"We" News

Dear WTP Members:

Some of you may be thinking that its seems that we have fallen off the face of the planet. Not so!!! We have been “working and doing”.

Since our last communication we have been progressing well. We have put quite a bit of focus and attention into three of our major projects and are seeing the results of those efforts. As such, this note is intended to both summarize their status and solicit your continued support. They are as follows:


Emotional Intelligence School Pilot Programme with 6 Seconds:

1. Given the dynamics of the proposal and the eventual incorporation into the public and overall educational system, it was necessary to engage Government at the highest level within the Department and Ministry of Education to ensure potential sustainability. This “buy-in” has been achieved in full.

2. So far 2012 meetings and communication with the Ministry of Education has advanced the proposal and expanded the concept of the pilot. Originally, two schools were identified – Uriah McPhee Primary and C.V. Bethel Senior High School. Discussions have expanded that offering to include school participation at all appropriate levels of primary and secondary school learning and now include T. A. Thompson as the junior high school and Genesis Academy as an additional Private Primary School. The grade levels will be 5th, 8th and 11th grades and pilot over 800 students.

3. The Planning committee now consists of WTP representatives (inclusive of project author and lead, Yvette Bethel) and the Ministry of Education (representatives include the MOE Permanent Secretary and the four New Providence District Superintendants).

4. The immediate next step is an Orientation Session scheduled for February 23rd with approximately 100 Family Life Teachers and Guidance Counsellors. This session will be facilitated by 6 Seconds and will introduce the teachers/ counselors to the Model and advise them (generally speaking) on how to integrate the curriculum into their schools.

5. Content areas identified and confirmed by the Ministry include bullying, anger management, conflict resolution and self-regulation.

6. Benchmark Survey (for students, teachers and parents), learning environment assessments, workshops and coaching are all scheduled in two phases beginning in June. Curriculum implementation begins in the new school year September.

More details are available for those interested in this particular programme. Of course, this comes at a cost (as does progress) so we are asking members – corporate and individual – who can, to assist as sponsors or pointers in the right direction (smile). Working closely with the schools and witnessing firsthand the behavior of some of our youth in the classroom and on the streets, we can say without doubt, more emotional intelligence in needed in decision-making.


Police Athletic League (PAL):

It’s highly anticipated and we’ve got a lot of good news to report!

1. As previously mentioned, the structure of the programme will have students engaged in afterschool sports and other activities under the watchful eye and guidance of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). At the year-end meeting with the Commissioner and his executives, the RBPF assigned officers to work directly with the PAL programme as coaches. This is a crucial element to the sustainability of the partnership. The call for volunteers to you the membership were well received and several dozen of you expressed interest (Thank You).

2. We have identified the South Beach Police Station/ CV Bethel School and the Carmichael Police Station/ Gerald Cash school as the first two official PAL “centres”. Children ages 8 thru 17 (grades 5 – 12) will participate in the programme each weekday.

3. Prior to the commencement of the sporting activity at the police station courts, at the school sites the first hour will be used to ensure homework is began or completed under the supervision of volunteers and teachers. In addition, regular (monthly) guest speakers will also be coordinated to speak to the children on topics that build character and life-long skills (such as family planning, ethics, dispute resolution & anger management, creative & critical thinking, etc).

4. We will begin with boys and add the girls to the programme at a later date. Each centre will begin with 60 kids divided into three teams – one for each age category; primary, junior and senior. This will allow each centre to have two teams in each category for each sport.

5. Basketball will be the first sport. The basketball courts at Carmichael and South Beach Police Stations will be used. Each court will be undergo enhancements and upgrades inclusive of basket and rim replacements, court resurfacing, bleacher repairs or installation, and team benches. The cost of the upgrades at these two locations is graciously being donated by Kerzner International under the guidance of the Bahamas Basketball Federation.

6. Basketball will be followed by baseball in the spring and then soccer into the summer. Games will be played every other week.

7. Other centres will follow in 2013 and beyond as funding and community support allows.


Government House Grounds Renovation & Beautification:

This continues to be the most ambitious of the projects to date, but certainly the one with the most touch and feel potential. Since our last update we have accomplished the following and hope to be able to advance the plan at the earliest opportunity:

Government House is our national ‘home of the people’ as it houses our head of state. As such, large project like this needs its share of stakeholder consultations and “approvals” even before it can be taken to The Cabinet which provides final endorsement. Such has been the activity over the past several months.

1. Approvals in principle have been received and documented from the Antiquities Monuments & Museum Corporation (AMMC), The Minister of Culture (Hon. Charles Maynard), The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham) and Governor General (Sir Arthur Foulkes). Meetings have also been had with representatives from all of the major cruise lines who have shown a keen interest in promoting a ‘Government House’ attraction/ tour to its millions of travelers. In addition we are extremely pleased to have the immediate past Chairperson of the AMMC, Mrs. Orry J. Sands as and integral part of the team that will bring this project to fruition.

2. With such ‘endorsements’ of the concept received, next steps have involved the fleshing out of the conceptual plans for the improvements to the grounds and approaching additional stakeholders relative to the development of a full project and business plan.
 
3. While work continues on the Conceptual Master Plan, a Marketing plan has been developed with input from tourism industry professionals in the fields of tours, attractions and visitor experience.

4. We are now in the process of detailing the plan, with a view to obtaining costing.

5. After we have final plans and costs out, we will focus all of our efforts on a funding plan.
 
6. Legislative framework for the administration of the National Treasures will be drafted and presented along with package for presentation to government for approval.

7. Once final approvals are obtained construction will commence.

Best regards,
Ed Fields & Philip Simon
We The People (Bahamas) Ltd.
Telephone: (242) 323-7333
Fax: (242) 323-2998
Email: info@wethepeoplebahamas.org