The consensus among fair
and right thinking Bahamians is that the 3rdyear budget of the
government is proof positive that many of the government’s key policies were
successful, are bearing fruit and the “heavy lifting” by the Christie
administration over the past three years have laid a firm foundation for a
stronger, safer and more prosperous Bahamas.
On behalf of the
Progressive Liberal Party, I warmly congratulate the government for its strong
and focused leadership and fiscal discipline as evidenced in the reduction in
the budgetary deficit by two thirds, cutting away over $360 million from the
deficit in just three years.
I repeat that the
government’s fiscal consolidation plan and tax reform measures were game
changers for the country as the economy could not rebound if the government did
not put its fiscal house in order. Had the government paid any attention to the
FNM and other naysayers, the economy would have moved from the “wheelchair”
Minnis and the FNM left it in to the proverbial “casket.” Having left the
economy on the side of the road in a wheelchair (Minnis’ words), this caring
and competent PLP government administered the medication and therapy necessary
to nurse the economy back to good health.
Yes the Bahamas is
measurably better off today than it was in May 2012 and even a blind man can
attest to that.
The $20 million jobs
training program for our youth is a step in the right direction in preparing
our young people for future job opportunities; they are the most vulnerable
demographic group in the highly competitive labour market. As the Caribbean
struggles with one of the highest youth unemployment rate in the world, the
government must give this vulnerable group focused attention as there are
implications for criminality as an option when the prospects for gainful
employment among our youth look dim.
The government is to be
commended for another important education and social policy initiative
involving the tracking of at-risk students with behavoural problems and low
scholastic achievements. Isolating these students from the general student
population where their specific needs can be targeted and met is a proactive
intervention by the government when the parents of these children either refuse
to or are unable to bring resolution to a potentially explosive situation
festering in the homes and in the communities.
On the issue of National
Health Insurance, I simply say once again that the time for talking is over and
decisive action is required on this transformational social policy. I thank the
government for its policy to implement this system at no additional cost to the
tax payer. Some have argued that NHI is more significant to our country’s
growth and development than National Insurance. I leave that debate to the
historians but what is clear is that the PLP believes that access to affordable
and quality health care is a human right and not a privilege. Bahamians must
not be hoodwinked by those with selfish hidden agendas that have nothing to do
with the development of The Bahamas.
On the jobs creation
front, I note with great interest the $100 million bond to be issued by the
Bahamas Mortgage Corporation (BMC) for the construction of 1,000 homes. This
stimulus has the potential to create several thousand jobs and empower hundreds
of independent contractors. Private land owners, skilled contractors, the
Department of Housing and the BMC can form mutually beneficial commercial
partnerships in this public private sector partnership initiative.
I urge Bahamians of
means to take advantage of another of the government’s public private sector
partnership programs - in the area of infrastructure development. The
government has allocated $200 million in seed money and there is no reason why
Bahamian investors cannot match that amount through private capital venture,
partner with the government, stimulate the economy through jobs creation, and
develop this country while they enjoy economic empowerment themselves. This is
a win, win proposition for Bahamians.
It is disingenuous for
Bahamians to run to the media or get up on their soapboxes and complain that
the government is not empowering Bahamians when they themselves refuse to take
advantage of the opportunities right before their eyes – economic opportunities
created by the policies of the government.
BAMSI represents yet
another great investment opportunity for enterprising Bahamians. The commercial
division of BAMSI has secured millions of dollars in marketing and distribution
contracts with. The agreement with Super Value alone is worth about $2 million
per annum. It is up to Bahamians to partner with BAMSI to provide the products
to international phytosanitary standards and quality. The potential and
opportunity to reap millions of dollars in personal income was placed in the
laps of Bahamians by a stroke of the policy pen. Bahamians must shake this tree
of opportunity.
Just today the
reciprocal air services agreement between the governments of The Bahamas and
China was signed effectively paving the way for direct air services between
these two countries. There is absolutely no reason why Bahamasair and any of
the more than 41 private air charter companies cannot take advantage of this
investment opportunity as it is a reciprocal agreement.
The government is to be
commended on the many heads of agreement it has executed upon assuming office
in 2012 where there were little prospects if any at that time. Three years
later and more than 20 approved projects in various stages of development
presents a bright future for The Bahamas and the glass is indeed half full.
I listened to and
watched the same budget communication as Peter Turnquest and the FNM and I was
able to identify opportunity after opportunity for Bahamians, yet the FNM told
the Bahamian people a story of doom and gloom, telling them there was no hope.
The fact is that the PLP government created more help, hope and opportunities
for the Bahamians in less than three years than Minis and the FNM did in five
years. The examples above represent just a small sample of trees with the
fruits of opportunity ready to be shaken and picked by willing Bahamians.
I urge the government
not to sit on its laurels but to reach out to Bahamians in their communities,
explaining their policies to them as not all Bahamians are a part of the
digital revolution and do not source their news from cyberspace.
The government must not allow the seeds of its good work that
it has sown to be eaten by the proverbial birds or to fall on stony grounds or
among the thorns. The government must remain engaged with the Bahamian people
and bring them along each step of the way, creating and cultivating fertile
ground for its message of help and hope and a stronger, safer and a more
prosperous Bahamas.