Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham blasted the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as the “weakest, most indecisive, and do nothing government,” Sunday night as the Free National Movement (FNM) officially introduced its slate of Grand Bahama candidates at the Grand Lucayan.
He said in 2008 the world was struck by the greatest recession since the Great Depression, but Grand Bahama has been dealing with long term problems from the after effect of hurricanes and neglect by the PLP.
“During a period of time they described as excellent economically – even booming they let Grand Bahama’s economy stumble and then collapse,” Ingraham said.
Ingraham noted that the island was hit with hurricanes that caused hotels to close, but the PLP did nothing to help Grand Bahamians.
Did they come out with guns blazing to the rescue? No, they ran for cover, closed their eyes and hoped that you would go away,” he said.
Ingraham said while the party pretends to care about the island, it cares only for itself.
“Apparently Perry Christie and the PLP believe that people find hope and take inspiration from overcrowded classrooms, inadequate operating theaters in the hospital, pothole filled roads . . .” he said.
Prime Minister Ingraham said the PLP makes many promises that it fails to deliver.
“They believe you don’t remember that during their last term in office they left no discernible footprint on the sands of time on this island. It’s just as if they were never here,” he said.
Ingraham said when the Royal Oasis closed the PLP waited while more than 1,000 employees lost their jobs.
“Indeed it took the FNM to come to office and finish paying those Royal Oasis workers what the PLP promised them,” he said.
He added that what the PLP thought they did for the island have either vanished or floundered.
“Remember something called Pegasus? Just like the mythical name it has vanished in that foul wind that blew it in,” he said.
He noted that Ginn is another failed project still trying to find its way.
He added that the FNM government built the Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High School since it came into office and it was the first school built since the FNM built Jack Hayward High School, St. Georges High School and Maurice Moore Primary.
Ingraham said if you go around Freeport and try to touch what the PLP left during its terms in office it would be difficult to find and cannot touch what the FNM did.
The Prime Minister pointed out the expansions at the Rand Memorial Hospital where the new operating suites and accident and emergency department will be officially opened Wednesday.
“It will be the most modern facility in The Bahamas, superior to the Princess Margaret Hospital and anything else in the Caribbean,” he said.
The prime minister added the government has constructed the new $19 million government complex on the island, built sea walls and conducted other projects.
He noted that all Bahamians would benefit from improvements at the health care facilities.
Ingraham said the government has put in place the unemployment benefit, the National Prescription Drugs Plan and other initiatives to serve as safety nets for Bahamians.
The fnm party delivers he said.
Ingraham added that it is what the FNM did during its terms in office that is carrying the banner of the economy presently – listing the Grand Lucayan, Polymers International, the Freeport Container Port and other projects.
He said the PLP talks, but does not act
By Cleopatra Murphy
Source: The Freeport News
