Nassau, Bahamas -
The
claim made in today’s edition of the Punch that the PLP government
bought 12 vehicles for a reported $750,000 is false and a deliberate
attempt by the Punch to misinform the Bahamian people through political
mischief and sensationalism.
The
inconvenient truth is that the vehicles in question were ordered,
authorized and committed by the former administration more than two
months ago.
The
existing fleet assigned to cabinet ministers was poorly maintained by
the former administration and many of the vehicles are in “run down”
conditions. This seems to be a pattern with the FNM as the maintenance
of BEC power plants was similarly neglected which led to numerous
needless blackouts.
The incoming government on 7
th
May did meet a sizable budgetary deficit that presents fiscal challenges for the operations of the government.
This state of affairs is not new to the PLP as it mirrors the fiscal state of the country when we assumed office on 2
nd
May 2002.
The
PLP government at that time did not engage in foolish idle talk but
rolled up its sleeves and got to work for the Bahamian people, tackling
crime, restoring fiscal discipline and building a strong economy. By
God’s help we will do it again.
We
will protect the fiscal integrity of the Bahamas government again as we
did in our last term in office, invest in our people, create safe
neighborhoods and put Bahamians first.
No
amount of obfuscation, distractions and false propaganda by those who
naysay will deter us from this sacred and solemn mandate given to us by
the Bahamian people.