|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 (Statement) The Progressive Liberal Party Government has abandoned the people of Grand Bahama, failing to initiate many of the programs and policies promised and as a result, Grand Bahamians continue to suffer through an economy which remains in crisis with no improvement in sight.
After almost 3 years in office, this poorly coordinated PLP government has;
- failed to facilitate job creation or to effectively manage the granting of work permits for work Grand Bahamians can do, particularly in the hotel and entertainment sector,
- failed to establish the industrial park promised or to bring economic relief,
- Failed to establish a Bureau of Standards for the testing of meters, including electricity meters,
- Failed to promote local entertainment and reduce the departure taxes at the airport,
- failed to build affordable homes or to provide effective mortgage relief,
- failed to construct new schools or to double the investment in education
- and failed to build a new hospital and to commission necessary equipment, for the eye wing in particular and necessary EMS vehicles continue to be an issue.
Unemployment in Grand Bahama continues to rise and now stands at 18.6%, and we continue to lose jobs at BTC, at ScotiaBank and even at Whatfall, with many Grand Bahamians forced to flee their homes seeking job opportunities on other islands.
Daily we live with the reality on the ground in Grand Bahama that the cost of living and rate of poverty is increasing as a result of this PLP government’s tax and spend policies, which has heaped an even heavier burden on our Bahamian people.
Value Added Tax
Value Added Tax has forced many Grand Bahamians who were already struggling, to pay more for their basic needs. They must now pay VAT on basic breadbasket food items, on baby food, on medicine, on water bills, on light bills and when they die, even on funeral bills. An FNM government will address this positively and bring relief on behalf of the Bahamian people.
As pointed out in the Department of Statistics latest reports the level of poverty in our Bahamas has increased by more than 3% in the last 3 years, which contradicts the rosy picture the Prime Minister and the Minister of Grand Bahama painted during the 2015 Mid-Term Budget Debate.
VAT implementation for businesses has been also expensive and difficult. Furthermore in our view, VAT implementation in the Freeport Area is inconsistent with the principles of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.
Hawksbill Creek Agreement (HCA)
Recently the Government appointed a Committee to review and make recommendations with respect to the expiration of the business license and real property tax exemptions under the HCA, which are due to expire in August 2015, a mere 4 months away. Up to this point, the PLP has squandered what could have been a major opportunity to improve and advance the development of Grand Bahama and to set a new vision for Freeport.
Energy
If our economy is to improve we must be able to provide electricity at a reasonable cost to our community, and ensuring such will continue to be high on the agenda of a caring FNM government.
We must provide for a truly independent regulator that the public will have full confidence in. The PLP has again neglected Grand Bahama by failing to ensure that we receive the same benefits of solar and renewable energy enjoyed by New Providence and the rest of the country under the recently passed Electricity Amendment Act.
PLP Must Do Better For Grand Bahama
We call upon the PLP to deliver on its promise to:
1. Construct the new High School in West Grand Bahama.
2. Construct the new Fire Station.
3. Construct the Fishing Hole Road Causeway.
4. Construct the Sea wall at Smith’s Point.
5. Deliver the 10,000 jobs promised and reinvigorate Grand Bahama so that families can be made whole again
6. Deliver a real mortgage relief plan and affordable homes for young families
7. Deliver real Urban Renewal to depressed communities, more than just hams and turkey but a sustainable economic plan and a clean livable environment
8. Deliver on its promise to assist in the development and promotion of bed and breakfast properties in East and West Grand Bahama
9. Deliver on the need for city water mains in East Grand Bahama
10. Deliver the new Hospital promised
11. Deliver a new casino partner and re-establish this destination as one of quality golf and eco-tourism experiences
12. Deliver a true and practical program for crime relief
Cabinet Terminations
Finally, We stand here at the Ministry of Agriculture to echo the call of our Leader the Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, who has exposed and called for the full removal of Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis for making false statements to Parliament and his dereliction of duty resulting in the loss of millions of tax payers’ dollars in the BAMSI insurance scandal.
We further echo our Leader’s call for the removal of V. Alfred Gray based on his own admissions, which amounts to a breach of the Independence of the Judiciary enshrined and protected in our National Constitution.
There is no other recourse open to the PLP government. Davis and Gray Must Go! The FNM assures the Bahamian public that V. Alfred Gray will not have “the last say” in this matter, but rather once the Police investigation is completed in a timely manner that YOU, the Bahamian people will have the last word.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
