ByRaymondKongwa,GuardianStaffReporterraymond
@nasguard.comPrime Minister Christie said on Thursday that his government has established a principle of applying well thought out strategy for the nation's physical development, parting with the accepted culture of improvisatory decision-making.
"Everything done in this country must make sense," said Mr Christie, during the formally presentation of the completed hard copy of plans for the redevelopment of Bay Street by leading land-based design and planning firm, EDAW.
Mr Christie, speaking during a press conference at the boardroom of the Prime Ministers office, said the firm would play an integral part in planning The Bahamas' future.
"Clearly, EDAW has a very firm footing in The Bahamas and you (EDAW) will have a lot to do with our future."
The master plan, which will be tabled in Parliament, was created by a team of elite students participating in the EDAW's 24th Summer Student Programme held here in June 2004.
Presenting Mr Christie with the document, the chairman of the company's board Barbara Faga said, "We think this was one of the best, if not the best, intern programme we have ever had."
In addition to its work on the Bay Street redevelopment, EDAW has been contracted by the government to develop a master plan for Exuma and Eleuthera, and a cultural theme park at the historic Clifton Plantation.
The investment group seeking to purchase the Wyndham, Radisson and Nassau Beach hotels at Cable Beach has also contracted EDAW to help develop a concept for a new resort to be constructed, if the acquisition is successful.
Emphasizing the company environmental consciousness while working in the country, Mr Christie explained that concerns expressed by some environmentalists regarding the Bay Street plan, and in particular, the removal of shipping container ports form Central Bay Street to Clifton, had been taken into consideration.
The Government of former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling, of which Mr Christie was a part, previously decided, after consulting marine experts, that dredging a channel for a container Port at Clifton could potentially damage the barrier reef and promote coastline erosion and wetland destruction.
But, the Prime Minister said, another firm had recently found in its preliminary study that the same channel dredged to accommodate ships at Clifton's industrial district could be expanded without negative consequence to the marine environment. In fact, Mr Christie said the study, which is to be expanded, suggested that the move from Bay Street to Clifton would have a positive overall environmental impact.
"...No recommendation will come from EDAW if it poses a hazard to the future of this country," insisted Mr Christie. To the contrary, he said the government had contracted the group with a view to having the environment be a primary consideration in development.
The Prime Minister said public concerns such as those concerning environmental protection made it necessary for governments to be transparent in their movements. Revealing that, "I'm locked down right now," the Prime minister vowed to make more frequent updates on national development plans as soon "as I get my head out of this Cable Beach situation and this West End situation (ongoing talks with investors interested in developing these areas)."
He further noted that government ministries and departments are taking an integrated approach to monitoring national development and related issues. This initiative, he said, was being coordinated through the office of the Prime Minister.
"...If God is willing," he said, "I will leave in place for the first time in the history of this country a master plan for every major island ... to govern its development in a way it is not developed now , because it's developing through ad hoc, spontaneous decisions that are very harmful."
