A national dialogue to help shape National Development Plan On the occasion of the 2015 2016 Budget Communication, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas unveiled Stronger Bahamas, a new, non-partisan national policy development, public engagement and communications initiative.

The plan represents a new vision for the future of The Bahamas. It calls on all Bahamians, from all political parties and all walks of life, to work together to promote safe, prosperous and modern future for all. Stronger Bahamas will bring policy focus to three major public objectives – reducing crime, creating jobs and stimulating the economy, and improving education and social programs.

“We have – for the past 18 weeks – engaged in an intense period of listening. We have asked thousands of Bahamians – in person, at Town Halls, in facilitated discussions and national surveys – to consider how citizens, civil society, the opposition and Government can work together to build a Stronger Bahamas for all Bahamians,” said Prime Minister Christie. “Loudly and clearly, Bahamians told us that now is the time to sharpen our focus on building a safer Bahamas, a more prosperous Bahamas and, through a world class education system and targeted social investment, a modern Bahamas.”

The Government’s response to these priorities will be organized under three pillars:

• Safer Bahamas: Preventing crime, improving the justice system and reducing the incidence of violent crime.
• Prosperous Bahamas: Creating jobs, stimulating the economy, promoting the acceleration of domestic investment, and increasing foreign investment; and
• Modern Bahamas: Improving education and modernizing social programs such as National Health Insurance.

“To build a Stronger Bahamas, Bahamians must be united and work together. To that end, our Government is launching, through the work of the National Development Plan Steering Committee, a national conversation on how to make The Bahamas a safe, prosperous, and modern country now, and for generations to come.”

Stronger Bahamas also asks Bahamians for their feedback on important issues in The Bahamas. Persons can contribute to the conversation in a number of ways, including through social media and WhatsApp. The Stronger Bahamas website also contains a short questionnaire that Bahamians can fill out to provide feedback.

Finally, the Government is conducting in-person discussion groups on 11 islands to listen to what Bahamians think needs to be done to promote growth in The Bahamas. All feedback will be compiled and will be used when drafting the National Development Plan, which is the long-term roadmap for growth in The Bahamas.