By DANA SMITH
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
PARLIAMENTARY Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Urban Development Renward Wells has weighed in on the ongoing criticism of the government's decision not to renew the contracts of 80 Urban Renewal employees.
Mr Wells said the decision was based on the PLP's overall vision for Urban Renewal 2.0, as the government wants employees who share and are "able to carry out" their plan.
"This government is working and we as a government have a vision for Urban Renewal - a vision that requires so much more than Urban Renewal has been doing over the past five years," he said.
"Oftentimes - Jesus himself put it this way - you don't take old wine and put it into new wine skins because at the end of the day, you have to be assured that the personnel that you have both embody that vision and are capable of carrying out the vision you desire."
He described the PLP's vision for Urban Renewal as "deep and broad" and including aspects such as clearing derelict houses and bringing in Social Services and police to "deal with issues".
"We want a compendium of persons who share that vision," Mr Wells said, before noting: "Let it be remembered, we didn't fire anybody, their contracts have expired."
He said it is always up to any government to decide whether or not to proceed with employees whose contracts have expired.
"Let's not forget, Mr Ingraham (former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham) did the exact same thing in 2007 and as they said back then, it was all about his vision of what he believed Urban Renewal should have been - which is there should have been no Urban Renewal," Mr Wells said. "We believe differently and we're acting accordingly."
The PLP released a statement on Monday responding to outrage over its decision not to renew the contracts of the Urban Renewal employees, by declaring the party has a mandate to organise the scheme as it sees fit.
Following criticism of the move by FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Senator Dion Foulkes, who wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister, the PLP rejected the opposition's right to complain, considering its own handling of Urban Renewal while in office.
A party statement said: "The people of the Bahamas gave the PLP a mandate to create Urban Renewal 2.0 in the fight against this insidious scourge of crime.
"It is the legal right and responsibility of the government to review available manpower resources and allocate the same as it sees fit to ensure the success of its policy objectives.
"The PLP is intolerant of lectures from the FNM who stopped, watered down and politicised Urban Renewal, rendering it virtually ineffective in the fight against crime."
On Tuesday, some workers whose contracts were terminated told the press they are in the process of gathering the documents they need to reapply for their current positions.
Comments
nationbuilder 12 years, 4 months ago
"Oftentimes - Jesus himself put it this way - you don't take old wine and put it into new wine skins because at the end of the day, you have to be assured that the personnel that you have both embody that vision and are capable of carrying out the vision you desire."
Anything dumber than this should be growing in Botanical Gardens.
spoitier 12 years, 4 months ago
I'm against PLP and FNM politics but what part of what part of he said is dumb? He is correct in that aspect and it makes political sense until voters change their mindset on this type of stuff. Being a christian nation, Bahamians is like members of a church who sing Amen everytime a pastor message catch his brother but when the message catch them then they mad with everybody, if something is wrong, it is wrong when it benefit you or not.
sburrows 12 years, 4 months ago
I find it most disturbing when Political figures quote Jesus Christ...I also must say that Ingraham simply took the Police out of the Urban Renewal offices and put them back on the streets..the staff remained (PLP and FNM). What really matters here is that a large number of people are now without a job...maybe that's how this new government focuses on "job" creation. Let's see just what this Urban Renewal is all about...so far still seems like the same old one to me...just with fewer employees.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 4 months ago
I AGREE AND WE ONLY QUOTE THE PARTS OF THE BIBLE WE LIKE OR SUITS OUR PURPOSE ,,THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS IF A WOMEN MARRIES AND IS FOND NOT TO BE A VIRGIN ,SHE SHOULD BE TAKING TO HER FATHERS HOME AND STONED TO DEATH ,,DON,T FIND TOO MANY OF US GOING ROUND SHOUTING FOR THAT,,,LOL
concernedcitizen 12 years, 4 months ago
DIDN,T SOMEONE JUST GET MURDER ON QUAKOO STREET NOT A HUNDRED YDS FROM THE POLICE STATION ,,,,,GOOD LUCK W/ URBAN RENEWAL ,,THERES NO MAGIC BULLET ITS US KILLING US ,,,,,,,TOO MANY BABIES HAVING BABIES W/ LITTLE CHILDISH BOYS ,,,,,,,,A SOCIETY CAN NOT BE RESPONSABLE WITH OUT RESPONSABLE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
licks2 12 years, 4 months ago
Mr Wells has been a champion of fairness and non-discriminatory practices in government for many years! Now, all of a sudden, he has become a beacon of victimisation. The PLP can not justify their "firing" of those persons from Urban Renewal no matter how they to explain their reasons for letting them go. . .and Mr. Wells knows better. . .or should I say he once said that he know better!!! He just shows that a politician is just a politician. . .they want power. . .even if they have to lie to the people to get it!! The only difference between Bradley Roberts and Mr. Wells. . .is their names. Both are just full of stuff!!! God help the PLP. . .because I tell you. . .the Bahamian people will vote their form of government out in 2017!!
TalRussell 12 years, 4 months ago
So, now the red shirts really messing up when they start finding fault with Jesus? Maybe they too used to bowing before Hubert?
The red shirts have what Dr. King called the "if faith" ... if only we can grab power back from Hubert's former law partner?
PM Christie gots the "go faith" and not some "if faith." He gots the 'go faith," to return paychecks back to the 60,000 natives them red shirts left without any paychecks or under pay checks.
The red shirts felt the roll of Jesus thunder on Decision Day 2012. The natives didn't bow before the leader of the red shirts then, and they ain't going run scared cause they sent home 20 red shirts that got they job through politics in the first place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOjpaIO2…
Concerned 12 years, 4 months ago
Mr. Wells, what does the bible say about the blind leading the blind and their soon to be problem with an open ditch?
sburrows 12 years, 4 months ago
I'm neither red, green or yellow shirt. As citizens of the Bahamas, we have all rights to criticize, an speak out about any decision or action taken by the government (be it a red, yellow or green shirt leader). Whenever a Politician quotes Scripture, he is 95% of the times trying to appeal to the masses ignorance, and is often using it as a manipulating tool. I was never a fan of the Urban Renewal scheme...just like any program, it had it's good and bad points. What's disturbing is the perception given by the PLP to the masses that the former government did away with the Urban Renewal project which is obviously a blatant lie, and the masses fell for it. But Mr. Wells, don't fall into the Political stencil of using scripture for bulls- -t reasons! Those employees were fired, that is that! The government has a right to fire it's employees.
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