Creating a Culture of Consultation in the Bahamas

by Sir Arthur Foulkes

Some residents of Chippingham are complaining about the lack of consultation over the construction of low cost homes which will amount to an extension of that community. They have a point.

The present PLP Government came to office proclaiming loudly and frequently that it was to be a government of consultation, and followed up with a flurry of appointments of commissions and committees in pursuit of this policy.

After a while it appeared that, in some cases at least, this was merely a cover for indecisiveness, and in others the policy was ignored altogether. No grand affair of state is involved in the construction of new low-cost housing, no appointment of commissions necessary, just the simple and sensible idea of talking with those who would be most immediately affected.

As it turned out, there was in this particular case a matter of concern to the whole nation, and that is the possible destruction of ecologically important land in the area.

Also the new houses are to be built next to a well-established community and the people of Chippingham were entitled to the courtesy of being consulted about that, at least informed.

From the comments published in The Tribune, it would appear that most of those who are speaking up are being quite reasonable. They understand that the government must find property for low cost housing, but they had some suggestions to put forward.

One good idea is to give qualified persons in the area an opportunity to work on the project. An even better idea is that since Chippingham is a settled and somewhat discrete community, the planning of the new houses should have taken that into consideration. It is not as if a new subdivision is being carved out of the pine barrens.

Even with entirely new subdivisions, greater consideration needs to be given to planning. For instance, it may be true that land is scarce but in some of the newer subdivisions the houses are oppressively close together. Also, it would not add too much to the cost if there were at least two or three alternate designs in every subdivision.

One Chipppingham resident mentioned the traffic problem. With these additional homes there is going to be even more pressure on an inadequate road system in the area.

Infant View Road which runs between Chippingham and Nassau Street is frequently used by motorists trying to avoid congestion on West Bay Street at peak hours. But this road is so narrow that two vehicles can barely get by each other at certain points.

We have been talking for a long time about introducing local government to New Providence but little progress has been made. Perhaps the time has come to consider defining the limits of the City of Nassau and whether it is feasible to proceed with incorporation.

Certainly, communities such as Chippingham, Adelaide, Gambier and Bozine Town (if it survives) are ideal places to begin the local government experiment in New Providence.

In the meantime, government ministries, departments, agencies and utilities (publicly- and privately-operated) should institutionalize consultation with all communities when developments are likely to affect them.

The old colonial idea advocated by one resident that the government can just hand things down from on high is no longer acceptable in the Bahamas. In fact, community consultation is standard practice in developed countries and in many developing ones as well.

For instance, the Bahamas Government owns two adjacent town houses in Mayfair in London, one being the high commissioner’s residence and the other the chancery. Any time there is proposed new construction or change in an existing building or even change of use for a property in the neighbourhood, the local authorities would hand-deliver a notice to the high commission.

All occupants of buildings in the area are given the opportunity to comment on, or object to, any proposed changes. But here in the Bahamas you can go to sleep one night and wake up the in the morning with a parking lot next door.

* * *

DISTRICT NAMES

When the electoral constituencies were redrawn and renamed for the last election, we were told that one constituency would be designated Bain and Grants Town in order to save these two historic names. The intention was good but that was the wrong way to do it.

Electoral boundaries change from election to election, and naming the constituencies after established communities is a mistake. People start referring to themselves as living in Adelaide or in Fox Hill when they may be some distance from either of these two historic communities.

This started back in the 1960s. Prior to 1967, New Providence constituencies had names such as the Western District and the Southern District, then South and South Central.

But for the 1967 election, apparently with the same idea in mind about old historic areas, we had Over-the-Hill constituencies such as Fort Fincastle, Grants Town, St. Agnes and Bain Town—two named after landmarks and two after old communities.

The trouble was that the constituency of Grants Town was between East Street and Market Street and did not include what some people regard as the very heart of Grants Town: the area around St. Agnes Church between Market Street and Blue Hill Road where former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest was born.

So trying to save the old places by naming constituencies after them does not work and only leads to more confusion. There is no problem with saving places like Adelaide and Gambier, for obvious reasons, but perhaps Grants Town and Bain Town can better be saved by local government designations or by putting up historical markers.

It is better to stay with landmarks such as churches and forts in naming New Providence constituencies. This may also be better in Grand Bahama where constituency boundaries are likely to change with population shifts.

In islands like Abaco and Eleuthera it is probably better to stay with North and South rather than to use names of particular towns and settlements.

* * *

ISLAND NAMES

Some 30 years ago I suggested that we should think about changing the names of some of our Family Islands, but the idea was less than enthusiastically welcomed at the time.

This archipelago is one of the most beautiful in the world and it has a rich history as the home of Arawak tribes and the landfall of Christopher Columbus, which opened up the New World to the Europeans.

Some of the Family Island names reflect this history and beauty, including Bimini, Exuma, Eleuthera, San Salvador, Inagua and
Mayaguana. But two of the most beautiful islands in the chain have the most unflattering names – Cat and Crooked.

Perhaps now, as we look forward to more development and the promotion of these islands internationally, the idea of using names more reflective of their beauty and history should be considered in consultation with the people who live there. It is a pity, for example, that the beautiful name Guanahani has been lost to us.

We used to call Paradise Island Hog Island but that was changed at the instigation of foreign investors. We should not wait for some other investors to inspire us. It would be nice if we could do it on our own.
www.bahamapundit.typepad.com

sirarthurfoulkes@hotmail.com

Some residents of Chippingham are complaining about the lack of consultation over the construction of low cost homes which will amount to an extension of that community. They have a point.

The present PLP Government came to office proclaiming loudly and frequently that it was to be a government of consultation, and followed up with a flurry of appointments of commissions and committees in pursuit of this policy.

After a while it appeared that, in some cases at least, this was merely a cover for indecisiveness, and in others the policy was ignored altogether. No grand affair of state is involved in the construction of new low-cost housing, no appointment of commissions necessary, just the simple and sensible idea of talking with those who would be most immediately affected.

As it turned out, there was in this particular case a matter of concern to the whole nation, and that is the possible destruction of ecologically important land in the area.

Also the new houses are to be built next to a well-established community and the people of Chippingham were entitled to the courtesy of being consulted about that, at least informed.

From the comments published in The Tribune, it would appear that most of those who are speaking up are being quite reasonable. They understand that the government must find property for low cost housing, but they had some suggestions to put forward.

One good idea is to give qualified persons in the area an opportunity to work on the project. An even better idea is that since Chippingham is a settled and somewhat discrete community, the planning of the new houses should have taken that into consideration. It is not as if a new subdivision is being carved out of the pine barrens.

Even with entirely new subdivisions, greater consideration needs to be given to planning. For instance, it may be true that land is scarce but in some of the newer subdivisions the houses are oppressively close together. Also, it would not add too much to the cost if there were at least two or three alternate designs in every subdivision.

One Chipppingham resident mentioned the traffic problem. With these additional homes there is going to be even more pressure on an inadequate road system in the area.

Infant View Road which runs between Chippingham and Nassau Street is frequently used by motorists trying to avoid congestion on West Bay Street at peak hours. But this road is so narrow that two vehicles can barely get by each other at certain points.

We have been talking for a long time about introducing local government to New Providence but little progress has been made. Perhaps the time has come to consider defining the limits of the City of Nassau and whether it is feasible to proceed with incorporation.

Certainly, communities such as Chippingham, Adelaide, Gambier and Bozine Town (if it survives) are ideal places to begin the local government experiment in New Providence.

In the meantime, government ministries, departments, agencies and utilities (publicly- and privately-operated) should institutionalize consultation with all communities when developments are likely to affect them.

The old colonial idea advocated by one resident that the government can just hand things down from on high is no longer acceptable in the Bahamas. In fact, community consultation is standard practice in developed countries and in many developing ones as well.

For instance, the Bahamas Government owns two adjacent town houses in Mayfair in London, one being the high commissioner’s residence and the other the chancery. Any time there is proposed new construction or change in an existing building or even change of use for a property in the neighbourhood, the local authorities would hand-deliver a notice to the high commission.

All occupants of buildings in the area are given the opportunity to comment on, or object to, any proposed changes. But here in the Bahamas you can go to sleep one night and wake up the in the morning with a parking lot next door.

* * *

DISTRICT NAMES

When the electoral constituencies were redrawn and renamed for the last election, we were told that one constituency would be designated Bain and Grants Town in order to save these two historic names. The intention was good but that was the wrong way to do it.

Electoral boundaries change from election to election, and naming the constituencies after established communities is a mistake. People start referring to themselves as living in Adelaide or in Fox Hill when they may be some distance from either of these two historic communities.

This started back in the 1960s. Prior to 1967, New Providence constituencies had names such as the Western District and the Southern District, then South and South Central.

But for the 1967 election, apparently with the same idea in mind about old historic areas, we had Over-the-Hill constituencies such as Fort Fincastle, Grants Town, St. Agnes and Bain Town—two named after landmarks and two after old communities.

The trouble was that the constituency of Grants Town was between East Street and Market Street and did not include what some people regard as the very heart of Grants Town: the area around St. Agnes Church between Market Street and Blue Hill Road where former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest was born.

So trying to save the old places by naming constituencies after them does not work and only leads to more confusion. There is no problem with saving places like Adelaide and Gambier, for obvious reasons, but perhaps Grants Town and Bain Town can better be saved by local government designations or by putting up historical markers.

It is better to stay with landmarks such as churches and forts in naming New Providence constituencies. This may also be better in Grand Bahama where constituency boundaries are likely to change with population shifts.

In islands like Abaco and Eleuthera it is probably better to stay with North and South rather than to use names of particular towns and settlements.

* * *

ISLAND NAMES

Some 30 years ago I suggested that we should think about changing the names of some of our Family Islands, but the idea was less than enthusiastically welcomed at the time.

This archipelago is one of the most beautiful in the world and it has a rich history as the home of Arawak tribes and the landfall of Christopher Columbus, which opened up the New World to the Europeans.

Some of the Family Island names reflect this history and beauty, including Bimini, Exuma, Eleuthera, San Salvador, Inagua and
Mayaguana. But two of the most beautiful islands in the chain have the most unflattering names – Cat and Crooked.

Perhaps now, as we look forward to more development and the promotion of these islands internationally, the idea of using names more reflective of their beauty and history should be considered in consultation with the people who live there. It is a pity, for example, that the beautiful name Guanahani has been lost to us.

We used to call Paradise Island Hog Island but that was changed at the instigation of foreign investors. We should not wait for some other investors to inspire us. It would be nice if we could do it on our own.
www.bahamapundit.typepad.com

sirarthurfoulkes@hotmail.com

Some residents of Chippingham are complaining about the lack of consultation over the construction of low cost homes which will amount to an extension of that community. They have a point.

The present PLP Government came to office proclaiming loudly and frequently that it was to be a government of consultation, and followed up with a flurry of appointments of commissions and committees in pursuit of this policy.

After a while it appeared that, in some cases at least, this was merely a cover for indecisiveness, and in others the policy was ignored altogether. No grand affair of state is involved in the construction of new low-cost housing, no appointment of commissions necessary, just the simple and sensible idea of talking with those who would be most immediately affected.

As it turned out, there was in this particular case a matter of concern to the whole nation, and that is the possible destruction of ecologically important land in the area.

Also the new houses are to be built next to a well-established community and the people of Chippingham were entitled to the courtesy of being consulted about that, at least informed.

From the comments published in The Tribune, it would appear that most of those who are speaking up are being quite reasonable. They understand that the government must find property for low cost housing, but they had some suggestions to put forward.

One good idea is to give qualified persons in the area an opportunity to work on the project. An even better idea is that since Chippingham is a settled and somewhat discrete community, the planning of the new houses should have taken that into consideration. It is not as if a new subdivision is being carved out of the pine barrens.

Even with entirely new subdivisions, greater consideration needs to be given to planning. For instance, it may be true that land is scarce but in some of the newer subdivisions the houses are oppressively close together. Also, it would not add too much to the cost if there were at least two or three alternate designs in every subdivision.

One Chipppingham resident mentioned the traffic problem. With these additional homes there is going to be even more pressure on an inadequate road system in the area.

Infant View Road which runs between Chippingham and Nassau Street is frequently used by motorists trying to avoid congestion on West Bay Street at peak hours. But this road is so narrow that two vehicles can barely get by each other at certain points.

We have been talking for a long time about introducing local government to New Providence but little progress has been made. Perhaps the time has come to consider defining the limits of the City of Nassau and whether it is feasible to proceed with incorporation.

Certainly, communities such as Chippingham, Adelaide, Gambier and Bozine Town (if it survives) are ideal places to begin the local government experiment in New Providence.

In the meantime, government ministries, departments, agencies and utilities (publicly- and privately-operated) should institutionalize consultation with all communities when developments are likely to affect them.

The old colonial idea advocated by one resident that the government can just hand things down from on high is no longer acceptable in the Bahamas. In fact, community consultation is standard practice in developed countries and in many developing ones as well.

For instance, the Bahamas Government owns two adjacent town houses in Mayfair in London, one being the high commissioner’s residence and the other the chancery. Any time there is proposed new construction or change in an existing building or even change of use for a property in the neighbourhood, the local authorities would hand-deliver a notice to the high commission.

All occupants of buildings in the area are given the opportunity to comment on, or object to, any proposed changes. But here in the Bahamas you can go to sleep one night and wake up the in the morning with a parking lot next door.

DISTRICT NAMES

When the electoral constituencies were redrawn and renamed for the last election, we were told that one constituency would be designated Bain and Grants Town in order to save these two historic names. The intention was good but that was the wrong way to do it.

Electoral boundaries change from election to election, and naming the constituencies after established communities is a mistake. People start referring to themselves as living in Adelaide or in Fox Hill when they may be some distance from either of these two historic communities.

This started back in the 1960s. Prior to 1967, New Providence constituencies had names such as the Western District and the Southern District, then South and South Central.

But for the 1967 election, apparently with the same idea in mind about old historic areas, we had Over-the-Hill constituencies such as Fort Fincastle, Grants Town, St. Agnes and Bain Town—two named after landmarks and two after old communities.

The trouble was that the constituency of Grants Town was between East Street and Market Street and did not include what some people regard as the very heart of Grants Town: the area around St. Agnes Church between Market Street and Blue Hill Road where former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest was born.

So trying to save the old places by naming constituencies after them does not work and only leads to more confusion. There is no problem with saving places like Adelaide and Gambier, for obvious reasons, but perhaps Grants Town and Bain Town can better be saved by local government designations or by putting up historical markers.

It is better to stay with landmarks such as churches and forts in naming New Providence constituencies. This may also be better in Grand Bahama where constituency boundaries are likely to change with population shifts.

In islands like Abaco and Eleuthera it is probably better to stay with North and South rather than to use names of particular towns and settlements.

ISLAND NAMES

Some 30 years ago I suggested that we should think about changing the names of some of our Family Islands, but the idea was less than enthusiastically welcomed at the time.

This archipelago is one of the most beautiful in the world and it has a rich history as the home of Arawak tribes and the landfall of Christopher Columbus, which opened up the New World to the Europeans.

Some of the Family Island names reflect this history and beauty, including Bimini, Exuma, Eleuthera, San Salvador, Inagua and
Mayaguana. But two of the most beautiful islands in the chain have the most unflattering names – Cat and Crooked.

Perhaps now, as we look forward to more development and the promotion of these islands internationally, the idea of using names more reflective of their beauty and history should be considered in consultation with the people who live there. It is a pity, for example, that the beautiful name Guanahani has been lost to us.

We used to call Paradise Island Hog Island but that was changed at the instigation of foreign investors. We should not wait for some other investors to inspire us. It would be nice if we could do it on our own.
www.bahamapundit.typepad.com