NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Government has employed some 150 persons to work on structured projects in New Providence and the Family Islands, Minister of Public Works and Transport Neko C Grant said at a press conference, Wednesday, February 3. 

The projects include street naming and house numbering exercises throughout New Providence, repair of cemeteries in New Providence, automation of the vehicle and driver’s license data at the Road Traffic Department, maintenance of public road and Government buildings in Family Islands and sorting of mail. 

Minister Grant said, “The six month National Jobs Program is designed to create 2,500 jobs throughout The Bahamas.” 

Ministry officials in attendance included Nicole Campbell, Undersecretary, Gordon Major, Acting Director; Bruce Walker, Deputy Permanent Secretary and Ursula Chisholm, Human Resource Manager.  

Phase one of the street naming and house numbering exercises include the southeastern portion of New Providence that is bound by Robinson Road/Prince Charles Drive in the north, East street in the west, Fox Hill Road in the east and the sea in the south. 

“The street naming and house numbering are historic exercises which have as their primary objectives the posting of street sign names for all the streets in New Providence and correctly numbering the houses, thereby making it easier to locate streets, businesses and homes throughout New Providence,” he said. 

Employees assigned to the house numbering projects will use existing maps to conduct field surveys where there are deficiencies to number buildings and make corrections to those incorrectly numbered in the past. 

The Minister requested the support and cooperation of the public in allowing the employees to access their properties for the house numbering exercise. He emphasized that employees will be properly identified. 

Survey data will be placed into a searchable electronic database for archiving purposes and for use in researching names for new roads, he said. The employees will produce and install the required street signs throughout New Providence. 

Employees assigned to the cemeteries will be engaged in repairs to damaged curbing of tombs, replacement of missing slabs, patching and painting of perimeter walls. The cemeteries include Old Trail, Southern, Eastern and Fox Hill cemeteries. 

Automation of vehicle and driver’s license databases in Employees assigned to the Road Traffic Department’s New Providence and Grand Bahama will be required to verify written records that will be placed into a searchable electronic database. 

The painting and beautification of Government buildings, public road maintenance and clearing of verges on public roads are among the tasks that employees in the Family Islands will be involved in. 

A two-day training workshop is presently being conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for the employees.  

Photo: Public Works and Transport Minister the Hon Neko C Grant speaks about the Ministry of Works’ Temporary Employment Program during a press conference on February 3. (BIS photo/Letisha Henderson)