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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 As the Free National Movement celebrates and observes the true reason for this Yuletide season, we pause to reflect upon the many burdens borne by Bahamians during this tough and challenging year. At the core of the pain, suffering and chaos characterizing our collective experience is one Perry Gladstone Christie. As we celebrate the festivities of the Holiday Season, history will record the end of 2015 as 'THE BLEAK CHRISTMAS CAUSED BY CHRISTIE.'
Christie's historically weak leadership has recently forced two Cabinet ministers to resign and three other elected House members to leave his governing party. Many of those who remain are confused as to which direction Christie is moving the government and by extension, the country. Almost daily, it appears as if Cabinet ministers and other high-ranking government officials are publicly expressing different views on national issues. They are are also contradicting many of Christie’s public pronouncements. This is due in large part to Christie’s affinity for creating and announcing grandiose policy initiatives during rambling speeches. It is no secret therefore, that the Prime Minister has The Bahamas in a compromised and convoluted state.
In his capacity as Prime Minister, Mr. Christie seems slow to learn and allergic to advice. Against the advice of all key stakeholders, and for political expedience, he is determined to rush the implementation of National Health Insurance. To date, however, Mr. Christie has yet to provide vital information about the program, its costs to the Bahamian taxpayer, or its governing legislation. This behavior is both typical and characteristic of the Prime Minister’s style of governance: zero accountability and zero transparency.
While more than 2,000 Bahamians remain unemployed at Baha Mar, the King of shuffling, plenty talk and no action, continues selling pipe dreams about the completion and opening of the Cable Beach resort. However, former board members of Baha Mar provided us with the true facts regarding the government's missteps in the Baha Mar negotiations. While the Prime Minister sells fantasies and promises of relief on the horizon, thousands of Bahamians will not be merry and will have no Christmas. Throughout the length and breath of our nation the unemployed will experience 'THE BLEAK CHRISTMAS CAUSED BY CHRISTIE.'
Employed Bahamians are also feeling the pinch of a dismal Christmas. The reasonable expectations and concerns of Customs and Immigration officers’ are being dismissed by this Prime Minister and his government. Public sector healthcare professionals continue to plead for better working conditions in Nassau and a number of Family islands, while their government remains unresponsive. Hurricane victims in the southern Bahamas continue to desperately advocate for the recovery pace to quicken but to no avail. Bahamians homeowners continue to lose their homes and yet the once highly touted PLP mortgage relief program has all but disappeared from the mouth of the Prime Minister. This clearly demonstrates that scores of Bahamian citizens deserving of the government’s intervention and relief are not priorities on this government’s radar. From civil servants to hurricane victims, they all must suffer through ‘THE BLEAK CHRISTMAS CAUSED BY CHRISTIE.’
Just recently, Mr. Christie upended a significant contract signing to construct a causeway on the Fishing Hole Road in Grand Bahama and turned it into a shamelessly self-promoting PLP rally. While he politricks, Grand Bahamians remember the many failed promises of the PLP from the last general election. The reality is that the island of Grand Bahama has remained in a state of economic malaise under this Christie administration. Even the Ministry of Grand Bahama has failed to coordinate any noticeable economic relief for Grand Bahamians. At present, Grand Bahamians are hurting and it is clear that the Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board is the only entity with the wherewithal and fortitude to tell them the truth about the dismal economic outlook. As such, even in the Northern Bahamas, they are experiencing 'THE BLEAK CHRISTMAS CAUSED BY CHRISTIE.'
Since its implementation on January 1, 2015, VAT has burdened poor Bahamians by decimating their disposable incomes. Undoubtedly, VAT has forced Bahamians to cut back on their usual discretionary spending. This altered consumer behavior is producing a devastating impact on the Bahamian economy. Even further, VAT is beginning to turn the middle class into the working poor. Despite the negative effects to the finances of many Bahamians, Mr. Christie celebrates the hundreds of millions collected from VAT by arrogantly refusing to account to the Bahamian people on how those millions are being spent. As the one year anniversary of VAT implementation confronts us, the newly created working poor must brace for ‘THE BLEAK CHRISTMAS CAUSED BY CHRISTIE.’
The Free National Movement remains optimistic, however, due to the fact that our compassionate Leader will repeal VAT on a number of critical items immediately following the involuntary retirement of Mr. Christie and the removal of his uncaring government from office. Thankfully, in our leader, Dr. Hubert A. Minnis, we have a man who can truly identify with the poor and downtrodden. Evidently, our country needs a Prime Minister who has taken the journey from poverty to prosperity and with a personal belief that any man or woman can achieve their full potential, and every man or woman deserves a level playing field. Dr. Minnis’ personal story and trajectory serves as an inspiration for all Bahamians and their children. His lives by and believes in the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. “I can never be what I ought to be, until you are what you want to be.”
Mr. Christie, on the other hand, lives by an opposing creed once highlighted by the late Reverend H. H. Brown “ instead of ‘government of the people, for the people’ we have ‘exploitation of the many, for the privileged, by the few’.” Clearly, this is evidenced by the Prime Minister’s obsession with hiring pricey foreign consultants and the recent fast tracking of an OIL BILL through Parliament, days before Christmas. This speedy passage of this legislation was done solely to satisfy foreign interests. As the wealth of foreigners blossoms and the socio-economic status and income of foreign consultants increases unabated, Bahamians by and large are regressing in their personal finances. They have no choice but to live through 'THE BLEAK CHRISTMAS CAUSED BY CHRISTIE.'
Under Christie's poor leadership and governance, Bahamians are literally living in fear and misery. They are fearful of crime and violence in the face of a record breaking year of murders. Incidentally, and most disgracefully, Christie continues to announce upcoming strategies and initiatives to combat the increased levels of crime. Nearly two months after his first announcement, we have yet to see the implementation of any such initiatives Sadly, Cabinet Ministers are also publicly attacking the leadership of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and blaming them for crime. In the meantime, blood continues to pour on our streets and fear continues to paralyze our population producing 'THE BLEAK CHRISTMAS CAUSED BY CHRISTIE.'
The Free National Movement assures the Bahamian people that a cadre of caring and competent political candidates are being assembled to form a competent and progressive government. This new FNM government will elevate the standard of representation and governance and create a better quality of life for all in The Bahamas. We have a Leader who is up to the challenge of governing through difficult times as well as a strong, talented team committed to Bahamian empowerment and ownership. In less than two years, this failing and uncaring government will fall to the wishes of the Bahamian electorate. We anxiously await the opportunity to remove them from office, but we will not soon forget 'THIS BLEAK CHRISTMAS CAUSED BY CHRISTIE.' Nevertheless, the inspiration, the promise, and the blessed hope of the timeless Christmas story reminds us all that great joy and comfort indeed lies ahead.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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