Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis speaks to members and guests of Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise on the issue of “Opportunities for Public and Private Partnerships”, during the Rotary Club’s Officers Installation Programme, held at the British Colonial Hilton, on July 4, 2013. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis told members
and guests of Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise, on July 4, 2013, that free
communication between leaders of both private and public sectors on
a regular, ongoing basis is essential to partnership that returns benefits
to all.
“Public / private partnership is not considered
to be a novel concept,” Deputy Prime Minister Davis said. “The
desirability of these arrangements is widely recognised by international
agencies.”
Deputy Prime Minister Davis spoke on the issue of
“Opportunities for Public and Private Partnerships” during the Rotary
Club’s Officers Installation Programme, held at the British Colonial
Hilton.
“These organisations have acknowledged the potential
generally of public/private partnerships in contributing to good governance,
the strengthening of democracy, as well as sustainable economic and
social development,” he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Davis said that while discussing
public / private partnerships, however, one must remain cognisant of
the circumstances – some of which are “very unique” – that
give rise to the creation of such arrangements.
“Some are time-specific and serve a particular purpose,
others move along as perpetual arrangements,” he said. “While
certain public / private partnership arrangements as described in various
settings and countries may lend greater clarity to this issue, there
remain some issues and challenges associated with public / private partnerships
that are more apparent with the progression of time and require longitudinal
studies.”
For many years, Deputy Prime Minister Davis pointed
out, public / private partnerships, from a community-based perspective,
were created most commonly in developed and developing countries to
meet some of their populations’ basic needs, thereby addressing social
gaps.
“In the earliest stages of the evolution of this
concept, it formed the basis for the creation of greater equality in
societies, which subsequently translated into its advancement as a part
of national development agenda,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Davis said that, in reflecting
on the history of The Bahamas, this trend is also evident.
“Through the work of churches, quasi-government
agencies and NGOs (non-government organisations), the social, health
and education sectors have had the benefit of the delivery of a myriad
of services through private investment in and services,” Deputy Prime
Minister Davis said.
As examples, Deputy Prime Minister Davis pointed out
how churches along with private individuals have built primary and secondary
schools, the National Insurance Board and private individuals have built
health-care clinics and NGOs, civic groups – including Rotary –
and other private entities have made “significant” contributions
to the social welfare of the less fortunate in Bahamian communities.
“These investments have all complemented and expanded
access to the services that are offered by the Government,” Deputy
Prime Minister Davis said.
