FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Hundreds of Beautiful Grand Bahama workers cheered when told by Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey on Friday that their 12-week work programme has been extended for 12 additional weeks.

The employees are from all communities of the island.

While addressing the employees at the Grand Lucayan, Minister Moxey said, “Your hard work and dedication has begun delivering the results we, at the Ministry for Grand Bahama, envisioned when we launched this program back in April.

“We wanted to give hope, provide an opportunity for our young people, especially our inner-city residents, to make an honest living, while also helping to revitalize their communities by tackling issues that have negatively affected the environment and diminished the historical and cultural beauty of our beloved island, which affects its attractiveness as a world-class destination.”

The goal of the programme, she said, is to transform lives and communities.

“Many of you here today, are mothers, fathers, siblings, and possibly the main breadwinners in your household, and the time you’ve dedicated to this program has restored your faith in our island’s recovery.”

It was the belief of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis, when assigning her to the Ministry, she continued, that Grand Bahama could be one of the most powerful economies in the country.

The programme, the Minister continued, is designed to transform communities, and not just a cleanup campaign.

Minister Moxey then pointed out how the transformations have already begun:  Tripp Circle Project is designed to house displaced families to provide short-term housing relief, including trauma counseling and a job readiness programme to help them get back on their feet; the Peel Street Project is designed to transform a historic site for national security into a Police Museum and Cultural Centre for visitors and residents to enjoy; the Pinder’s Point Historic Lighthouse area will be converted into a community visitor attraction and entrepreneurship centre, as part of the Community Tourism & Cultural Initiative; the Pelican Bay Festival Grounds will be transformed into another tourism & cultural center for East Grand Bahama, to create year-round economic activity for the residents; and work in West Grand Bahama, to transform the community from Eight Mile Rock to West End, clearing bushes and debris, beautifying spaces for both residents and visitors to enjoy.

The government, she said, is committed to “rebuilding, revolutionizing, and restoring Grand Bahama but we cannot do it without your help. The people of Grand Bahama are courageous and resilient; it is finally Grand Bahama’s time, and the Ministry for Grand Bahama wants to assist you with preparing yourselves for future opportunities.”

To assist the employees further, continued Minister Moxey, Pastor Barry Morris was invited to assist those who may have made choices in their past and now have a record.  Representatives were also present from the Labour Department and Immigration to further assist with those areas.

“Like I’ve been saying all along, this is what Beautiful Grand Bahama is all about – it’s a holistic approach to rebuilding our communities and the lives of our people.”

Minister Moxey then announced that the programme has been extended for an additional 12 weeks and the room erupted with cheers.

As a surprise for the Minister, Corey Nixon serenaded her on the saxophone with an Alicia Keys song, “If I Aint Got You.” In response to this, Minister Moxey used the opportunity to inform the employees of the $5,000 grant for the Orange Economy.

The Minister closed the event with, “See you on Monday.”

CLOSING CEREMONY – Hundreds of residents gathered in the Ballroom of the Grand Lucayan Resort on Friday, July 1 for the closing ceremony of Beautiful Grand Bahama, a 12-week initiative geared towards cleaning up every community on the island. During the ceremony, Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, explained what is intended for the areas the employees had been working in. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

PROGRAMME EXTENDED – The Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey on Friday, July 1 announced to hundreds of employees of the Beautiful Grand Bahama initiative that the programme has been extended for an additional 12 weeks. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

SWEET SERENADE – Saxophonist Corey Nixon serenaded Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey on Friday, July 1 at the Grand Lucayan Ballroom at the end of the Closing Ceremony of the Beautiful Grand Bahama 12-week initiative. Minister Moxey explained that there is a $5,000 grant for the Orange Economy where talented artists and creatives can receive funding. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)