FREEPORT οΎ— Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, recently elected leader of the opposition Free National Movement (FNM), strongly criticised the Progressive Liberal Party’s style of governance, accusing it of being a “directionless government” that neglects and mismanages the people’s affairs, particularly in Grand Bahama.
“I’m back and the FNM is ready to lead now,” declared Mr Ingraham, who was the keynote speaker at the FNM’s mass rally held in the parking lot of the East Sunrise Shopping Plaza Friday evening.
An estimated 3,000-plus FNM supporters braved the cold temperatures to hear Mr Ingraham’s message of deliverance, particularly as it relates to unemployment and the flagging economy in Grand Bahama.
“Your FNM sees the joblessness … the neglect and mismanagement which you are being made to suffer under the yolk of this tired, unfocussed and directionless PLP Government,” said Mr Ingraham.
Noting that the FNM provided leadership, saved jobs and grew Grand Bahama’s economy, the Opposition leader said the FNM’s investment policy facilitated the inflow of more than $4 billion in direct foreign investment during its two terms in office.
“We also facilitated more than $1 billion directly into this island’s economy, creating thousands of construction related jobs, 40,000 permanent jobs, and countless opportunities for a number of new Bahamian-owned entrepreneurs in the retail sector, including construction, in real estate, in entertainment, in transportation, in food and beverage and in light manufacturing,” added Mr Ingraham.
Comparing the FNM’s first three years in office to that of the governing party’s, the FNM leader noted that under the FNM, unemployment in Grand Bahama fell from 16.4 per cent in 1992 to 6.4 per cent in 2002.
“In 1992, there were 3,610 persons unemployed in Grand Bahama,” Mr Ingraham said. “By 2002 the number of unemployed had dropped to 1, 610, less than half.”
Additionally, he said, in just three years in office the FNM created 12,740 new jobs across the country, with 1,560 of those jobs created in Grand Bahama.
“In the PLP’s first three years in office they have created 5,650 jobs, less than half of that of the FNM,” explained Mr Ingraham. “In the first three years of the FNM Government, Grand Bahama’s unemployment rate dropped from 16.9 per cent to 10.2 per cent.”
Continuing the comparison, Mr Ingraham revealed that the number of employed persons in Grand Bahama increased from 16,300 in 1992 to 20,533 in 2001 under the FNM, and “household incomes in Grand Bahama increased by more than 50 per cent.”
In the PLP’s first three years in office they have created 420 jobs in Freeport, said the Opposition Leader. “In our first three years in office we created 1,560 jobs in Grand Bahama, five times as many as the PLP.”
Additionally, he noted that under the PLP, Grand Bahama’s unemployment rose from 6.4 per cent in 2002 to 9.3 per cent in 2004.
“That’s last year’s number,” Mr Ingraham said. “That’s before the Royal Oasis closed putting some 1,500 persons out of work.”
Mr Ingraham estimated that the number of “unemployed souls” in Grand Bahama has risen to at least 5,000.
“In three and a half years, they’ve only managed to facilitate or create less than half the economic activity fostered by the FNM during our first three years in office,” Mr Ingraham said. “I tell you they are sitting down on the job and they’re getting paid on slack. That’s not right.”
Noting the FNM’s success between 1992 and 2002 was fueled by foreign and local investment and dedicated, responsible and accountable governance, Mr Ingraham said that is what made their success possible.
The FNM Leader also took issue with what he termed the Government’s “incompetence in the face of natural disasters.” He said the disjointed response to the natural disasters by the Government demonstrates its inability to lead.
“Their full and only explanation for the loss of jobs in Grand Bahama is that we had two hurricanes last year,” Mr Ingraham said, adding that there was another hurricane this year, which seemed to catch them off guard like the other two did.
Mr Ingraham chided the Prime Minister for publicly announcing the closure of Government offices before Hurricane Wilma’s arrival, but not advising the emergency response teams to be in place.
“First responders weren’t told that they had to report to duty,” said Mr Ingraham. “Small wonder response has once again been inadequate.”
Noting that the PLP claimed the FNM did not leave instructions in place for disaster preparedness and response, Mr Ingraham added, “But the truth is they simply didn’t check the files and they simply would not take the advise of the public officers who had experience in disaster preparedness and response.”
Additionally, he said that Exigency Orders were signed late in 2004, guarantee loan provisions were slow in being activated, there was political interference and meddling in the administration of emergency assistance, and in the recovery assistance.
This resulted in confusing delays and frustrations for donors, said Mr Ingraham. “That’s how they responded to Francis and Jeanne last year and it hasn’t been any better with Wilma this October.”
Mr Ingraham said that he visited some of the families affected by the recent hurricane. Referring to the victims temporarily housed in the Country Club at the Royal Oasis, he said, “Their condition is worse than I could have imagined.”
He said they had no cooking facilities, no hot water and many are unemployed. “It seems that the Government, having deposited them at the former hotel, has washed their hands of them,” Mr Ingraham said, adding that the mess they’ve made of hurricane recovery and reconstruction is their own.
Noting that he also toured the Williams Town, Hunters, Lewis Yard, Eight Mile Rock and West End devastated areas, Mr Ingraham said the destruction is immense.
“Many, many people are hurting,” he declared.
He said the FNM has the capacity, the experience and the know-how needed to fix Freeport, to fix Grand Bahama, to fix The Bahamas.
“God willing, following the next general elections, we will come once again to your rescue and aid,” said Mr Ingraham. “We will make it better once again for you in Grand Bahama and for all in Bahamaland.”
By: BARBARA WALKIN, Senior Freeport News Reporter
