New Providence Won’t See Local Gov’t This Year

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A campaign promise made by the Progressive Liberal Party won’t happen this year, according to Minister for Local Government, Clay Sweeting, who government is looking to work out a few deficiencies first.

Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting says local government will not come to New Providence this year, as government looks to address deficiencies with local government on the Family Islands.

The revelation came as parliamentarians went through various heads of the 2022/2023 budget.

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard said he saw no allocation for the expansion in the budget.

In the run-up to the September 16th General Election, the Progressive Liberal Party promised to introduce local government in New Providence.

Pintard asked if the two consultants will address the expansion throughout the country.

To that, Sweeting said they along with a 19-member team, are already meeting with stakeholders on the Family Islands.

The plan he said is to address the issues before local government is expanded to the capital.

The former FNM administration also promised local government for New Providence, forming an advisory committee that submitted a report in 2019.

The committee’s plan divided New Providence into five districts.