The Tribune

THE Progressive Liberal Party called it "incredible" that the FNM waited until just days before the general election to use social intervention as a tool in the fight against crime.

In a statement issued yesterday, the opposition party said Bahamians have not forgotten that Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham cut public funds to charitable organisations in the 2010/2011 budget.

"This decision stymied the efforts of many organisations to assist at-risk youths in dealing with the many social challenges they face daily," the party said.

Urban Renewal in its original form under the former PLP government involved the participation of the church, and church leaders played an integral role in addressing the social ills that affected their respective communities, the statement said.

"For five years, the FNM could not see its way to build on this wonderful social partnership because politics were more important than putting Bahamians first.

"The FNM cancelled Urban Renewal for petty political reasons and introduced an ineffective watered-down version that failed to address the challenges confronting communities around the Bahamas.

"The PLP introduced Urban Renewal 90 days before coming to office - not three weeks before elections. The Bahamas needs and deserves a government that fights crime all the time, not just at election time," the PLP said. (For the FNM's defence of its response to crime, see page 8).

The PLP said the $1 million subvention to 69 civic groups announced this week is "a mere ration and not nearly enough to do the work that is needed".

"It is a slap in the face to Bahamians considering nearly $100 million have been wasted on cost overruns for the New Providence Road Improvement Project and $13 million on Miss Universe which did not bring increased stopovers to the Bahamas. Again, these actions do not put Bahamians first.

"We should be about the business of fighting crime on behalf of the Bahamian people all the time and not just at election time," the party said.