PLP Leader Philip "Brave" Davis.
PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis criticised an emergency order issued by Prime Minister Hubert Minnis yesterday, saying the provisions appeared to be rushed.
He said the prohibitions outlined in the order - including a national curfew and the suspension of business operations with few exceptions - may adversely impact the public.
“Yesterday our party urged the government to proceed with caution in the exercise of the powers under the state of emergency,” Mr Davis said at PLP headquarters. “It is our view that these measures must be for the benefit of Bahamian people. We are concerned that this was all done in a heated rush and may have unintended consequences adverse to the public.
“I also pointed out (Wednesday) that there was no evidence that the Bahamian people needed to be coerced into following directives and protocols promulgated by the government.”
He added: “It is a matter of regret that the prime minister promulgated these measures to which we have not had an opportunity to lend our voice and to provide our views on the appropriate initiatives.”
He said the measures outlined by the nation’s leader are “contradictory” and may impose more challenges than providing solutions that will protect people.
He questioned why construction sites will remain open, for instance, adding that in such a hazardous industry, it is unlikely people can remain three to six feet apart as suggested. He also questioned why hotels are allowed to remain open.
And with the public transportation industry ordered to shut down, many essential workers will find it difficult to get to work, he said.
“Also just as ten members can attend a church service (for a wedding or funeral), why can’t ten people attend a civic organisation meeting? At the end of business hours, all of these people will go home to their families, how will this stop the spread of the virus?”
Mr Davis urged the government to begin widespread COVID-19 testing in order to act on empirical evidence. He also advised the public to follow advice from health care professionals.
Comments
Cobalt 4 years, 1 month ago
(suck teet) I wouldn’t even waste my time answering this incompetent, little piglet.
stillwaters 4 years, 1 month ago
Suck teet too
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
....ditto that x 1,000,000....
bogart 4 years, 1 month ago
He should by now been well better knowledge on construction....from all the fiascos of Govt projects.....wasting hundreds of millions, billions of money.......but seems to have been still needing more. In the .....private area of construction projects financed by Banks ....versus ....Govt from the Peoples Cookie Jar. ...Getting to the Bank have incurred mega money costs by the owner incurring interest fees paid etc...bridging...mobilization ...interest...and interest continues every minute ....Stages ...cannot stop when materials and labourers rental equipment cannot come together in sync...cannot put on plywood on roof and stop it to be destroyed by rain....on and on...On the smaller worksites and others.. it is standard unspoken construction workers code for any workman to have any other man doing work close as even 3 feet to him....seems quite unlike the political business.
Seems politicians have for decades just want to fail the integral dynamics of the construction field. They have parlied thousands of valuable birthright citizens lands, assets into senarios costing nation billions dollars in lost returns, delays, stoppages of projects BAMSI fire no insurance structure , Baha Mar defects not turning over money affecting labour force, downgrading country, look at Ginn,....others, dont want to start counting construction, repairs to govt structures.... Sad.
tell_it_like_it_is 4 years, 1 month ago
For once, I agree with Brave on some things.
While I don't have a problem with the national curfew, I don't think businesses should close down. Tourism is our primary industry and we already will have a heavy economic hit from the lack of tourists. So people will be spending less already. Now employers are expected to keep on staff when they aren't making any money? This doesn't seem wise.
It also seems rushed. I think more feedback should have been received from the business sector to understand the long-term effects. If the unemployment rates raise astronomically, then so will crime. This can devastating effects for everyone.
Additionally, the virus won't disappear on Mar/31, so I don't understand why businesses should close down until then. I think the curfew would have been sufficient, along with the order to prevent gatherings of 10 or more people.
Bobsyeruncle 4 years, 1 month ago
It also seems rushed. I think more feedback should have been received from the business sector to understand the long-term effects.
I don't think this virus is on 'Bahamian time'. Just how long should the PM have waited ?
pocoloo 4 years, 1 month ago
Brave sat in the House while the Min of Public Works thanked him for discussing the regulations. BRAVE did not protest, now he speaks? Boy go sit down!
Cobalt 4 years, 1 month ago
Agreed
mandela 4 years, 1 month ago
Well, to be honest, I feel that large construction sites with a large number of workers coming together, and it is very difficult to distance one-self more than three feet apart from the next person while working, while sweating, simple interaction, it makes no sense, riding the bus and working on a large construction site is almost the same thing. Only ten family members to a wedding or funeral but 100 or more strangers on a construction site where is the logic? Small construction sites with a maximum of five workers yes maybe but otherwise, no.
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 1 month ago
Agreed construction sites should be closed too....
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 1 month ago
Well now we know for a fact Brave is a moron.....
SP 4 years, 1 month ago
Brave is proving more and more almost on a daily bases that he is a total idiot!
Thank GOD the "PLP dancers" with this jackelrass in power are not in control of the country at this critical time.
Actually, based on evidence and time timelines of what happened in Italy and France, for some unknown reasons the PM is moving too slowly and doing too little too late to have a maximum flattening effect on the virus.
sheeprunner12 4 years, 1 month ago
Agreed …………. 1000%
TalRussell 4 years, 1 month ago
Unfortunately for Colony, both comrade party leaders post-colonial judgment's are on display.
DDK 4 years, 1 month ago
Tell it like it is talking good sense.
birdiestrachan 4 years, 1 month ago
there are certain parts that could have been done better. But it is for 11 days. They should come back after 11 days and see what can be done differently.
If the PM said he had consulted with the opposition. If he was serious he could have asked for their input. It makes sense to do so. ,
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