The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

As the country has become bogged down in a "morass of hopelessness", the National Baptist Convention announced it will do its part to alleviate the problem by forging a partnership with the government to help young people who have found themselves in trouble with the law.

During his final address at the Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention this week, the Rev Dr William Thompson announced that this partnership will be with the Ministry of Social Development.

The outgoing president's address came at 83rd annual session of the convention held at the William Thompson Auditorium on Jean Street on Tuesday.

"I am delighted to report that the Baptist Convention is in process of forming a partnership with the Ministry of Social Development in providing a facility whereby young persons between the ages of 16 and 21, who ran a foul of the law, but who in the country's discretion should be put in the care of an authority other than penal custodian care, these individuals would be housed in special accommodations administer by the Baptist Conventions," he said.

Dr Thompson said the Convention will ensure young individuals at the facility are also educated and provided with certain basic skills.

"We would also be charged with the responsibility of assisting these youngsters to obtain basic education and require relevant vocational skills so that when they return to society they will be employable and an asset," he said.

Dr Thompson addressed other issues in his speech on Tuesday, including matters of crime, the economy, public service, the Marital Rape Bill, ecological imbalance, the Affordable Homes Bill and Baptist education.

He encouraged citizens to take an active interest in matters that affect the country as the government cannot do the job on its own.

"One does not have to be a genius to see that the moral and social fibre of our Bahamian society is coming apart that the seams. Now is the time for every genuine, full-blooded, able-bodied Bahamian to be called upon in a concerted effort along with the government to rescue our nation from the morass of hopelessness and despair which pervades our land," he said.

"It is now 45 years since our founding fathers fought for and won the coveted status of nationhood for these islands. It follows naturally, therefore, that we as citizens of this country should have a more impactful role in the decision making process."

Dr Thompson said the country is in a real dilemma as many Bahamians are faced with so much uncertainty.

"Only a year ago Bahamians flocked by the thousands to the poles to vote in a general election and they voted for a promised change in the welfare of their lives…change that would impact both economically and socially. Today in spite of an increasing effort on the part of authorities to convince population very few Bahamian seem to care about important issues impacting their daily lives," he said.