Are you satisfied with our country after forty one (41) years of Independence and 47 years of PLP and FNM Governance?
As we look at our Bahama land forty one (41) years after independence I would ask our Bahamian citizens to really take a look at where we are as a country and ask yourself if you are satisfied with the status quo.
Consider this: Crime in this country is at an all time high. Successive governments have failed to fulfill their fundamental duty and that is the protection of its citizens. We are daily under attack by the criminal element. Illegal immigration continues to flourish in our country with the continued growth of shantytowns. Unemployment is perhaps the highest it has ever been with no light at the end of the tunnel; the promised 10,000 jobs being just a political promise. Bahamians continue to lose their homes on a large scale as the highly promoted mortgage relief plan never materialized. The cost of living and doing business in this country is one of the highest in this region. Food prices and the cost of gas are just too high and the cost of electricity is astronomical. Summertime, in particular, has become known for blackouts. There has been little to no movement for the introduction of alternative energy. Our environment and personal health are constantly under attack because of the city dump that successive governments have turned a blind eye to. Our country is dirty. Our educational system has not enhanced and best practices in education in the Bahamas seem to be taboo! Our students remain at a D average. The public health system can only be described as a mess. Public transportation has not improved in forty one (41) years. We have lost our standing as the number one tourist destination in this region. Our financial sector has gone south.
Our national debt is almost 6 billion dollars. Successive governments have failed to diversify our economy. Food security is something that we do not have. The despair index is the highest it has ever been. Our Second city, Grand Bahama, is depressed. Our Bahamian people are not empowered. There is lack of opportunity for Bahamians. We have a brain drain! As opposed to “a bridge to the future” we have a bridge from the Bahamas! We are quickly becoming a Welfare State. Gender Equality has not become a reality. We have no Freedom of Information Act. The Public Disclosure Act for public officials has been ignored. There has been no campaign finance reform. We fail to explore our other natural resources for the good of the Bahamian people. Our governments have not been accountable and transparent.
And yes...we are still a Third World country!
Is this where we should be after 32 and half years of PLP governance and 15 years of FNM governance?
Is this where we should be after 41 years of independence?
Bahamas...we deserve better!
Branville McCartney
DNA Leader
