The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net DESPITE promising to build a better future for Grand Bahamians, Prime Minster Hubert Ingraham and the FNM will only continue to "wreck, ignore and neglect" the nation's second city, according to the opposition. Following the announcement of the FNM's election candidates for Grand Bahama last week, the PLP issued a statement claiming Mr Ingraham has lumped the island with "expendable rookies and opportunists". "Grand Bahama has been ignored for almost five years. The FNM is mistaken if it believes that they can just shuffle a few candidates, present a few new faces and all would be forgotten in Grand Bahama," the statement said. "Joining a surprising survivor Neko Grant and Deputy House Speaker Kwasi Thompson are three candidates lacking either the depth of vision or depth of conviction to lead Grand Bahama out of its many challenges. "The FNM does have a jobs plan - too bad it's not for Bahamians. "Bahamians are not fooled by the FNM's attempt to reinvent itself as different. The fact is, Hubert Ingraham won't listen to them anyway," it said. Under the present government, the PLP said, the rate of unemployed and number of discouraged workers in Grand Bahama increased dramatically. The party also claims the FNM failed to invest in Bahamians, raised taxes during a recession, cut millions of dollars from the education budget and always failed to put Bahamians first. The statement said the PLP intends to completely turn around the Grand Bahama economy - with the help of a few new faces. "The PLP has put forth an extraordinary slate of candidates that includes a cadre of a new generation of political leaders mixed with the experience of senior members ready to get to work for Grand Bahamians on day one. "That's quite evident in the PLP's five Grand Bahama candidates: incumbent Obie Wilchcombe, West Grand Bahama and Bimini; Dr Michael Darville, Pineridge; Gregory Moss, Marco City; Tanisha Tynes, East Grand Bahama; Julian Russell, Central Grand Bahama. "In addition, the PLP will address the country's high crime rate, unemployment and the poor state of the economy. "The PLP will put the interests of Grand Bahamians first by implementing our restoration plan to address the problems in Grand Bahama that have been exacerbated by the FNM's failed policies and outright neglect," the statement said. The FNM's five standard-bearers in Grand Bahama are: former Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce President Peter Turnquest, East Grand Bahama; Norris Bain, Macro City; Pakesia Parker, West Grand Bahama and Bimini; Kwasi Thompson, Pineridge; Neko Grant, Central Grand Bahama.