(Eleuthera, Bahamas) Member of Parliament (MP) for Central and South Eleuthera, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Damian Gomez, reaffirmed a number of announcements for infrastructural developments on the island of Eleuthera, while visiting with the Rotary Club of Eleuthera, headed by president Jacqueline Gibson, during their weekly meeting on Thursday, October 11, 2012.
Top on the list was the construction of a $15-20 million dollar mini-hospital facility, located in Central Eleuthera, between Palmetto Point and Governor’s Harbour. The location has been chosen to best serve the entire island, minimising the travel distance for Eleutherans in both Northern and Southern districts across the 110 mile island. Along with providing much needed emergency services, Gomez highlighted that it would be a “full-fledged facility”, also offering more specialised services like dialysis.
Rotary members and guests listened attentively as Minister Damian Gomez made his presentation.
In addition to directly serving Eleutherans, he highlighted the positive impact the facility could have on the second homeowner market on the island, as well as the injection of new jobs and the economic activity that would be created during the construction period. Gomez confirmed that within 9 months of being elected, he would have commenced delivery of this promise to the island. He also affirmed plans to construct a new clinic within the community of Rock Sound.
The ‘National Health Insurance Services’ initiative was also said to be back on top of the government’s priorities, possibly coming on stream within the next 18 months, according to Minister Gomez. He also made comment that public consultation teams would be visiting Eleuthera to glean feedback later this year.
Minister Gomez is pictured with the audience of Rotary members and guests.
Another significant announcement reaffirmed was the construction of a major court complex and magistrate’s court in Governor’s Harbour during the next fiscal year, with intentions of making Eleuthera attractive as an arbitration center of choice. The Minister further stated his intentions to pursue another significant upgrade to the town center.
“I am currently in negotiations with the Minister responsible for National Insurance, with a view to constructing a state of the art town center, akin to the town center which was built by the former Prime Minister in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, so that before the end of this term, I will be able to entertain the Prime Minister and other members of Cabinet from right here in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera”, the MP stated.
Gomez continued, highlighting the reason for his focus on the town center, saying, “It is important that the public change the perception of how government in this country is run.”
“The focus which is attended to New Providence’s issues is largely based on the fact that Cabinet meets in New Providence, and you have to actually pass the problems on your way to the meeting,” he said, adding “the interaction of the public with Cabinet just before it meets or in the middle of the day when they break for lunch, is an important interaction which should not be forgotten or downplayed.”
Minister Gomez supported the decision to develop such infrastructure in central Eleuthera, remarking, “It is time for Eleuthera to start thinking of itself as one island and not merely a collection of settlements scattered across 110 miles. Governor’s Harbour is the traditional government capital of the island, and there is no reason why we should not develop our administrative infrastructure, so as to accentuate that, while reducing the cost of government and promoting efficiencies. The money that we save in doing that can be used in other developmental ways.”
He also pointed out the need to redevelop Eleuthera’s harbour resources, saying that he was in discussions with the Minister of Transport, to sensitize her to the absolute need for the government to direct public spending on the repair or rebuilding of derelict docking facilities, and harbours. According to Gomez, “this is vitally important, so that we provide an attraction to the many boats and yachts that travel along our western shoreline, without ever being attracted to stop, spend an evening at our restaurants or our bars, spending the types of money mariners spend. Tourism studies show that these private boats and yachts, per visitor, generate far more money per day, than any other form of tourism, including persons who stay overnight at a hotel.”
Minister Gomez receives a gift from current and former presidents of the Rotary Club of Eleuthera. (L-R) Ian Carey, Immediate Past President; Jacqueline Gibson, President; Minister Damian Gomez; and Past President, Shaun Ingraham.
In his capacity as Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Gomez also updated the Rotarians on his current work, including the streamlining of procedures in the criminal justice system with a number of amendments to be discussed in the upcoming meetings of the House of Assembly – some focusing on curtailing delays in the system of remand, stiffer penalties for possession of high powered weapons, increasing sentencing power of magistrates, financial services regulations, and law reform in a number of civil matters to catalyze accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). He also highlighted his work with the upcoming Constitutional Referendum, expected in May or June of 2013.
Following Minister Gomez’s presentation, the floor was opened to questions from attending members and guests, with topics discussed ranging from marketable titles for commonage and generation property, to legalization of gambling. Other hot issues brought up by the audience included citizen rights for spouses, the inefficiency of some central government services and the inconvenience of Eleutherans having to incur high costs like travel to and accommodations in the capital for critical services like passports.
The Minister was receptive to questions, not skirting any issues while providing answers during the robust session.
