Gov’t Plans To Expand Urban Renewal

Recently, PLP Senator Pleasant Bridgewater accused the government of dismantling the programme.

However, Minister Foulkes said the government never dismantled the programme, which was implemented under the previous administration.

"Urban Renewal was never dismantled and all of the offices that were opened under the PLP government remain open and in fact we are expanding Urban Renewal by opening four new offices," he said.

Minister Foulkes said the government also plans to do more expansion in Grand Bahama and other Family Islands.

"We are now conducting a complete review to ensure that the services that are offered are effective and additionally to see if there are any additional services that we should offer," he said.

Currently, urban renewal is geared towards to various communities in terms of dealing with pensioners and older persons.

The programme also assists with youth groups and other services that the government offers.

Minister Foulkes said the Department of Social Services, which now falls under his portfolio, will work feverishly to assist the poor.

"We will be increasing the amount of grants for rental assistance, for food stamps for pension monies, which are paid for age, and we will be increasing the amount of school uniforms that are given to certain students," he said.

"We also intend to improve the lunch school programme. We also give out free lunch meals to certain students within the public school systems. We intend to improve the quality of the food that is offered so as to make it healthier."

During the recent budget debate in the House of Assembly, the government announced that it will be increasing its budget from $3 million to $7 million in the 2008/2009 fiscal year.

Minister Foulkes said all of the programmes will continue to be accessible through certain venues through New Providence and the Family Islands.

"We have several outlets now, we have one on Wulff Road at the National Insurance Building, one on Robinson Road and we also have an outlet in the Fort Charlotte constituency," he said.

"We want to continue to improve our programmes for the poor."