The Tribune

By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net THE government will be accepting bids for the construction of a community hospital in Exuma before the end of the month, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham told constituents Saturday night at the opening of the FNM's Exuma constituency office. He also promised residents cable service before the Easter holiday. More than 200 people donning red showed up for the 8pm rally after a spirited greeting for the prime minister at Exuma's International Airport. "I'm here in Exuma and I am here to deliver even more for you because I have brought you one of your own," Mr Ingraham said, referring to Minister of State for the Environment Phenton Neymour who is running for the seat. "You know, Exuma used to be a big time place. You used to have two ministers in the Cabinet. Why are you settling for a back-bencher? Why are you asking for a back-bencher? You can have a general you know." The PLP promised to build a harbour, bring mid-sized cruise ships, and construct a hospital but did not deliver, he said. "They are not in the delivery business you know. That's the business we are in. If you like promises, well the PLP is the party for you. You stick with them." By this Thursday, plans for the new community hospital will be presented to Exuma's Town Planning Committee, Mr Ingraham said. "And we expect to go to tender for the construction of your hospital and the one in Marsh Harbour by the end of this month - March." Mr Ingraham also said he wants Exuma to know that "we are quite aware of all your concerns," including the demand for cable services. "You know, the cable man only wants to put cable where he is going to make money. But we want to make sure that every Bahamian can watch ZNS. We want to make sure you can watch ABC, CBS and NBC. And you can watch CNN and some other channels. You can watch me in the House, too" he said. "The communities from Hooper's Bay to Moss Town to Farmer's Hill, Roker's Point, Rolleville and Baraterre in the West, and in the East from Nicholls Town, Rolle Town, Forbes Hill, Hartwell, Moore Hill and Williams Town, expect to get your cable, to be able to watch me on television, before Easter." Mr Ingraham also noted that Exuma's population grew from 3,571 in 2000 to 7,314 in 2010. He attributed this to economic activity and Bahamians coming to Exuma "looking for opportunities." The Prime Minister and the FNM campaign team will be in Golden Gates on Thursday; Central and South Eleuthera on Saturday; Marsh Harbour, Abaco on March 15, and Grand Bahama on March 17. Mr Ingraham also told the crowd he will return once more to Exuma for a "mass rally" before the general election. Also speaking at the rally were State Minister for Social Development Loretta Butler-Turner, senator Anthony Musgrove, State Minister for Housing and National Insurance Brensil Rolle, State Minister for Lands and Local Government Byron Woodside, and Exuma candidate Mr Neymour.