FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg was in Grand Bahama on Monday, October 4, 2021 on a fact-finding mission, visiting a number of proposed office sites for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. He also visited the Grand Bahama Track and Field Stadium to get a look at conditions there.

“The whole purpose of me coming to Grand Bahama was not just to look at the facilities and see what needs to be done, but we also wanted to meet with the staff at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to understand their needs as it relates to how we could make this Ministry the ‘number one Ministry’ in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” Minister Bowleg said during a media briefing following his visit.

“We always talk about how the youth are our future and we speak about the impact sports can bring to a country, so I believe that more focus needs to be on this Ministry as it relates to the impact it can have on this country.”

Minister Bowleg acknowledged the situation in Grand Bahama, where staff members of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture were out of a permanent home and working space since the passing of Hurricane Dorian, due to damages to their facilities. He said his first task in Grand Bahama is to see how best he can find a suitable, comfortable working environment and office space for those staff members.

“The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in Grand Bahama should have their own building, but for now, we have looked at three spots that we would like to rent and renovate, so staff members can feel comfortable and at home,” said Minister Bowleg.

“In order for people to be productive, they must be able to spend hours in a comfortable place to carry out their work.”

As for the sporting complex, Minister Bowleg noted that while the facility is still in some good standing, he said that the facilities are in need of improvement. He considers Grand Bahama to be a hub where major, premium facilities can be constructed to bring tourists within the sporting world to Grand Bahama.

“That’s why I wanted to also meet with the Minister of Grand Bahama, Minister Moxey, to ensure that we partner together, get some PPPs going and make Grand Bahama vibrant again through sports, through the youth and with culture,” said Minister Bowleg.

“Grand Bahama is a sleeping giant and we need to wake Grand Bahama’s economy back up and I believe that my Ministry can do a lot, along with Tourism and the Ministry of Grand Bahama, to get that done.”