The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net AMID the ongoing blame game concerning Grand Bahama's faltering economy, the FNM accused the Christie administration of a "callous disregard coupled with no compassion and sheer incompetence' for that island's well being. Their words came after the PLP's claim that the government will only continue to "wreck, ignore and neglect" the nation's second city. In a press statement yesterday, the FNM said "the opposition is running from its record of massive incompetence led by the weakest Prime Minister ever in Bahamian history". "Following the blow of three hurricanes, Jeanne, Frances and Wilma to Grand Bahama, the ever indecisive and ineffective Perry Christie made this solemn vow to Grand Bahamians: 'The macroeconomics strategy, which will be formulated in close consultation with the Port Authority, will form the basis for a form of Marshall Plan for Grand Bahama to restore the economy and society of the island to the pre-hurricane position'," the release said. The FNM said Mr Christie only failed in his efforts to help stabilise the island's economy. Like most of Mr Christie's phantom plans, the release said, his Marshall Plan for Grand Bahama never happened. His failure to deliver on his promise is partially responsible for the state of the island. "The leader of the opposition abandoned Grand Bahama in its hour of need." The FNM also slammed the PLP for its abandonment of hundreds of people who went unemployed after the close of the Royal Oasis Hotel. According to the release, when the Royal Oasis closed during the aftermath of a 2005 hurricane, "the PLP waffled, wavered and wondered while more than 1500 employees lost their jobs and never got them back. Indeed, it would take the FNM to come to office to finish paying those Royal Oasis workers." A property management, development and investment company, Harcourt Developments, acquired the Royal Oasis in 2007. Its sale came three years after the resort was closed, having been damaged by hurricanes Jeanne and Frances. The company announced a $400 million redevelopment plan to turn the defunct hotel, located on 425 acres of property, into a "high quality tourism destination". However, at the end of 2008, as the global financial crisis bore down, tightening flows of credit, Harcourt Developments told the Government it would not be able to proceed with its plans to bring the hotel back on stream for the time being. Drawing from their "record of accomplishments in Grand Bahama," the release recalled the FNM's efforts help its residents. "When some workers at Our Lucaya lost their jobs during the current economic downturn the FNM acted immediately. The Ingraham administration mobilized government benefits, job counselling, personal and spiritual counselling and other assistance. The Government acted swiftly with job referrals and placements in Grand Bahama." Today, Mr Ingraham will also commission the upgraded Accident and Emergency Urgent Centre and the Operating Theatre and Day Surgical Unit at the Rand Memorial Hospital.