult if not impossible for the police or other components of urban renewal to stop a domestically related offense because no one knows in advance what a perpetrator may or may not do within the confines of a residence.

Housebreaking, purse snatching and crimes which could be committed in public, however, are a different kettle of fish. A heavy police presence, the demolition of abandoned and derelict buildings have brought relief to many within their respective inner city communities.

In addition, the active partnering between the police and other components has led to the ‘discovery’ of individuals who are living in sub-human conditions and crime havens. It has also increased the capability of the police to gather crucial intelligence from members of the respective communities.

Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis (PLP-Cat Island) is to be commended, along with all of the related components and individuals, for the magnificent work currently being done within Urban Renewal 2.0. The recent appointments of Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt and Algernon S.P.B. Allen, both former members of Parliament and Cabinet ministers will prove to be the icing on the proverbial cake.

They are both passionate about our people on the ground and have both been active in ministries which have impacted tens of thousands of ordinary Bahamians. Indeed, they are both products of the inner city and are able to empathize with those who continue to live, work and play therein. Prime Minister Perry Gladstone Christie (PLP-Centreville) made an excellent choice with their timely appointments.

With the success of Urban Renewal 2.0, however, there must be strict compliance within the law. Buildings should not and cannot be demolished without the consent of the certified owners and/or the appropriate court order. Petty criminals must be assured of proper investigations by the police and, where charged, they must be brought before a competent court in short order. Allegations of police brutality should and must be kept to the minimum.

The Ministry of Social Development has its work cut out. It is a vital partner within Urban Renewal 2.0. The Minister and her hard working staff must ensure that those who apply for assistance are, in fact, qualified to so do and not merely seeking to fleece the public purse. Jobless individuals must be integrated into a job training skills program and weaned off expectations of living “the life of Riley” without having to work for it.

Where we find overt alcoholics and drug addicts, they must be persuaded to allow themselves to be institutionalized and seek out-patient treatment. A casual observation would reveal that a large percentage of the residents of New Providence are hooked on something of an addictive nature. Too much productivity is being lost and low productivity is killing the gross domestic product (GDP).

Conflict resolution courses within our schools and civic organizations, especially the collective church, must be mandated. Statistics have shown that many conflicts, both within the home and the wider society, could be avoided and/or reduced if individuals were taught just how to resolve relatively simple conflicts before they escalate into serious matters.

I wish to thank all stake holders on the apparent success, so far of Urban Renewal 2.0 and encourage them to continue their stellar work on behalf of a grateful Bahamian people.

Yes, Utopia will not come about any time soon but as The Bahamas continues to evolve as a nation, if we all do our part and play whatever role we are able to perform best, I have absolutely no doubt that we are on the right track.

 

— Ortland H. Bodie Jr.

August 17, 2012

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

Urban Renewal and its success benefits the entire society ...and so every effort has to be made to involve, structurally, civil society ...so that it remains at all times a project of, for and by the Bahamian people ...says - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development ...the Hon. Philip Davis

By Eric Rose
Bahamas Information Services

DPM Davis Gives Update On Urban Renewal Commission

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis told the House of Assembly, on July 25, 2012, that, within the first 30 days following the 2012 General Election, Community Policing was returned to ‘Urban Renewal’ in New Providence working out of established Urban Renewal Centres and, within 45 days, Community Policing was returned to ‘Urban Renewal’ in Grand Bahama.

“Within 60 days the Urban Renewal Commission was established and the Co-Chairs of the Commission announced and presented to the Nation,” Deputy Prime Minister Davis said, during his Communication in the House.

“Dr. Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt and Mr. Algernon Allen have graciously agreed to serve as Co-Chairpersons of the Urban Renewal Commission.

“They have begun their work, recently traveling to Freeport for the official launch of the Commission’s work in Grand Bahama when we were all happily joined by the creator of the first Urban Renewal effort a decade ago and its continuing biggest booster, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister (Perry G. Christie)."

Deputy Prime Minister Davis added that the Chairpersons of the Urban Renewal Commission bring their “outstanding and unique talents and history to this critical programme”.

“Urban Renewal is first and foremost about ‘caring’. Both of these eminent persons have exhibited a life of service,” he said.

Dr. Pratt’s life, Deputy Prime Minister Davis added, is legendary, first from her own struggles growing up, to how she approached each impediment not as a problem but rather as a challenge to accomplish something good, resulting in her own incredible achievements in sports, academics, politics, civil society and in her faith community.

He said she assisted “literally hundreds” of young people with no hope of an academic career, finding the possibility through the combination of her helping hand and their ambition and hard work, permitting them to secure university education – with many going on to achieving doctorates in many disciplines.

“Cynthia Pratt is truly a remarkable woman and a woman who always chose to look at what was possible rather than the negatives,” Deputy Prime Minister Davis said. “She brings this dedication, dynamism and sensitivity to the needs of her fellow citizens who live in the areas encompassed by the Urban Renewal Centres as her responsibility in this new venture.”

Deputy Prime Minister Davis added that Mr. Algernon Allen, too, comes from a similar challenged background.

“He is one who set out to achieve in his profession in the law and in the political life of our Bahamas,” Deputy Prime Minister Davis said. “He acknowledges that he remains a ‘political son’ to his mentor, Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, while he is a ‘philosophical brother’ to (Prime Minister) Perry Christie.

“Mr. Allen will be particularly remembered for his work in the ‘ONE BAHAMAS’ campaign and for his efforts to promote projects designed to provide for the needs of young people, those ‘precious jewels’ of The Bahamas.”

He added that the Permanent Secretaries of the "social" Ministries and other Ministries necessary to ensure the proper co-ordination of Government resources required to bring relief to citizens in need are members of the Commission, so that there is no lapse in communication.

“Urban Renewal is at the core of this Government’s Social Mission and every effort is being developed to ensure that there is never any doubt on the part of any agencies of the Government of this dedication,” he said.

The eight members of the Commission who are to be selected by “civil society” are expected to be named shortly, Deputy Prime Minister Davis added. The Co-Chairpersons of the Commission are now in the process of extending the formal invitations to nominate persons to serve, he said.

He added: “The intention here is very simple: Urban Renewal and its success benefits the entire society and so every effort has to be made to involve, structurally, civil society so that it remains at all times a project of, for and by The Bahamian people.”

July 26, 2012

Bahamas.gov.bs

Caribbean Blog International

Urban Renewal 2.0 is bigger than politics ...and for it to work effectively it has to be “above politics” ... says Prime Minister Perry Christie

Renewal 'Bigger Than Politics'

 

By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport  Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net


FREEPORT - Prime Minister Perry Christie says Urban Renewal 2.0 is bigger than politics and for it to work effectively it has to be “above politics”.

“Our politics must always take second place to the essential issue of moving the Bahamas forward,” Mr Christie said on Wednesday at the official launch of the programme in Grand Bahama at the Hilton Outten Convention Centre.

 Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, and other cabinet ministers, including National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin, and Labour Minister Shane Gibson were also present.

Mr Christie expressed his complete confidence in the appointment of Algernon Allen, former FNM Cabinet minister, and Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, former PLP Deputy Prime Minister, to head the Urban Renewal commission.

He said both are distinguished Bahamians who have a feel for people and who have the capacity to rise above politics.

“As Prime Minister, I have to call on the all the people regardless of their politics. The MPs in Grand Bahama all of them should understand that it is bigger than them.  

“We are all in transition and this is about establishing a culture in this country where young men know that if they walk into somebody’s house and rape or try to rape, they will be caught and they will be severely punished.

“This is the reason why in our selection for the leaders of the Urban Renewal commission, we chose two distinguish Bahamians – Algernon Allen, a former minister in the FNM government, is that he has demonstrated in a public capacity a feel for people, and young people in this country.

“And co-leader, Cynthia Pratt, who served as DPM, brings to this mission an incredible feel for people and one, who I think, like Algernon, has the capacity to rise above politics.”

In his remarks, Mr Allen said he comes “as a spiritual son of Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, but also a philosophical brother of Prime Minister Perry Christie.”  

He said that Urban Renewal is about changing lives – transforming a home, a street, and a community and uplifting those in need.

“This will be above politics. We send a clarion call to all to join us,” Mr Allen said.

July 19, 2012

Tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

...if Urban Renewal fails, The Bahamas is in trouble: ...Prime Minister Perry Christie defends the past record and relevance of the award-winning and “intelligence-driven” Urban Renewal programme

Government Defends Record Of Urban Renewal Programme


Tribune242:

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday defended the past record and relevance of the award-winning and “intelligence-driven” Urban Renewal programme yesterday.

Underscoring the prevalence of Bahamians still living in substandard conditions, Mr Christie said that the focus should be placed on alleviating social ills rather than trying to assign culpability.

“We can debate the question of why didn’t you fix this Christie or why didn’t you fix it Ingraham, and we can get lost in that debate, but the fact of the matter is it needs to be fixed now,” he said.

“The government of The Bahamas does not, by the policies it has implemented, know what’s happening in the communities, the strategies, the policies, do not embrace knowledge of what is happening. Therefore if you do not have public policy informed properly and accurately, it’s not relevant to what’s happening.

He added: “Urban Renewal enables the people in charge of a district to go to every home in that district and make an assessment of every home in the district, if they do that and they inform the relevant ministries, then the point I made about uninformed policies will be no more.”

Former deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and former FNM cabinet minister Algernon Allen were appointed as chairpersons during a special ceremony yesterday.

The success of the programme was vital to the country’s tourism industry, according to Mrs Pratt, who among others recounted the formative stages and early successes of the programme.

“The police was not brought in mainly to arrest people,” she said.

“They came and they wore many caps because many of our young people are delinquent, no guidance, no direction. They need somebody to take them and sit them down and talk to them and the police did exactly that.

“They were guardians, they were fathers, they were friends, and so they were able to get these same notorious young men to turn and to change.” she added.

Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin confirmed that social workers will be stationed in each district.

With the commission appointed, Mr Christie added that he hoped Rhodes scholar Desiree Cox, the programme’s former head of research, will return and participate in its further development.

“Urban Renewal,” said Mr Christie, “is a living programme, not a textbook programme. It is grounded in the community and the experiences of the community and that is the reason why I asked police officers to head it initially. The experience you have from the streets alone is an education you cannot get in the classroom.”

“Being a part of Urban Renewal,” said Mrs Pratt, “is like the veins running through the body, if Urban Renewal fails this country is in trouble. This country is dependent on tourism, if people do not come here because of the crime then we’re in trouble, we must succeed, we cannot afford to say ‘if’, we must.”

July 12, 2012

Tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

Social Services has always been a major component of Urban Renewal ...and it’s the same with Urban Renewal 2.0. - says Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin

Minister points to signs of increasing poverty

By Krystel Rolle
Guardian Staff Reporter
krystel@nasguard.com

There is a growing number of people who are homeless or reside in poor living conditions throughout New Providence, according to Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin.

“One of the most glaring issues is definitely homelessness or persons living in houses that are not conducive to human existence with no light, no water and in many cases there are no facilities for waste,” she told The Nassau Guardian on Monday.

While Griffin could not provide the figures, she said many Bahamians live in such conditions and the number continues to grow.

Griffin said the social workers attached to Urban Renewal 2.0 — a program which tackles social issues in communities — have reported the increase.

She said the majority of people who live in poor conditions do not seek assistance from the government.

“A lot of people would just rather stay in their conditions,” the minister said.

“They may not come to [the Department of] Social Services. If they come into the center, they may say ‘I need food’ and Social Services would deal with the food situation, but they would not tell you about the conditions in which they live. So the hands on in the community is good.”

She said that before Urban Renewal was relaunched, the Ministry of Social Services already had a “critical staff shortage”.

“We need extra manpower,” she said.

Griffin highlighted staff shortages following her appointment in May.

She said the economic downturn and the rise in the unemployment rate resulted in thousands of people turning to the government for help over the last five years.

“Staffing issues have crippled the Ministry of Social Services,” Griffin said at the time.

“Social Services has always been a major component of Urban Renewal and it’s the same with Urban Renewal 2.0.

“Social workers are the nuts and bolts of Urban Renewal in that we have trained social workers who are designated to each outreach center.

“We still have to find the manpower in order to meet the needs of Urban Renewal 2.0.”

Griffin said the Department of Social Services has also seen a “major, major” increase in applications for rent assistance.

But Griffin hopes that as the economy rebounds fewer people will be looking for help.

Jul 04, 2012

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

...the positive impact of Urban Renewal 2.0 in many inner city communities of The Bahamas

'We Are Already Seeing Effects Of Urban Renewal'

 

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said authorities have already started to see the positive effects of Urban Renewal 2.0 in many inner city communities.

Dr Nottage gave the update following the opening ceremony of the RBPF's 19th annual summer youth programme.

Speaking specifically about the Bain and Grants Town constituency, which he represents as a Member of Parliament, Dr Nottage said the initiative is already making a significant impact on violent crime.

He said the evidence is there in the police crime reports sent to the media every day.

"If you notice from the police crime reports, especially over the past two weeks, there has been more mention of the discovery of weapons and ammunition. This is because we have people coming forward and telling authorities which area and in what places certain kinds of behaviours occur," he said.

Many persons, Dr Nottage said, are growing accustomed to an active police presence in their communities.

Urban Renewal 2.0 was one of the PLP's major campaign promises in the lead-up to the 2012 general elections.

Although some uneasiness was expressed at the launch of the programme, many residents in various communities have expressed high hopes for its success.

Two weeks ago, Inspector Rolle, head of the Urban Renewal project for Bain and Grants Town, said his team aimed to foster good relationships with residents.

"It's all about crime prevention," he said. "We are looking at crime from the perspective of the environment and we have concluded that in addition to fixing dilapidated buildings and removing derelict vehicles, we have to do our best to provide persons within the community with jobs."

Asked about the initiative, one resident, Tamika Roberts, expressed her support.

"It's a good thing," she said. "The police presence is a deterrent to crime in inner communities. When the police is around, criminals refuse to commit crime."

July 03, 2012

Tribune242 

Caribbean Blog International

Urban Renewal 2.0 is a direct response to past and current problems facing a number of inner city communities in The Bahamas ...such as crime, poor housing conditions, joblessness, illiteracy, homelessness, and other social ills that contribute to crime and anti-social behavior

What Urban Renewal 2.0 Will Mean For The Bahamas
tribune242


The commissioner of police's statement on Urban Renewal:

THE flagship Urban Renewal 2.0 Programme is a direct response to past and current problems facing a number of inner city communities in the Bahamas such as crime, poor housing conditions, joblessness, illiteracy, homelessness, and other social ills that contribute to crime and anti-social behavior.

The project is the brainchild of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Perry Gladstone Christie and it has the full support of the commissioner of police, the executive management team, and all members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The tenets of Urban Renewal 2.0 are included in the Commissioner's Policing Plan for 2012 and are clearly delineated under priorities one, two and three.

The Urban renewal Community Based Policing programme is one of the most ambitious crime prevention programmes in the Bahamas.

It is a comprehensive approach to crime, antisocial behavior, and community safety.

It emphasises both innovation and integration of efforts and resources by a wide range of agencies and the community at large.

Objectives of the Urban Renewal Project

• To prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime in the community.


• To identify and tackle the main causes of the social conditions which promote the occurrence of crime and deviant behavior.


• To examine and improve the quality of life and the social and environmental conditions of high crime communities.


• To involve the community in problem-solving and empower citizens to play an active role in their communities.


• To identify the problems facing our young people and to engage them in positive activities and programmes geared toward making them productive citizens.

A brief history of the Urban Renewal Pilot Project

Urban Renewal was first launched as a pilot project in the constituency of Prime Minister Perry Christie, called Farm Road, in June 2002.

The community was identified as the pilot area because it showed trends that were prevalent in other communities in the Bahamas such as crime, social ills and urban decay.

Within just six short weeks of its inception, police officers assigned to the Farm Road Project visited every household and business establishment in the community.

They collected data and intelligence on environmental concerns, health issues, housing problems and criminal activities.

The police team was later joined by representatives from the Department of Social Services, the Ministry of Housing, Health Services and the Ministry of Works.

The team removed derelict vehicles, organised the demolition of abandoned buildings, dismantled street drug peddling groups, and arrested a number of prolific offenders. These initiatives resulted in a significant reduction in crime.

Within one year of the project's inception, the team established computer literacy centres, a youth marching band, a community development association and the national Urban Renewal Commission.

It also set up similar projects in eight other areas of New Providence, five in Grand Bahama and one in Abaco.

The team was awarded the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police Motorola Community Policing Award in May 2003 and won two other community policing awards from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

Role of the police in Urban Renewal

Members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force who are assigned to the Urban Renewal 2.0 Programme have an expanded scope of police work which includes crime, the fear of crime, quality of life offences, social and physical disorder, and community decay.

These officers are expected to use a full range of talents, skills and abilities to not only prevent and interdict crime, but to also enlarge their role and become community problem-solvers.

About community policing

Community policing focuses on bringing the police and citizens together to prevent crime and solve neighborhood problems. In community policing, the emphasis is on preventing crime.

Preventing crime is a big job. The police are more effective when they can depend on residents for help.

Community policing calls for a commitment to improving the quality of life in neighborhoods. Community Resource Officers (CRO) look to residents for help in solving neighborhood problems.

In essence, community policing gives citizens more control over the quality of life in their community.

General duties and activities of the police under the programme

• Directed patrol - patrols are specific and intelligence driven, designed to deal with existing and emerging problems in the community. These patrols can be done on foot or in vehicles to facilitate communication and the building of relationships between the officers and community members.


• Community involvement - Urban Renewal officers must build trusting relationships and partnerships with community members to address their specific problems.


• Identifying and prioritising problems - community members are encouraged provide officers with information about the problems they face and work with them prioritise issues and problems.


• Reporting - the Urban Renewal officer must share information with other police officers as well as the RBPF generally and with special sections (DEU, CDU, CIB, SIB, et cetera) about the specifics of his community.


• Organising - organising activities oriented to specific problems and working to enhance the overall quality of life in the community.


• Communicating - there are both formal and informal sessions aimed at educating people about crime prevention and other issues as well as managing communication with the media.


• Conflict resolution - the Urban Renewal officer mediates, negotiates and resolves conflicts formally and informally (and challenges people to begin resolving problems on their own).
• Referrals - the officer refers problems to specialised agencies.


• Visiting - Urban Renewal officers make frequent visits to homes and businesses to recruit help and to educate.


• Recruiting and supervising volunteers - the Urban Renewal officer works with volunteers to address social problems affecting the community.


• Proactive projects - the Urban Renewal officer works along with the community to solve both long-term and short-term problems aimed at improving the quality of life.


• Targeting special groups - Urban Renewal police officers will focus on special groups in the community such as the elderly, youth, women, physically challenged persons and the homeless.


• Targeting disorder - Urban Renewal officers place specific emphasis on social and physical disorders and the degradation of neighbourhoods.


• Networking with the private sector - the Urban Renewal officer actively communicates with and solicits the assistance of the business community for services and volunteer work.


• Get to know people - the Urban Renewal officers form relationships with residents so as to learn about their concerns and to build confidence and trust between citizens and the police.




June 05, 2012

In all honesty, the idea of urban renewal cannot be claimed as being the brainchild of either the Christie or Ingraham administrations... It preceded both by many years... In fact, Urban Renewal in the broadest sense of the word was the brainchild of Sir Stafford Sands, the creator of this country's tourism and financial industries

A people betrayed, says Ed Moxey, of the Pindling years

tribune242 editorial




THE PANACEA to all this country's social problems is Urban Renewal, PLP-style. The constant cry of the PLP is that the FNM came along, stole the PLP's idea, destroyed it and, in so doing, opened a Pandora's box of destruction for these islands. Everything, including escalating crime, both in the streets and in the schools, can be blamed on the elimination of the PLP's novel idea -- Urban Renewal.

For their part, the FNM maintains that although police patrols were removed from the school campus, the structure of urban renewal was not destroyed, but rather improved upon and broadened.

In all honesty, the idea of urban renewal cannot be claimed as being the brainchild of either the Christie or Ingraham administrations. It preceded both by many years.

In fact, Urban Renewal in the broadest sense of the word was the brainchild of Sir Stafford Sands, the creator of this country's tourism and financial industries.

In a conversation with Sir Stafford shortly after the UBP lost the government to the PLP in 1967, he assured us that he was leaving a financially healthy government. All the PLP had to do, he said, was to sit on their hands and let all his party's plans go through and the country would be in good shape. However, if they got itchy fingers and started tinkering, everything could collapse.

Sir Stafford Sands was a five-year planner. A brilliant, and well organised man, he always worked on a five-year plan. So when the PLP came in, they would have found that tourism conventions, and functions had been booked for five years into the future and the Public Treasury was financially sound. Sir Foley Newns, the able colonial British administrator, who had worked with Sir Stafford as Cabinet Secretary from 1963, was kept on by the PLP until 1971, just one year short of Sir Stafford's five-year programme. Slippage started after he left.

Sir Stafford, the Minister of Finance in Sir Roland Symonette's government, with the approval of his colleagues, commissioned a Development Plan of New Providence Island and the City of Nassau in the summer of 1966. Working through the United Nations, Columbia University's division of Urban Planning in its School of Architecture was engaged to do the work.

What resulted was a magnificent, detailed, beautifully presented transformation of this island -- down to where every underground pipe was to be laid. It also provided for population growth. It was unfortunate that it was completed and returned to the Bahamas in the spring of 1967 after the UBP had been voted out of office. However, every member of the House of Assembly received a copy. And there it died.

"If it had been implemented," said Mr Moxey in his documentary, "the plan would transform over the hill, in particular the Grants Town community, installing a sewer system, and laying out the city centre, in a way seen only in Grand Bahama and Mathew Town, Inagua. There would be green spaces and bike paths, and streets dedicated to the children of New Providence."

About 13 years later, Arthur Hanna, then deputy prime minister, explained the reasons for the plans not being considered. He said it was because "there was no cost assessed for the implementation of the plan; no one was identified to pay the cost, and there was no suitable organisational administrative mechanism for translating the plans into reality".

On that statement alone -- exposing both incompetence and lack of imagination -- the PLP government should have been fired. A master plan had been put in the their laps, and they were waiting for a fairy godmother to show them how to use it.

The UBP government's urban renewal plan was introduced by Ed Moxey, a former member of the PLP Cabinet at that time, in his documentary, which had its premier showing on Sunday night in which he recorded his personal sacrifices to try to save Jumbey Village for the upliftment of his people. In the end, he lost the battle, but not his integrity -- although Sir Lynden also tried to take that from him. In his documentary Mr Moxey told how Sir Lynden had betrayed a trusting people, and the price that he personally had to pay for having an idea that dwarfed his party leader's myopic thinking.

Last night, Mr Moxey in speaking of Sir Stafford's plans, which preceded his own vision for Jumbey Village, had this to say:

"It is unfortunate that the Urban Renewal Study and programme initiated by Sir Stafford Sands for the black masses of Bahamians was trampled under the feet of our leaders and advocates of the Quiet Revolution in 1967.

"It is like I said 25 years ago, the revolution was betrayed and after 45 years of majority rule our people over the hill still live in substandard conditions using outside toilets and water pumps. Oh, my Lord, what a shame!"

Is this the unsound bridge that Opposition Leader Perry Christie has invited Bahamians to cross with him into the future? We hope not.

March 22, 2012

BACKBENCHERS DISILLUSIONED BY GOVT - MOXEY

tribune242 editorial

Caribbean Blog International

Community policing, Urban Renewal and The Bahamas' crime problem

tribune242 editorial



ANY POLITICAL party that tells a community that Urban Renewal, whether it be Urban Renewal 2.0 or 4.04, is a quick fix for this country's crime problem is fooling the people by encouraging them to clutch at moonbeams.

This is not to denigrate Urban Renewal, which is a long-term solution, the effects of which will probably not be able to be properly assessed until the next generation.

However, for those who want to see the ugly head of crime crushed with the utmost speed, community policing is one of the many answers. In fact, community policing - the initiative of the Royal Bahamas Police Force - morphed into Urban Renewal and, unfortunately, into the arms of politicians during the Christie administration.

We have been told that the Urban Renewal programme received an international award. In fact, it was not Urban Renewal that received the award from the International Association of Commissioners of Police (IACP). Rather, it was the Royal Bahamas Police Force. And this was how their community initiative was described in the IACP's 1999-2006 report: "The Royal Bahamas Police Force worked with area residents to form a community task force comprising officers, members of local churches, the business community, residents, and reformed gang members. The task force patrolled the streets on foot, and in vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week, leaving criminals little time or space in which to operate."

Now this is where Urban Renewal came in: "The task force," said the IACP, "also worked with the Departments of Social Services, Housing, Environmental Health, and Public Works to improve living conditions."

One of the award winners was Farm Road's marching band, started by the police with the assistance of business persons. There was no political affiliation with this programme. The boast today of the Eastern Division's marching band, again a police creation, is that they are of award-winning standard. When Urban Renewal came along, the police continued their community policing programmes, but got diverted to add muscle to the work of social workers who government had introduced into the various communities under the name of Urban Renewal. Of course, things moved more efficiently when backed by a police officers' orders.

For example, if an Environmental department employee gave instructions for the removal of derelict cars, they could expect some "lip". But for the order to come from a police officer, it was a "yes, suh" and a shuffle into speedy action.

However, one of the many criticisms of what is now known as Urban Renewal was that the workers who were attached to the programme were especially selected by PLP politicians. It was soon discovered that serious people were sitting around a table having discussions with persons who could hardly read or write.

It did not take the Ingraham administration long to understand how community policing had been hijacked. As a result, the police were removed from the social services side of the programmes and sent back to doing what they did best and for which they had won an international award -- community policing. That does not mean that if needed the various social services cannot call on them for assistance. They are called on, and they do respond.

According to Mr Christie, the urban renewal programme established by his government offered people hope. It had had noteworthy results in communities in which it had been established. He promised that if returned he would renew Urban Renewal with a stepped-up programme -- Urban Renewal 2.0.

"There is a compelling need in this country for us to recognise that we are out of control with crime and that we do know the influences that are affecting the young people," Mr Christie told members of the House in discussing the various crime bills then being debated.

Meanwhile, the police are continuing with their community programmes - among them after-school programmes for young people. There are the after-school programmes in the Eastern Division, highlighting Fox Hill, the Western Division, and the Central division with the 242 model programme for young people with behavioural challenges. The Southern Division has included in its programmes a Crime Watch Group for business persons to assist them in patrolling their businesses.

And so social services -- a branch of Urban Renewal -- continues with its programmes in the communities, while the police are now free to step up their community programmes in addition to tracking down criminals.

November 01, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Caribbean Blog International

The PLPs believe that their Urban Renewal policy, which is still in existence in a new form, is the answer to all prayers... They are fooling themselves... The social deterioration in this society is so deep that it will take more than urban renewal to bring it back to health

Crime should not be used by politicians

tribune242 editorial



IT would be a tragedy if this country's escalating crime were to become an election football.

Crime in the Bahamas has been steadily building from the politically violent sixties into the drug violent seventies and eighties until it is now hitting a crescendo in our time.

The PLP believe that their Urban Renewal policy, which is still in existence in a new form, is the answer to all prayers. They are fooling themselves. The social deterioration in this society is so deep that it will take more than urban renewal to bring it back to health.

"The government must send a clear and strong message to criminals that they will be swiftly caught and swiftly punished and I am not satisfied that this is being done under this present government," Opposition Leader Perry Christie told a press conference, called yesterday to discuss the escalating crime.

Maybe justice under this government is not swift enough for Mr Christie, but nor was it swift enough during Mr Christie's administration when the backlog of court cases grew out of all manageable proportions.

Under both governments -- PLP and FNM-- we have been complaining about the justice system. In our opinion it needs a complete overhaul.

So on this score, no fingerpointing can be justified.

The problem on our streets is obvious - most crimes are being committed by criminals killing criminals, all out on bail when they should be behind prison walls. And as the Commissioner of Police has often commented, the police can't be blamed. They do their part by arresting and taking the offenders to the bar of the court, where the lawyers with their crocodile tears bleat for their release, and the courts send them on their merry way to terrorise society. Witnesses could not be killed, if those who threaten them were in jail.

We hope that when the House reconvenes after the summer recess legislation will be introduced to curb the courts in its release of persons who could be a danger to society. When that debate takes place there shouldn't be a squeak from the Opposition about interfering with a judge's discretion.

The only way to cut down on many of these murders is to keep these persons with long criminal records in prison until trial -- not only for society's sake, but, as has already been shown by the number of their bodies in the morgue, for their own sakes.

And if judges will not exercise their discretion with this objective in mind, then legislation is the only solution. Society cannot have it both ways.

The same analogy can be drawn by the rules that now have to be followed when one travels by air. No one likes to be searched -- it is demeaning and interferes with a person's rights and freedoms. However, for the sake of safety, travellers are willing to relinquish some of their freedoms.

It is the same with the judiciary when one has to make a choice between the exercise of a magistrate's discretion and the mayhem on the streets. We can't have criminals laughing at the courts.

They must understand that if they do wrong they will be punished -- swiftly and severely. And until their date in court, they will be incarcerated, not out on the streets pushing up the murder count.

In the meantime, this society has to be analysed as to what has gone wrong, what has caused us to move from a once courteous, decent people to what we see today.

To find a cure, we need parents, teachers, psychiatrists and a whole gamut of professionals to work together to try to save the next generation.

Persons complain that no one respects our institutions. That is true, and the reason is that many of the people who head them do not understand that in their positions they have to lead by example -- if they do not respect themselves, or their organisation, they cannot expect anyone else to have respect. Members of the House of Assembly should take note.

The breakdown of family life is our greatest tragedy - no father in the home, the mother out to work and the children left at home to join the village gang. In the old days when the mother was at work, the grandparents took care of the children.

Today children are having illegitimate children, so that when the young mother is at work, the grandmother is still young enough to hold down a job and so is the great grandmother.

As a result no one is at home to guide and correct little Suzy and Johnny. A great burden is put on the schools, not only to teach these little ones their ABC's, but also their manners, to point out what is right and wrong, and to make them understand that for every right there is a corresponding duty, and when they break the code, there are consequences, and those consequences can be serious.

Instead of pointing the finger of blame, these politicians should get back to basics. They should start with an examination of themselves, determined to lead by example, and then move on to helping society get back on course.

September 16, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Caribbean Blog International

Urban Renewal Facts

Stating the ‘facts’ on urban renewal

Dear Editor,

The Ministry of Labour and Social Development, which has responsibility for the urban renewal program, has taken note of the references to the urban renewal program in a press release by the Progressive Liberal Party issued on August 17, 2011 under the caption, "FNM not in control of crime, failed to fund urban renewal," and in the stories in the print and electronic media, and it issues the following statement in response.

Firstly, the ministry wishes to inform the public that in New Providence, eight urban renewal centers were operational under the former government in the following communities: Fox Hill, Kemp Road, Nassau Village, Englerston, St. Cecilia, Farm Road, Bain and Grants Town and Fort Charlotte.  None of these centers were closed by the government and six, including the Nassau Village center, continue to operate from the same location as they did under the former government.  A ninth center was opened in Pinewood Gardens in 2008.

In Grand Bahama, six centers were operational under the former government, all of which are still open and four continue to operate from the same location as they did under the former government.  A seventh center was opened in Seahorse Village in 2008.

Secondly, there has never been any failure by the government to fund urban renewal.  Funds for the program have been allocated on a annual basis since 2007 as follows:

• 2006/2007 - $2,450,000

• 2007/2008 - $2,500,000

• 2008/2009 - $3,000,000

• 2009/2010 - $2,800,000

• 2010/2011 & 2011/2012 - $2,301,822.

The current allocation was based on the pattern of expenditure over the previous years.

The urban renewal program continues to operate a number of community based programs.

As has been the case for the past three years, all of the centers in New Providence held a summer program for children in July 2011 at a public school in the community where the center is located.   Almost two full pages of photographs of some of the activities of the camps were recently featured in the print media.  In Grand Bahama, the camps were held for two weeks during the month of July 2011.

All centers in New Providence and Grand Bahama continue to operate afterschool programs during the school year, and since May 2011 a number of teachers have been engaged as tutors in an effort to enhance the quality of instruction.

Similarly, a number of qualified musicians have been engaged as band instructors for New Providence and Grand Bahama to enhance the competence of band members.  In Grand Bahama, the Royal Bahamas Police Force still provides assistance with the bands.

In Grand Bahama, as an extension of the urban renewal sewing program, a school uniform sewing workshop was introduced in August 2010 to provide instruction to persons in the making of school uniforms under the direction of a trained seamstress.

The workshop was a tremendous success and the 2011 workshop is currently in progress.  In Grand Bahama, an employability skills program is also offered, which provides instruction for unemployed persons in a number of areas, including office procedures and computer applications.

The urban renewal program continues to partner with other government agencies, including the Department of Social Services, the Department of Environmental Health Services and the Royal Bahamas Police Force for the delivery of services and the operation of programs.  Joint activities include, community walkabouts to identify problems and the means by which they can be addressed.

The program also continues to partner with community based organizations.  For the past several years, a church in Nassau Village has served as a home base for the band as is the case with Ft. Charlotte.  A number of churches also serve as meeting places for the senior citizen's associations.  The ministry wishes to remind the public that a comprehensive report on the urban renewal program was tabled in Parliament in October 2009.

The ministry acknowledges with appreciation the continued support of communities where urban renewal centers are located for the program and the public and private sector partners who assist with the implementation of programs.

 

Yours, etc.,

The Ministry of Labour and Social Development

Aug 19, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

To Messrs Keith Bell and Dion Smith, Mrs. Hope Strachan and company: Urban Renewal 1.0 is still live until the public is fully appraised about its dirty secrets under the Perry Christie administration of 2002-2007

By Dennis Dames


If Urban Renewal was so great, wonderful and rewarding under the Christie administration – [2002-2007], why did the respective communities and their so call concerned residents, business owners and pastors abruptly ceased to be active and kind after the PLP lost in 2007?

The award winning programme under the Christie government has proven itself to be an elaborate gravy train and a hoax.

I have been with the government’s Urban Renewal Programme since 2008, and I have found out that in the respective districts of which we serve, they are filled with people who are chronically dependent on the administration for their every need. They are not interested in togetherness, and doing excellent things for themselves and their neighbors.

Divisiveness is the order of the day, and politics is the official religion and driving force in the lives of dwellers in the respect Urban districts.

Pastors are too political to notice that their constituencies and flock need them; and residents are too occupied with messing-up one another, instead of being industrious and considerate citizens.

We in the Urban Renewal Programme are essentially community facilitators. We are in the particular areas to help residents to better themselves and their surroundings. We are not room service waiters; nor do we subscribe to the notion that Bahamians must be spoon fed by their Members of Parliament and government.

Our vision is to make a lasting impact on those to whom we serve, and to motivate them to be enduring citizens of the peace and prosperity. When we would have moved on, our desire is to leave in place durable programs like the after school initiative, the seniors association, the employment assistance scheme and others that are eternally embraced by the various communities, and their motivated and useful residents.

When the PLP lost the general election of 2007, almost everyone involved with Urban Renewal, and helping their communities in a so called positive light just vanished in the thin air.

It’s wickedness and corruption on the part of those individuals; especially pastors!

This is the reason why the country is in its deplorable state; people today are not genuine and most of us are only concerned about ourselves period.

Now, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is talking about Urban Renewal 2.0 if they win the next general election. Not so fast Messrs. Keith Bell and Dion Smith, Mrs. Hope Strachan and company.

We have not finished talking about Urban Renewal 1.0 yet.

Why is it for example, that certain police officers were given their walking-papers after the Free National Movement (FNM) won the 2007 general election for their unacceptably corrupt contributions to the Christie award winning Urban Renewal Programme?

Why is it that every bank account concerning the award winning Urban Renewal Programme was closed by May 03, 2007 by crooked operatives? How much money was involved and what happen to those funds?

Yes, Urban Renewal 1.0 is still live until the public is fully appraised about its dirty secrets under the Perry Christie administration of 2002-2007.

Caribbean Blog International

The Christian People Movement has joined forces with the Bahamas Constitution Party (BCP)

BCP to take part in general election

By CELESTE NIXON
Tribune Staff Reporter
cnixon@tribunemedia.net



The Bahamas Constitution Party announced that it will be participating in the next general election.

Describing itself as a "social and fiscal conservative party" the BCP issued a statement yesterday revealing that the party will be fielding 39 candidates in the upcoming elections.

It said: "We are planning to be ready to 'Govern on Day One' having spend the past 12-13 years in research, development and planning".

The BCP was officially launched in 1999, making its first appearance in the 2002 elections.

The Christian People Movement has also joined forces with the BCP "adding both value numbers to our agenda and vision for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas" said the statement.

The party's main goals include constitutional reform, urban renewal and youth programmes, implementation of new immigration policies, improved education, economic diversification and crime reduction.

The BCP plans to release their "Mandate 2012- Hope for Bahamaland" during an upcoming summer convention along with planned public appearances, town meetings and mini rallies to raise awareness and support for the party.

The BCP invites the public to view their "Hope for Bahamaland" plan at www.bahamasyouthrenewal.com.

April 30, 2011

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

The opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) called for the Free National Movement (FNM) government to alter its position on the current structure of the Urban Renewal Programme (URP)

PLP calls for FNM to change position on Urban Renewal
tribune242



THE Progressive Liberal Party has again called for the Free National Movement government to alter its position on the current structure of the Urban Renewal Programme (URP) after Jamaica began reporting that its community policing programme is yielding results in that country.

The PLP said it is reported that the Jamaican Constabulary revitalised their community policing programme in the area known as "Tivoli Gardens", which is commonly regarded as one of the most violent areas in Jamaica.

A party statement said: "It is reported that community policing was nonexistent or very challenging in that area. Following the joint police/military operation of June 24, 2010 in Tivoli Gardens, the police are now able to go in there, step by step and win back the community through engaging the people in a new partnership. This is precisely how Urban Renewal was structured - the police would go into an area and conduct an assessment. Challenges relating to crime, disorder and social ills would be identified and addressed and then community policing officers would be there to sustain the efforts," the party said.

The PLP's statement claims this is how the party had structured the URP and it "worked".

"Jamaica along with all the other Caribbean countries that form the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) had the benefit of firsthand experience when they came to the Bahamas to witness for themselves the URP in operation. Further, Paul Farquharson, former Commissioner of Police made several presentations to these countries on URP and they have all embarked on introducing what we had established in the Bahamas.

"The URP won the ACCP Community Policing Award in 2003 for being the best (and most progressive) community policing programme in the Caribbean. Yet, the FNM Government cancelled the Programme. After much pressure, The FNM introduced a 'watered down' version of the Programme when other countries are now boasting of success," the statement read.

The PLP said they can confirm this is the case since the language contained in the report is attributed to research and documents from the URP that were shared with the Bahamas' Caribbean counterparts.

"The PLP invites the FNM Government to put aside its political differences to avoid further crime, social disorder and neighbourhood decay. The country's murder rate alone has already exceeded 65 cases and there are still three months left in 2010. The Bahamas has never seen such unprecedented killings and violence. This has all occurred since the 'altering' of the URP under the FNM Government.

"As a matter of fact, the Bahamas has recorded two record-breaking homicide rates (in 2007 and in 2009) and is on track for another record under the FNM administration. The significance is that most of these murders occurred in the areas where potent URPs once existed.

"The PLP has concluded that part of the solution lies within the URP as it was structured under the PLP. Return the Police to URP without further delay. This is time for action and the PLP stands ready to partner with the FNM to make our country safe again for our residents and visitors alike," the party said.

September 13, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Bahamas: Urban Renewal programme workers frustrated over political wrangling

By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:


COMMUNITY workers have told The Tribune about their frustration at the political wrangling over Urban Renewal.

Talk has raged for months among politicians about who founded the programme, who changed the programme, who stopped and restarted the programme, and whose programme was more effective.

But people who work on the programme say the political points-scoring is damaging Urban Renewal and affecting the people who are in dire need.

"People believe we are not doing anything and it takes away from the work which is being done," said Kolamae Pedican, manager for the Kemp Road Urban Renewal Centre.

"I am working hard and it makes me feel like the work I am doing does not matter. When people listen to the politicians they stop coming. They say they thought we were closed.

"There have been changes in the programme, but I am a civil servant and I have to respect the changes. The message needs to go out that Urban Renewal centres are not closed. We are still serving the public, we are still helping people and we still work very closely with the police. That baby just needs to go to rest."

Urban Renewal was introduced by the Progressive Liberal Party in their last term in government. The programme received international recognition and was lauded as a success story. When the Free National Movement assumed control of the government, they made changes to the programme, which have been widely criticised by the PLP. Under the PLP, the Royal Bahamas Police Force played a central role in the management and operation of the programme.

At the Kemp Road Centre, four officers and two reservists worked in the centre with case aids from the Department of Social Services. Pedican was one of those case aids serving under Centre Coordinator, Inspector Frankie-Mae Mather. The police are no longer stationed in the centre's offices, and some of their community policing activities, such as being stationed in schools, have been discontinued. However, they continue to work closely with the centre management, and with school principals.

Some members of the PLP have been critical of the removal of police officers from direct involvement in the programme. Some have further questioned the appointment of Ella Lewis as the Director, saying her position as former FNM candidate for Farm Road and Centreville, which is the constituency of Perry Christie, Leader of the Opposition, compromises her authority.

"I think the back and forth about what has been changed has had a negative affect on the programme. It is taking a lot of effort to go into the communities to inform people that the centres are open and the programmes are still active," said Ms Lewis.

"I was appointed because I am qualified: I am community based and community active. I live in an urban area. I have worked with inner city people all of my life. I have love and respect for the community and I am committed to making the Bahamas better through urban renewal," she said.

Ms Lewis said she acknowledges the good work that was done under Urban Renewal by the PLP. She said it was an excellent programme, but it lacked some of the structure necessary. Under her leadership, she said she is working to add that aspect to the programme to make it even more successful.

While the needs of each community vary, the nine Urban Renewal centres focus on ten core programmes, including: after-school programmes, where students get help with homework and school projects; senior citizen programmes, where seniors can participate in seminars, workshops, tours and socials; and youth activities, such as marching bands.

At the start of the FNM administration, two of the centres were closed for no more than two months, according to Ms Lewis, in order to facilitate staffing changes. All of the other centres remained open and active. In many instances, staff members carried over from the former administration.

At the Kemp Road Centre, three of the four current staff members served under the former structure. Former Centre Coordinator, Inspector Frankie-Mae Mather, provided the training for the new management.

PLP Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson has been a vocal supporter of Urban Renewal under the PLP leadership. In her presentation on the Senate floor this week, she read several references from a report, "Urban Renewal: Past, Present and Possible Future" authored by Rhodes Scholar and physician Desiree Cox. Mrs Maynard-Gibson spoke about the success of the programme in curbing crime in urban communities.

"My point is bigger than Urban Renewal. I am interested in the problem of crime and seeing a major paradigm shift in this country so we have something that works, and so Bahamian people can live in peace and tranquility. My responsibility is to ensure the issues that impact our people are aired and that the government acts on issues that are critical," said Mrs Maynard-Gibson.

"There is no bigger issue than crime. Urban renewal was a transformative programme. I do not want to diminish the people working in Urban Renewal, I think they are trying their best, but if something is working it should be given more resources," she said.

Work in Urban Renewal centres across the island is continuing. The Kemp Road Centre hosted a Christmas tree lighting ceremony this week that attracted both young and old residents. One of their regular activities is a feeding programme. They work closely with the food rescue organisation Hands for Hunger to feed a steady stream of residents daily, who are unable to feed themselves.

"People are really appreciative and they look to us for support. They depend on us to educate them on things like applying for passports or getting a police record clean. They come to us to find out how to get help from the various government social services. If someone dies they call us; if someone is sick they call us; if someone gets locked up or married, they call us," said Ms Pedican.

Supporters of Urban Renewal say they are not interested in playing political games or engaging in a back and forth political debate. But Bahamas Democratic Movement leader Cassius Stuart said the debate is unavoidably political because politicians from the PLP and FNM are holding fast to particular positions and being very vocal about it.

"Quite frankly I believe both political leaders have been immature in their dealing with urban renewal policy. It is destroying the essence of what the programme should really be. We have a high degree of political immaturity at the top which is why we have problems at the bottom. There should be a clear and concise direction as to where the programme is going so everyone can have clarity," said Mr Stuart.

Mr Stuart said both parties have political motivations, which is underlying the heated rhetoric. In the case of the FNM, he said they want to claim that their changes were the real source of success for the programme. In the case of the PLP, he said they want to use the programme in its original form to propel them back into power.

"Who is going to suffer? Workers will suffer because there is no clear direction as to how the programme should be run. The people on the ground, who should really be receiving the assistance, young people, the elderly and less fortunate, will suffer if the workers can't do what they are supposed to do. Now it is a big mess because it is a political game. We are wasting time, because the politicians are confusing everything," said Mr Stuart.

Mr Stuart suggested the best solution for Urban Renewal would be to have it run by a non-governmental organisation. He said the objectives of the programme, which he identified as rebuilding urban communities and strengthening the relationship between residents and the police, require political non-interference, and responsible members of the community should look at taking it over.

In the new year, The Tribune will be looking at the achievements of Urban Renewal.

December 17, 2009

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

The Bahamas Prime Minister, Perry Christie Announced His Government's Social Agenda

Prime Minister Perry Christie said that it is a priority of his government to continue what he called an innovative approach to social policy formation...

PM Unveils New Social Agenda

 

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

Journal Staff Writer

05/27/04

 

The Government of The Bahamas will in the coming fiscal year create an Urban Renewal Authority to continue a social programme of which the prime minister is becoming increasingly passionate about.

Prime Minister Perry Christie made the announcement Wednesday while making his budget communication in the House of Assembly.

“The Authority will be provided with its own budgetary resources to pursue the process of urban renewal on an expanded basis with the greatest possible vigour,” he said.

Mr. Christie said that it is a priority of his government to continue what he called an innovative approach to social policy formation so that better housing, health and youth development services are provided as budgetary resources become increasingly available for allocation to these services.

He labelled the Urban Renewal Programme – an offspring of his Farm Road Project – a closely coordinated, multi-faceted and comprehensive strategy aimed at transforming the country’s inner-city communities into vibrant, dynamic and healthy centres of human habitation.

“At the same time, individual lives will be transformed positively,” Mr. Christie said.

He announced that 128 additional lots have been earmarked for low-cost housing and community parks as part of the programme.  Mr. Christie also pointed out that in the last two years, his government has constructed 558 new houses.

Pointing to a “crucial” feature of the programme, the prime minister said it involves the private sector making a contribution, including computers and musical instruments for youth development initiatives.

The social programme contains a component supported by the Inter-American Development Bank for skills training and other activities to assist in the formation and execution of strategies for youth development, he announced.

“Since the Urban Renewal Programme is intended to draw on increasing resources and participation from our partners in the private sector, the budgetary component derived from the Public Treasury and from the Inter-American Development Bank constitute a part of the overall financial mass which is being dedicated to the programme,” Mr. Christie said.

He also announced that the Inter-American Development Bank has accepted the extended invitation of The Bahamas to host the 2006 annual meeting of the Bank in Nassau.

“This reflects the excellent relations between the Bank and the Government of The Bahamas,” Mr. Christie said.  “The meeting will be a major international event at which The Bahamas will be positioned centre-stage.”