The Ministry of National Security held a Multi-Agency Financial Conclave at Superclubs Breezes, Monday, July 7, 2025, for law enforcement officers and officials within all of its agencies to be apprised of the financial climate within The Bahamas and to be better informed on budgeting and financial planning, procurement and compliance and financial operations and accountability.
The purpose of the conclave was to exchange ideas, discuss emergent trends and collaborate on solutions to drive transparency, efficiency and financial excellence.
The Financial Secretary, Simon Wilson said the Ministry of National Security and all of the agencies under its remit, have the largest responsibility of carrying out the Government’s plans for securing the nation’s borders and making its citizens safer.
The Financial Secretary said the Government has given the Ministry almost a quarter of a billion dollars to complete projects that will enhance that security.
He said, “When you add in the operations, then you see the scope of the importance of the Ministry of National Security in the Government’s budget, and you see why this forum is so important in terms of how we make sure that we deliver this efficiently and effectively.”
The Financial Secretary explained to the participants why the conclave and other such meetings were so vital to the running of the Ministry and its agencies.
He said the Ministry’s budget may not reveal the full extent of the cost of each of its projects, and that is one of the reasons why agencies must not work in silos.
The Financial Secretary added that there has to be a sense of collaboration and sharing of best practices.
The projects intended for agencies within the Ministry include $90 million to construct a new prison, $100 million towards the modernization of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s (RBDF) fleet, and up to $90 million for a new police administrative centre and 12 fire trucks.
He said, “There should be learning between the agencies of their approach to managing these complex projects.”
Ministry of National Security’s Permanent Secretary, Bridgette Hepburn also spoke to the importance of the conclave.
She said, “We are aware that as public servants and representatives of the Government, we should exercise financial intelligence with how we spend, why we spend, what we spend and make sure that we get value for money.”
The Permanent Secretary noted that in an era of rapid technological advances, regulatory changes and economic shifts, the role of financial accounting has never been more critical.
She said, “The Ministry of National Security is aware of this reality and hence the facilitation of this conclave.
“We are aware that as public servants and representatives of the government, we should exercise financial intelligence with how we spend, why we spend, what we spend and make sure that we get value for money.”
Amongst the topics for discussions included: Budgeting and Financial Planning, Procurement and Compliance, Financial Operations and Accountability and Oracle Fusion Cloud Bahamas Regarding Financial Matters.
By Llonella Gilbert/Bahamas Information Services
