NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Ministry of Public Works (MOPW) is a “pre-eminent” Ministry that is ‘on the move’ said Antoinette Thompson Permanent Secretary.

“It is a ministry that is setting the standards service wide for all public officers to emulate. It is a ministry that is demonstrating that we are not contented with the status quo. We are about change whether we embrace it reluctantly or otherwise,” said Ms. Thompson.

Her comments came as she welcomed guests at a ceremony to handover keys for a new fleet of vehicles for the MOPW, Friday, May 3rd, 2019.

The Ministry has acquired $1.6 million worth of vehicles out of $3 million allocated for transportation for departments in New Providence and the Family Islands. Twenty vehicles, some electric, were handed over to staff during the ceremony and others are expected to be presented over the ensuing weeks.

Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Desmond Bannister said it is “imperative” that efficient and reliable modes of transportation and specialty vehicles are available for employees to execute their functions as they pursue the refurbishment of the national infrastructure.

He said the vehicles were selected based on tasks and by virtue of a needs analysis. Measures will be put in place to care for them, prevent abuse and poor management. Accordingly, stringent policies for oversight of the vehicles have been implemented.

Among the benefits of the acquisition of the fleet listed by Minister Bannister: impact on the country’s ease of doing business, provision of greater access to transportation to facilitate the work of the Ministry, improvement and enhancement of the Ministry’s efficiency in the delivery of service to the general public and enhancement of employee morale.