By CELESTE NIXON

Tribune Staff Reporter

cnixon@tribunemedia.net

OUTGOING Cabinet ministers urged the new government not to eliminate certain programmes and initiatives put in place by the FNM, particularly those that benefit young Bahamians.

Gathering for a party meeting at FNM headquarters yesterday morning, a number of former ministers said they are pleased with their accomplishments and the programmes established over the last five years, and hope the Christie administration does not engage in a "stop, review and cancel" campaign.

Former Minister of Labour and Social Development Dion Foulkes said: "All of the projects that involve the training of Bahamians, especially young Bahamians, all of the projects that have a social impact, I would hope that the PLP would take a close look at and keep them in place, as we did with Urban Renewal.

"I hope they do likewise, with all the social initiatives that we initiated with respect to the capital projects they're all beneficial to Bahamians."

He listed the New Providence Infrastructure Improvement Project, the Arawak Port Development and the Baha Mar Resort as among those that should be continued.

Outgoing Minister of State for Social Development Loretta Butler-Turner said she believes the new government will see the wisdom behind the programmes established under the FNM and continue them.

"As I leave I have no regrets with social services, I think we have had probably one of the most demanding times in this five year period and the social workers performed extraordinarily well.

"There have been some hick-ups along the way, but we know that those things can be addressed as well," she said.

Looking forward, Mrs Butler-Turner said she believes the department needs further checks and balances in terms of how funds are spent, improved working accommodations for employees and more focus on how personnel are used and deployed.

Tommy Turnquest, former Minister of National Security, said the FNM made hard decisions throughout its term in government and while not all of them were popular, they were done in the best interest of the Bahamas.

"We are very pleased with the policies, programmes and initiatives that we have put in place in the last five years," said Mr Turnquest, "I am satisfied that when the new minister of national security is sworn in and has an opportunity to review it, he will recognise that."

He noted that projects such as the electronic monitoring system, rehabilitative programmes at Fox Hill Prison, upgrades and investments in both the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and CCTV have proven successful.

Mr Turnquest said: "We made hard decisions - obviously hard decisions cause people to be mad at you, but we did it in the best interest of the Bahamas and for Bahamians. I am very very comfortable in what I did in my stewardship of the Bahamian people."

The incoming government will want to keep programmes that help the country's youth, former Education Minister Desmond Bannister said.

In particular, Mr Bannister pointed to a programme that specifically targets at-risk boys and young men, a project he hopes is continued and expanded under the PLP.

He said: "We have an outstanding programme to help young boys stay in school and graduate, I think that's the most meaningful initiative that we've had in education, certainly in my time, and I would certainly wish to see a new government continue and expand on it as young men are threatened in this country right now."

Working consistently over the last five years, former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Charles Maynard said he has accomplished a lot in all the areas that came under his ministry and he hopes the new government does not do what they have accused the FNM of doing - "stop, review and cancel".

Mr Maynard said in light of the establishment of numerous programmes, including the Self Starter Programme and Volunteer Bahamas, whoever is appointed to his former ministry need only follow through with plans already in place.

He said: "Who ever becomes the minister with those responsibilities has an excellent opportunity to just execute and I hope that they do that.

"In the ministry itself, we have been able to restructure that entire ministry with new directors and senior officers and I hope they don't break that up. I hope they allow those new people to work together and keep that energy going and continue to expand the programming as we have been doing over the few years."