The Nassau Guardian
PM honored to celebrate BNGIS 10th anniversary
Prime Minister Perry G. Christie said on July 21, 2014 that he was honored to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the reactivation of the Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems (BNGIS) Centre because when he saw that, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was lack of planning as far as geospatial considerations for building and infrastructure, he "resurrected" the program.
"In 2004, I reactivated the center with a view to using modern technology, such as geographic information systems, to help guide strategic economic development planning and to also improve agency-wide efficiencies and services to the general public," Christie said, during the official ceremony held at the Paul Farquharson Conference Centre at Police Headquarters on East Street. Also among the senior government officials and stakeholders present were Minister of The Environment and Housing Kenred Dorsett; Minister of Health Dr. Perry Gomez; Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation Hope Strachan; Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security Sen. Keith Bell; Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade and BNGIS Centre Director Carolann Albury.
Christie added that the reactivation of the center was also important for the implementation of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Land Use Planning and Administrative Project (LUPAP), which was executed by the BNGIS Centre.
He noted that there are many examples of the work that the center has performed for The Bahamas - from assisting the National Emergency Management Agency's (NEMA) emergency function to "protecting the physical Bahamas".
"When we passed the legislation, we were taking a giant step to ensure that we institutionalize the work they are doing," he added. Christie pointed out that this was done so that no matter which government is in power, it would not affect the work of the BNGIS.
"There are examples, whether in my term or Ingraham's term or Pindling's term, where lack of planning has cost the governments of the time a lot. Therefore, we are all obliged to empower any planning facility, any planning agency, and get them to work because that is the way you pass on this country to future generations with minimal degradation."
Christie said the work of the BNGIS Centre is intended to assist the country in managing its resources, monitoring its activities in The Bahamas and is indeed "critical". "It does not make a lot of waves. It is not highly publicized and is not, therefore, truly appreciated and understood; but it is, ultimately, its work that puts us in a position to ensure that our country will survive in terms of planning, to give the police an opportunity to do better, more effective policing. It's the center’s work that is directly tied to those things," Christie said.
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