The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham last night said the Free National Movement is delivering Bahamians a better new version of Urban Renewal than the upgrade the opposition party is promising. The FNM leader made the remark at the party's constituency office opening for St Anne's before a large crowd of supporters. In response to the Progressive Liberal Party's vow of a new and improved "Urban Renewal 2.0", Mr Ingraham said: "We are delivering an Urban Renewal 5.0. We are renewing and transforming the City of Nassau and the whole island of New Providence right before their very eyes. "They're embarrassed because they claim to love the poor but it is us, the FNM, that are delivering better roads, sidewalks and clean piped water with good water pressure to Bain Town and Grant's Town and Englerston. "It is us, the FNM who are installing sidewalks along busy thoroughfares so that Bahamian students can walk more safely to and from school all over this island." The nation's chief, after offering his full support to St Anne's hopeful Hubert Chipman, outlined some of the newly-launched social intervention initiatives like Volunteer Bahamas and the Summer Institute for Boys, to be launched this summer. "And the straw vendors, hair braiders, taxi cab drivers and all those Bahamians who benefit from business coming out of these developments, would have been seriously short-changed had it not been for the FNM," he said. Touching on the much debated crime rate, Mr Ingraham said this serious challenge, along with others, will all be dealt with as part of their "National Security Strategy", one of the FNM's two main priorities for the next five years. "We did not arrive at this state of crime in our country overnight" he said. "That took years. And it will take years to correct the situation. We understand that. We have begun the important ground work." Mr Ingraham concluded his speech saying the country cannot afford to go backwards and embrace the "reckless, do-nothing, scandal-ridden days of the weakest government in Bahamian history. "We have the better record! We have the better team! We have the better vision! Vote F-N-M!" he said. Mr Ingraham urged Bahamians who have not yet registered to do so immediately, as he is getting ready to "reach for that bell." "Pick up your voters card. Time draweth nigh," he said.