NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Public Works Desmond Banister yesterday defended the government’s $20 million stimulus initiative, insisting that the program is more far-reaching than just sidewalk construction.
Bannister was responding to ongoing criticisms over the matter, given the country’s current economic challenges due to the pandemic.
Many people have taken to social media to voice their concerns over the issue, indicating that the government should not be investing so much money on sidewalks when unemployment and food security remains a top priority.
“It is a $20 million stimulus initiative,” Bannister told reporters outside Cabinet.
“That stimulus initiate involves community parks, it involves drainage, it involves Family Island work, it involves docks and other things.”
He noted that several areas that have been the source of discussion regarding the construction of sidewalks have been targeted because of future projects.
“The Ministry of Public Works works ahead. We are planning 10 years ahead,” he continued.
“I saw the criticism about Carmichael Road sidewalk.
“The reality is that the Ministry of Works is going to widen Gladstone Road and we are going to widen Carmichael Road and the whole plan in that widening is that we are going to have to the move the sidewalks.
“While we have the initiative going on, we start the first phases of it, which is moving the sidewalks.”
He also spoke to the construction of sidewalks in Mason’s Addition, where he admitted that the contractor made a mistake by marking a six-foot sidewalk where a three-foot sidewalk is supposed to be.
“Sidewalks is only a very small part of it. It’s much more involved in this. This is a comprehensive initiative.”
Last month, Bannister advised that the government has engaged some 200 small Bahamian contractors and allocated some $20 million for the project.
At the time, he said the initiative will seek to boost the economy and employ Bahamians who have been impacted by the COVID pandemic.
He added yesterday, “The government can continue to give money for food, and we can give food for a week and feed you for a week or we can give some contractors work, where they earn it and they feel good about themselves and they feed their families for a year and they feed the families of five to ten other people for a year.
“That’s what these stimulus contracts are about.
“Make no mistake about it, it gives people dignity and the ability to feed their families and when [they] feed [their] family then they don’t go into the social services.”
