Tuesday, February 18, 2025
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune News Editor
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie will guide and direct the Urban Renewal Authority and its programme, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced yesterday.
“My invitation to him is in recognition of the fact that the programme was birthed by him,” he added.
“There is no one better suited to ensure its effectiveness and success.”
His comment came when officials gathered to launch the Urban Renewal Authority, a move he said is a “landmark achievement” that would allow it to be more “efficient, accountable and transparent” through its new status as an independent statutory body.
“The ability to mobilise both private and public funding will make the new Urban Renewal Authority more financially sustainable, and more impactful, than ever before,” he said. “And that is something to celebrate.”
It was unclear whether Mr Christie would take on an official, salaried role with the authority. Last year, lawmakers passed legislation establishing the authority, empowering it to organise Urban Renewal centres, manage community projects — including clubs, training programmes, and educational initiatives — oversee funds, and acquire or dispose of property.
The authority will be governed by a board of directors consisting of two co-chairpersons appointed by the minister, a managing director, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry responsible for Urban Renewal, and between five and eight additional members representing civil society organisations, also appointed by the minister.
The board will have the power to establish committees, manage contracts, grant loans for community projects and minor home repairs, and identify and report dangerous or dilapidated buildings to the minister.
All people currently serving in the Urban Renewal Commission will be transferred to the authority, with their consent, for one year, pending their acceptance or refusal of permanent employment with the authority.
Transferred people will receive remuneration on terms no less favourable than those in the Urban Renewal Commission.
Former FNM Cabinet minister Algernon Allen and Dr Dianna Francis, chairs of the commission, will continue as co-chairs of the authority.
Yesterday, Mr Davis discussed the origins of Urban Renewal as a programme birthed by the first Christie administration to address the crime issue that began raging in inner-city communities.
“It was a ray of hope and replenishment then, and it continues to be one of the most effective, results-driven tools in this government’s arsenal,” he said.
Comments
Sickened says...
He ran out of money already?
Posted 18 February 2025, 9:15 a.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
Well we know for certain now that this initiative will NEVER be audited.
Posted 18 February 2025, 9:17 a.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
**30 pieces of space rock.** --- **'One giant leap'** from once aligned with what was originally called **'Colored Town (Miami)** to **beckoning to the ring** of Elon Musk. -- We're looking to the world as a Colony of 1200 Out Islands Cays, Towns and Settlements' -- are becoming maligned robbed of our spirit. -- Yes?
Posted 18 February 2025, 9:41 a.m. Suggest removal
hrysippus says...
Pondering if the shuffling old buffoon, .
Will be getting more of our money soon? .
Is that big pension not big enough, .
To buy him all his wanted stuff? .
Nygaard, the plp’s rich friend, .
Has no money left to lend. .
As he sits alone in a Canadian jail, .
Trying so hard to get out on bail. .
So Perry hits up good ol’ Fill up, .
For the cookie jar and the gubmint cup, .
The cup that never will run dry, .
Not if you believe a promising lie. .
Sigh……..
Posted 18 February 2025, 10:03 a.m. Suggest removal
bahamianson says...
Seriously? Joe Biden caused the lousy Democratic Party to lose by outstanding margins . All respect to Mr. Christie , but he needs to retire. We need young blood doing this. The ppl can give him a donation from their own party not an apparent kickback job reading the paper and falling asleep. Need an energetic person like Donald Trump.
Posted 18 February 2025, 10:32 a.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
Trump is off to play golf *again* as he fires people for being lazy and goofing off.
Btw... I wonder if they were able to get all the nuclear scientists he fired back on the job after they fired them last week **before realizing they oversee nuclear weapon production** and running of nuclear plants... They scrambled Friday to rescind the terminations with HR persons trying desperately to contact people through private email contacts ...
hmmmm
Posted 18 February 2025, 5:15 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
Btw Elon Musk is continuing his agenda. He got his staff member to access treasury data, then he got into IRS, today they announced hes access social as l security. He also announced his own AI tool which he claimed is more powerful than ChatGPT and Deepseek. Nothing an AI model needs more to prove itself than thousands of servers of really sensitive personal data on real live white private citizens cheering for Trump to dig into everything... especially the ones who dont realize they're benefitting from social handouts.
Nothing a power focused genius loves more than proximity to a malleable fool with power. I'm of course referring to Lord of the Rings
Posted 18 February 2025, 5:24 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Mr Christie will do a good job . The article did not say he will be paid. I believe he only wants to serve his country. Praising Trump. Says a lot .
Posted 18 February 2025, 12:16 p.m. Suggest removal
bahamianson says...
Thank you for the compliment
Posted 18 February 2025, 4:35 p.m. Suggest removal
One says...
Oh no, here we go again. Do people realize that the country has been led by the same age group for the last 33 years? The same old people born in the mid-1940s - early 1950's. The same old business as usual.
Posted 18 February 2025, 4:39 p.m. Suggest removal
ExposedU2C says...
LMAO.......this agent for the ChiComs is looking more yellow with each passing day.
Posted 19 February 2025, 2:23 p.m. Suggest removal
Log in to comment