The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham promises to introduce National Catastrophic Health Insurance if the FNM is re-elected to office.

Mr Ingraham said the PLP promised National Health Insurance, but failed to deliver on its promise to the Bahamian people.

"You never got it. And, you will never get it under the PLP. But it will be delivered by my next Government," he told thousands at a mass rally in Freeport on Saturday at Sunrise Shopping Centre.

Mr Ingraham also promised that Freeport will get a new community health clinic and fire station during their next term.

"The FNM has transformed the health care infrastructure with new first class facilities at the Rand Memorial Hospital. We further improved the quality of healthcare by introducing the prescription drug benefit," he said.

Prime Minister Ingraham said that the FNM will help Grand Bahama to move towards the path of economic recovery and growth.

"You have been through tough times for a long time. But, there is a new day on the horizon for Grand Bahama," he said.

Mr Ingraham noted that Grand Bahama is featured prominently in the FNM's manifesto 2012.

Their plans for Grand Bahama will include new opportunities for commercial expansion and improving infrastructure.

The FNM will initiate a replacement of Sunset Village Fish Fry and a Cultural Centre at Eight Mile Rock.

Through the Heritage Tourism Initiative, the FNM will upgrade the facilities necessary for Grand Bahama to enhance the cultural and heritage aspects of the tourism product.

Prime Minister Ingraham said the FNM will continue the development of the Grand Bahama Sports Centre, to accommodate American football, soccer and baseball.

He said they will also build a gymnasium and put in an additional softball field.

"Such modern athletic facilities will also help you to attract regional and international sporting and entertainment events, all of which will help the economy of Grand Bahama," Mr Ingraham said.

Mr Ingraham said it is important that Grand Bahama deliver all five members to the Delivery Team that will form the next government.

He believes that Coach Norris Bain, who has had tremendous success in basketball in Grand Bahama, would be able to assist the government in implementing comprehensive youth development programmes.

"What Norris Bain has done for Grand Bahama, we need him to do nationally," he said. "He is uniquely qualified as a veteran educator, principal and basketball coach. Marco City: Send Norris Bain to the House. I need him on my Delivery Team," he said.

Mr Ingraham said the PLP and Mr Christie have failed Grand Bahama. He noted that under the leadership of Perry Christie during the PLP's term in office, Grand Bahama had the biggest loss in hotel rooms in Bahamian history.

Mr Ingraham stated that in 2004 the 845-room Royal Oasis - which represented nearly 40 per cent of the island's total hotel rooms - closed and 1,500 Grand Bahamians were out of work.

He also noted that Mr Christie agreed to the sale of the property to a company that had done nothing since the closure eight years ago, and the unemployed workers had to await the return of the FNM administration to receive severance payments owed them.

Mr Ingraham said that air arrivals had also significantly decreased on the island from 301,830 in 2002, to 188,579 by the end of 2007 - a loss in air arrivals of 113,251 as a direct consequence of the closure of the Royal Oasis. "This is the Christie record, which, as usual he likes to pretend never happened. He thinks that if he keeps talking nobody will notice his record of failure and incompetence," Mr Ingraham said.

Mr Ingraham told supporters that the FNM is ahead of the PLP in the polls and victory is near.

"We cannot take anything for granted...We must work hard every day to secure that victory, voter by voter, house by house and constituency by constituency. Leave none behind. Go find any prodigal sons or daughters and tell them come back home," he said.