NASSAU, The Bahamas – Ensuring that the children of The Bahamas are provided with a solid, educational foundation is paramount for the Government of The Bahamas, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell said.

Taking his cue from a sermon preached by Prophetess Shameka Morley, Senior Pastor of Anointed to Reign Kingdom Ministries, Minister Campbell said the government realizes that education is the “sharp cutlass” that is needed to clear a path towards a greater future for Bahamian children everywhere.

“What you are doing today, and what you have done in this community on so many other days, is helping to keep cutlasses sharp; you are helping these young persons by providing them with the relevant tools, with the requisite equipment and supplies heading into the new school year to ensure that they can chop through the weeds of ‘a lack of’ or whatever obstacles that may be in the way of being able to start the new school year off on a positive note.”

Minister Campbell was addressing students, parents and church members attending the second annual Anointed to Reign Kingdom Ministries Back-to-School Jamboree held on the Church’s grounds (Saturday, August 3). Minister Campbell applauded church officials for maintaining the partnership with the Ministry of Social Services and the community it serves.  He was joined at the Jamboree by Mrs. Patricia Minnis, Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister.

“I remember attending a church service here once and saw the Senior Pastor (Prophetess Morley) ascend the pulpit with a cutlass in hand. I was trying to figure out what she was about to do, but quickly realized that she was using the cutlass as a form of symbolism, an allegory to the fact that in order to cut through the weeds, the bushes of the obstacles and challenges of we will face in life, you need a sharp cutlass.

“That symbolism was not lost on me and has stayed with me ever since and so when we think of some of the social ills that are facing us in The Bahamas, we know that one basic thing that is going to help cut through some of those challenges they face is ensuring they use their time in school wisely to get a good education that is being offered. Being able to get a quality education is like that symbolic cutlass. As a community, we need to ensure that our children get the best possible education that they can; as parents, we have to encourage our children to get the best possible education that they can, and you, as children, have to ensure that you take advantage of all of the opportunities to get a well-rounded education.”

Minister Campbell said Saturday’s Jamboree helped to provide the 200 students who received assistance with “no excuses” for showing up for the new school year, and that “The Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development is working towards ensuring that no person in The Bahamas falls through the cracks of not having; that no person in The Bahamas falls through the cracks of not being able to do the basic things and among those basic things, is being able to go to school and get an education.”

Minister Campbell said officials at the Ministry, and indeed the Government of The Bahamas, are looking for the kind of public/private partnerships than will drive the country ‘forward, upward and onward.’

“A partner is somebody who has similar thinking, and is working towards the same goals that you are working towards and with similar expected results or outcomes: It is an awesome pleasure for me to be here because we have found another partner in Anointed to Reign Kingdom Ministries.

“We are most grateful when institutions and entities such as the Church partner with us to ensure that our children get the love and attention they deserve and the tools and opportunities they need to become the best that they can, because the government cannot do it alone,” Minister Campbell said.