Mother Pratt Foundation donates cleaning supplies to MoH

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

“HUNDREDS” of cleaning supplies and utensils were donated to The Ministry of Health for clinics and other facilities throughout The Bahamas on Friday, from the Cynthia Mother Pratt Foundation, with help from supporters and sponsors in the United States.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, through her foundation, donated hundreds of hand sanitisers, gloves, facial masks and Clorox disinfectant cleaners, housed in a 40 feet container trailer.

The presentation was made at the foundation’s current base outside of Mother Pratt’s church, Prayer and Praise Assembly, on Ragged Island Street.

Mother Pratt presented the donation to Health Minister Michael Darville, and expressed her appreciation for the donations.

“We are grateful to present these donations,” she said. “We do care. And we are concerned. Every day when you speak about health care in our country. And some of the challenges that we’re facing? We stop and think what can I do instead of complaining?

What can I do to help my country? And so that’s why I’m delighted to be a part of this.”

Mother Pratt added: “And, of course, I want to thank those donors who have sent this from the United States. And these have been sponsors for us now for many years. It is because of giving people, who want to give. We don’t look for anything in return. But we want to see our country move forward in a healthy way.

“We are proud to be able to present them to the Ministry of Health. We have masks. We also have gloves. We have hand sanitisers, all of those things can be distributed to the clinics and to different areas, the schools and all of that and that’s what we are about. And so we are trying our best to see how we can help in a small way,” she said. Health Minister Dr Darville expressed his gratitude to Mother Pratt and her foundation, adding that the items donated will go where they are supposed to go.

“Today, I’m pleased to be here with Mother Pratt to accept this gift on behalf of the Bahamian people in the government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas that will be earmarked for our clinics, not only in New

Providence but throughout the Family Islands,” he said.

“These supplies will go where they’re supposed to go. Today, it’s the Ministry of Health. And we are so pleased to be a part of this great gift. And I’m certain that it will go a long way,” he said.

Dr Darville said the supplies “are absolutely vital, for sanitisation of our clinics”.

“These supplies will be distributed throughout the Family Islands in order for us to be able to ensure that those individuals who come to our clinic come to an environment that is completely sanitised. Mother Pratt did say something, that COVID is still with us. But there’s also lots of upper respiratory tract infections this time of the year. The same sanitisation mechanisms for COVID exist for upper respiratory tract infections,” Dr Darville said.

Last year, the Cynthia Mother Pratt Foundation with help from supporters also donated more than 35,000 pairs of footwear to the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development for both New Providence and Grand Bahama.

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE new Nassau Cruise Port is more than 90 percent completed, according to its chief executive officer Michael Maura who said the port’s opening remains on schedule for the last week of May.

Mr Maura on Friday led Transport and Housing Minister JoBeth ColebyDavis, other government officials and members of the media on a tour of the development.

Following the tour, Mr Maura told reporters: “We’re 100 per cent (completed) on the marine works, which obviously is the most important part. That’s in effect the cash register for the court, because that’s for the ships and the passengers and then we are about 90 percent (completed) in terms of our upland works.”

“Now, it’s a partnership with our tenants, obviously, because what we’re providing on the commercial areas is shelling for and so the tenants have to do their own fit out but everyone’s walking and rolling… so we’re excited.”

He said while the construction phase was not a walk in the park, it probably was the easiest part of the entire process.

“The challenging part of operating a facility of this size is, you know, dealing with the operational challenges, dealing with people and so forth and so from that perspective, we wanted to make sure we had clearly defined policies and procedures,” he added.

“And we also wanted to make sure that we had independent audit of those policies and procedures and so we embarked on five different ISOs - everything from health and safety, to event management because obviously, having this amphitheater, and having all of these events, fun events that are happening, we want to make sure that they are managed appropriately, and that experience is positive.”

Key features of the port include the arrivals terminal, the Junkanoo museum and the amphitheater among others, with more than $300m invested in the project to date.

For her part, Mrs ColebyDavis hailed the port’s transformation, telling reporters “I think it’s going to be an awesome experience for our tourists and I’m excited.”

She also assured that when the port opens, transport operators will also be able to benefit.

“It’s important for me to make sure that every Bahamian gets a little piece (of the pie) and feels a little bit of entrepreneurial joy when this port opens. Our surrey drivers, they’re so dedicated to giving that horse and carriage experience and so I just wanted to just get reassured that there are some informational guidelines for tourists that may be interested, because they are going to be outside of the port.”

She added: “And for the taxi drivers, I just wanted to speak more so in everyone having a piece of the pie and so that we have a properly run and manage call up system and I’ve been assured that it is going to be in place.”

Asked yesterday if the port department planned to implement fees for vendors in the area, she replied: “Well, the port department has been doing a review of first our legislation, second our policy and then our partnership and our collaborative efforts.”

“And so, where we go from there would depend on what that review brings back to me. it’s a research process internally and they are producing a report for me ahead of the June/July budget period.”

“And so, I can’t say for sure that any increases are at the top of our mind right now. I just know that we want to make sure that we are doing our checks and balances properly so that the experience is a safe one and that many persons return to support the persons that are licenced and registered by the port department.”

THE MINISTRY of Transport and Housing and the National Maritime Policy Implementation Committee (NMPIC) hosted a National Maritime Exhibition and Career Fair, March 14-16, 2023 at The Mall at Marathon.

Its mission: Combining Preservation, Conservation, Education, Tourism, Enforcement and Economic Development... ‘For Empowerment That Leaves No One Behind.’ Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Philip ‘Brave’ Davis is pictured chatting with persons at the exhibition, March 16, along with Minister of Transport and Housing JoBeth Coleby-Davis, and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Myles LaRoda.

Present was Chair of the NMPIC, Reverend Angela Palacious, other committee officials and maritime industry stakeholders.

In the above photo: Prime Minister Davis is pictured centre; with Minister Coleby-Davis, centre right; Chair of NMPIC Rev. Angela Palacious, centre left; President of LJM Maritime Academy Dr. Brendamae Cleare, and other maritime industry executives.

The fair plays an important part in exposing the public, young and old, to aspects and opportunities of the maritime sector.

Thompson