Under the licences to be awarded by
URCA, and from the time that the licences are awarded, NewCo will be required,
on a phased basis, to satisfy the following
coverage obligations:
Within 3 months: 99% in New
Providence and 80% in Grand
Bahama;
Within 6 months: 75% in each of
Eleuthera, Abaco, Bimini, Andros and
Exuma (including Black Point, Little
Farmers Cay, Staniel Cay and
Stocking Island);
Within 8 months: 85% in Andros and
99% in each of Grand Bahama,
Eleuthera, Abaco, Bimini and Exuma ;
Within 12 months: 99% in each of
Andros, Cat Island, Long Island, San
Salvador, Berry Islands, Inagua and
Ragged Island;
[18]
2016/2017
DRAFT
ESTIMATES
OF REVENUE &
EXPENDITURE
Within 18 months: 9 9% in each of
Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay,
Rum Cay and Mayaguana; and
Within 24 months: 80% in each of the
remaining Exuma Cays.
I wish to emphasize what the coverage
obligation under the licences will entail. A
99% coverage requirement, for example,
means that NewCo will have to ensure
that reliable service is available in 99% of
the places where persons habitually live
and traverse.
It should be noted that NewCo’s performance with respect to its licence obligations will be secured by a Performance
Bond to be submitted to URCA within
fourteen (14) days of the licences being
granted.
Over and above the roll-out obligations in
the licences, the Government will also enter into a Deed of Undertaking with CBL
to facilitate accelerated roll-out, if needed,
in the context of contemplated development on specific Family Islands in the
southern Bahamas.
The benefits expected from cellular liberalization will support the broader sustainable development goals of our country’s
National Development Plan.
MODERNIZING OTHER SECTORS
Mr. Speaker,
We have also endeavoured to modernize
and enhance the sports and cultural sector,
as well as the agricultural sector, through
the establishment of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Institute.
In addition, legislation has now been completed for the establishment of the University of The Bahamas.
The Government recognizes the magnificent contributions of our sports heroes
and heroines at home and abroad. In further support of sports development at all
levels and in all disciplines, the Government will continue with the development
of facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Sports
Centre through the construction of a new
National Baseball Stadium and through the
construction of sports complexes in our
islands, commencing with Moores Island,
Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma and Andros.
We have also regularized the domestic
gaming sector with the introduction of
regulation and appropriate taxation.
And we have introduced a modern regulatory framework for the financial services
sector, in line with international standards.
Mr. Speaker,
This is but a brief snapshot of the many
actions that my Government has taken
over the past four years to address the
significant challenges that our nation faces
and thereby steer us onto a path toward a
better future for all Bahamians.
These are not mere palliative, short-term
and thus inevitably ineffective measures focused only on the span of our current fiveyear mandate. They represent a bold and
aggressive agenda of deep and fundamental structural reform that addresses several
of the grave challenges that confront our
nation. They will bear fruit in the form of
significant and durable improvements in
the performance of our economy and the
welfare of our citizens.
Mr. Speaker,
I dare to suggest that this is an impressive
record of achievement. Going forward, my
Government remains firmly committed to
building on these reforms with the action
plans that will be identified in the forthcoming National Development Plan that
will set out a National Vision and Objectives for the next 25 years. As I mentioned
earlier, the recent State of The Nation Report represents the initial diagnostic phase
of the NDP process. That is now being
followed by an extensive process of national consultations, through which Bahamians are being given an opportunity to
provide their input into the development
of the NDP. In the third stage, we will be
developing the Plan through the identification of a National Vision and Goals, along
with Strategies to meet each of the Goals
and action plans for each of the Strategies.
The State of the Nation Report has identified our strengths and weaknesses in respect of each of the four key pillars of the
NDP. Going forward, it will be critical to
aggressively address the weaknesses identified, in order to achieve the overriding
economic and social goals of our National
Vision for the next 25 years.