Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
SCORES of Bahamians have taken advantage of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis' summer break offer to open his doors to questions direct from the public.
But the schedule is already "pretty tight" for the next several weeks, said Press Secretary Anthony Newbold.
Yesterday was the first day members of the public could request to sit and talk with the nation's leader. Ten people were scheduled to meet him for ten minutes each between 9am and noon. Dr Minnis will continue these meetings each Wednesday with the same schedule until September 12.
According to Mr Newbold, the idea is to meet with people who want to talk while the House of Assembly is on its summer recess.
However, there were some who complained to The Tribune yesterday they were not successful in making appointments. In one case, a woman claimed no-one answered the line where appointments can be made. Another caller said she was put on hold and was never able to actually make the appointment.
"People want an opportunity to speak with the prime minister and feel comfortable that he's aware of their concerns and is prepared to do something about it," Mr Newbold said yesterday.
"The prime minister is asking people to be mindful that a lot of people want to see the prime minister and ordinarily you wouldn't get a chance to do that only because of the nature of his schedule there isn't time for him to see individuals like that, which is why he thought this is a wonderful idea while the House is on break, we'll take a couple hours every Wednesday, which is when he would normally be in the House of Assembly.
"He's not there now and so let's take this time and see some of the ordinary people."
Mr Newbold also addressed concerns that Family Islanders were not given the same opportunity as those in New Providence to meet the prime minister.
"I know that some people have asked about the Family Islands. Prime Minister is in the Family Islands every other week and so it's not as if they are left out or they weren't thought of.
"He's in Eleuthera, he's in Exuma. A couple weeks ago he was in Acklins and Crooked Island so he takes those opportunities to engage people when he's out there, but as many people as possible have an opportunity to say something to the prime minister," Mr Newbold said.
Anyone interested in an appointment should call 702-5500.
Comments
TalRussell 5 years, 8 months ago
Ma Comrades, only this Imperial PM make big deal on seeing common folks,and of course its words spoken through his press secretary's mouth (noticed how it's just Anthony now - seems he's stopped using "Ace." Besides just set open door policy's history straight - prime minister Pindling, had daily PMO open door policy meet with common man's and woman's going back 1967 to right through 1992. Also, what lot you don't know is that PM Pindling - always drove back home every single day from PMO when he was in town to have lunch his beloved wife Marguerite...,,.... and yes, regardless which visiting to the PMO out-town Government officials, Dignitaries or Star Personalities wanted take Ping out for lunch.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 8 months ago
This is 2018 ........ leave SLOP's daily routine where it belongs.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 8 months ago
Minnis just did a whirlwind tour around the Out Islands about increasing VAT ......... he gave a cookie-cutter speech and left without taking a single question from the residents who drove tens of miles to hear his ONE hour speech ........... And now he wants to sit and talk TEN minutes with Nassau residents????
This is a sick PR stunt.
bogart 5 years, 8 months ago
Actual reality.....its the assistants....generals....you knows dem Sheepr....who controls the show....ever see the assistants pull persons aside an whisper....ever see generals knowing where or not where to go.........ever see official people start lookin an lookin at watches..when they fesr the hardship stories being told an dey didnt do nothin...an dey gettin find out.....if the PM ...could get to meet with the persons and talk....you get the picture....sometimes people complain for years an years but seems to get blocked.....suffering...disadvantaged.....positive you know......also bear in mind when the leader gets pulled away too many times....he smart enuff to know dey dont him to find out someting.......happens in politics...business all over.....children do it all the time......sad but true reality.....but its good some tings at least someting happenin for a start........
mandela 5 years, 8 months ago
So in 6 weeks he would have seen 60 persons, hip, hip, hooray, I guess!
TalRussell 5 years, 8 months ago
Ma Comrades, had be secret invite list if this is first public mention "Da PM Will See Ya Now." { You're not supposed just make this pretense stuff up - but still they in PMO, keeps trying to make fools 91,409 voting red shirts 10 May, 2017 }. Even PMO's masquerade "Da PM Will See Ya Now" is in shambles.... but still they seemed have satisfied one they own - Sheeprunner12.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 8 months ago
This guy is simply too full of himself...and consistently makes a fool of himself. Sad.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 8 months ago
"*Mr Newbold also addressed concerns that Family Islanders were not given the same opportunity as those in New Providence to meet the prime minister."
So now he's going to waste time trying to figure out how to waste more time. This system is inefficient. Have a quarterly townhall with questions submitted in advance, one month for submission, one month for review, finalized topics posted a month ahead and carry out that effort in conjunction with the constituency offices. Have a two day "national development plan symposium" at Bahamar twice per year where all the current milestones are addressed and ideas for tweaking put forward. You can break people up into working groups based on the topics submitted and then bring findings to the general body. At the next symposium you assess the progress, feedback loop......so many ways to do it....and no grand fluffy speeches these are strategic "problem solution ways to execute it" meetings. This meet for 10 minutes idea HAD to have been thought up by someone who was at the dominoes table half cocked on August Monday holiday. Because I can't believe trained policy makers think these things up.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 8 months ago
Talk is CHEAP ........... We already have a National Development Plan
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 8 months ago
Sigh, you missed the point. That "plan" is only a piece of paper. To have an effective plan you need to monitor the things you listed on the paper , adjust it as environment changes and switch course as necessary. The purpose of those meetings is to get feedback on how the plan is being executed. "Talk is cheap", my God...this why we is where we is. A national symposium where we get feedback on the country's direction is much more effective than 6 hours spent with 10 people asking for assistance with a 200 dollar light bill. In fact one portion of your symposium could be dedicated to addressing these issues, and you impact thousands instead of tens. There's a better way
bogart 5 years, 8 months ago
Regardless of political affiliaton.....there is a Prime Minister....meetin da people....very clever to get firsthand...info from da trenches.....not the filtered stuff...coming from rich...lobbyists...with dere own agenda....Sir Lynden went to the grassroots...cut to da chase in speeches....Hon. Hubert Ingrahan ...did dis too an cruise round in da little Sentta car by heself.....AD Hanna uses to cruise in he old white pickup truck fallin apart.....imput feedback from the common ordinary people is good not only just 2 weeks before election.....
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