By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FELIX Stubbs, chairman of the National Development Plan (NDP) Secretariat, said efforts are underway to update the plan to address emerging priorities such as climate change, irregular migration, and crime.

He said a draft plan released in 2016 must be revised to reflect current events and incorporate public feedback.

His comments followed Friday’s IDB workshop on the NDP, where stakeholders and policy specialists proposed solutions and priority actions for the plan’s full implementation.

Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis outlined the government’s priorities for Vision 2040, including tackling climate change, diversifying the economy, strengthening food security, and building a resilient nation. 

“They reflect our commitment to building a Bahamas that is stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous than ever before,” he said. “By focusing on these areas, we can ensure that our nation not only survives but thrives in the years to come.”

Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard highlighted areas such as enhancing the country’s storm resilience, developing a framework to boost human capital, improving public and social infrastructure, and “providing a roadmap for a merit-based civil service” to increase accountability and transparency.

“We cannot and must not shortchange this process. We must take the time and we must do the work,” Mr Pintard said. “There must be earnest engagement of political parties and the smaller upstarts.”

Mr Stubbs said recommendations from the workshop will be compiled into a report by the IDB, which is expected to be released in several weeks. 

He added that several agreements were reached at the workshop, including the need for funding and establishing the technical team to continue the plan’s work.

Ambassador Joseph Curry has been recommended to lead the technical team as executive director.

Mr Stubbs also mentioned that the steering committee will be reappointed, adding: “Once we’ve done that, we can then begin our meetings again to complete the original draft from 2016.” 

He expects the team to be fully engaged by the end of September.

He said a small group has already begun some work, but the full team will be coming together soon.

He said the appointments need to be finalised through the government, and the team is working out short-term payment arrangements. Additionally, they need to find office space, which will take a couple of weeks.

The Christie administration planned to pass a National Development Plan Bill before the 2017 general election, believing the plan would be a groundbreaking document central to the nation’s development. 

The plan is supposed to include accountability mechanisms, with the University of The Bahamas expected to release regular reports on milestones.

A comprehensive 491-page draft of the NDP was released in December 2016. In early 2023, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced the reappointment of the NDP committee.

Mr Stubbs said he spoke to Mr Davis over the weekend and is expected to meet with him in about two weeks to chart the way forward.