The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

JUST days ahead of the Davis’ administration one-year anniversary in office, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell said he is proud of what the government has accomplished so far, citing the early reduction of VAT and removal of the COVID-19 Emergency Powers Orders.

He is also proud of the progress he said the government has made in helping revive the Bahamian economy following COVID-19’s impact despite naysayers saying that little has been done.

 In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Mitchell, who is also minister of foreign affairs and public service, detailed a list of the government’s accomplishments since its election victory last September, including the introduction of legislation that aids in the sale of carbon credits and also legislation that shortens the time frame on the presumption of death in cases where people are reported missing “in circumstances of peril” among other things, he said.

 “We have gotten off to a super start,” Mr Mitchell said. “I reminded people in my meeting in Inagua last night, last year, we were in jail, and this year, we’re out - free so that’s, that’s the first accomplishment.

 “The weight is off our necks and the economy is back up and going again. People are free to travel where they want to go and to try and get their families and lives back together and there’s a semblance of a renewed order in the country. I think that’s the first accomplishment and then after that, of course, there are some practical issues like the taxes were reduced.

 “The VAT was reduced as we promised. The housing programme is off to a start. We’ve got a freer market in terms of the transport policy and so people have great opportunities to participate in the economy and that’s important.”

 The PLP chairman also spoke of the government’s efforts to bring relief to Hurricane Dorian survivors, noting “it’s taken much too long to get people back on their feet”.

 He said work remains underway to help survivors’ lives return to normal.

 The Progressive Liberal Party was voted to office during last year’s early election in September, winning a total of 32 of the 39 seats.

 However, since assuming office, the party has often been subject to criticism from the Free National Movement who claim that little has been done by the government to date.

 Labelling much of their criticism as “idle posturing”, Mr Mitchell said he’s not concerned by what the FNM has to say as most of their claims are “not credible.”

 “Opposition parties have to say what they say and, in our country, the opposition has a say but the government has its way,” he added. “The proof of the pudding will be when the general election is called and we’re satisfied, we are on track to try and get all the things that are necessary to win a second term.

“We pay attention to what they have to say - but much of it, as far as I’m concerned, is idle posturing. They have to say something, and they’ve decided to dig in and find as much mud as they can and fling it up against the wall and hope it sticks.”

 He continued: “I don’t think the Bahamian people buy it. They’re discredited and their performance was so mean over the last four and a half years that they’ve got a lot of catching up to do and, of course, they’re fighting amongst themselves. So, it’s not credible at this moment, anything that they say.”

 Meanwhile, as for the government’s plans next year, Mr Mitchell said some of their key priorities will be centred on restoring and expanding the economy and creating more job opportunities for Bahamians.

 He said the Davis administration will also give special attention to completing much needed infrastructure upgrades, especially to the Family Island airports, and helping to revive Grand Bahama.

 As it relates to the nation’s tourism product, Mr Mitchell said: “We’re concentrating very heavily on trying to get Grand Bahama up and running again. So, Carnival got its investment there and we’re pretty close to trying to get things done with the hotel up there.”

 He also lamented the need to improve services and spur economic growth on the southern Family Islands.

 “I’m just completing a tour of the southern islands and it’s clear that more liquidity has to be put into these islands to improve the services which are available for people here,” the chairman said.

 “If that’s done, it will then attract more people to be here. The southern islands are denuded of their populations. There’s been a population decline and we need to find ways to turn that around and so it takes a little while to get it up and going again.

 “But the important thing is to pay attention to and to have a programme and a plan and platform to get these things going. I think you’ll see significantly more progress over the next twelve months, but there is significant progress already,” Mr Mitchell also said.

 Several celebratory events in observance of the PLP’s election win were set to take place this week. However, the party said its plans have been suspended until after the official mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II ends.

 The period of mourning ends at sunset on the day after the Queen’s funeral, which takes place on September 19.