The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

RENARDO Curry, newly-elected North Abaco Member of Parliament was yesterday sworn in at Govenment House as Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister for Abaco.

Prime Minister Perry Christie said the appointment would allow Mr Curry to work closely with the people of Abaco while at the same time addressing their needs armed with full government authority.

“This appointment today of Mr Curry,” Mr Christie said, “is not only necessary, but defensible and well reasoned; it is the right policy decision for the people of Abaco. Renardo’s presence in Abaco as my representative and that of the central government brings government closer to the people of Abaco just as the Ministry of Grand Bahama is performing that function for the people of Grand Bahama.

“The returns will far outweigh and will be incalculable when compared to the expenditure incurred to establish and support an office of the Prime Minister there.”

Large developments in Abaco, including the new international airport, expanded power generation facilities, a new government complex, and the new hospital underway have underscored a growing importance of Abaco in the grand scheme of the Bahamas, Mr Christie said.

The Prime Minister further urged Mr Curry to be accessible to Abaconians remaining honest about government limitations in meeting their demands.

“In the face of all of it, remain forthright, firm, but fair with the people you signed on to and solemnly pledged to faithfully serve,” Mr Christie said.

Mr Curry became the second person in more than 30 years to serve the North Abaco constituency after defeating the PLP’s Greg Gomez at the October 15 by-election polls. Official ballot results from the Parliamentary Registration Department revealed Mr Curry secured 2,369 votes to Mr Gomez’s 1,515 votes. Ali McIntosh, leader of the Bahamas Constitution Party (BCP) and third contender in the by-election, received seven votes.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was Mr Curry’s predecessor.

Making his maiden address as an MP in the House of Assembly, Mr Curry said he was ready to tackle the needs of his constituents.

At the time he said there is much work to be done in North Abaco.

“We must invest in education and training from our pre-schoolers to our post-secondary, young men and women, if we are to maintain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

“The government has committed to the construction of three pre-school units, the establishment of Urban Renewal 2.0 in Abaco and the pavement of thoroughfares in a number of our communities. I will work assiduously to cause to be established a BTVI campus in Abaco to address the training needs of our growing and dynamic workforce,” he said.