The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION party deputy leader Philip “Brave” Davis contends that Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and the Free National Movement are getting desperate for votes as the 2012 general election approaches.

The MP for Cat Island based his claims on the Prime Minister’s recent assurances of how his government has cared for Bahamians, which, he says, runs contrary to what he has been doing since becoming prime minister in 2007.

“Papa is getting so desperate these days he now says he believes in Bahamians. All along he’s been saying “Bahamians need not apply”, but with just a few weeks to go he’s singing a different tune!”

Speaking at the opening of the PLP Sea Breeze constituency office on Friday, Mr Davis said that the constituency and the rest of the Bahamas need a prime minister “who will work for Bahamians all the time” and not “some of the time”.

“We know they are afraid to lose power. They’re scrambling now because they know Bahamians are ready for a new direction.”

PLP’s deputy leader referred to the thousands of constituents in Grand Bahama who they claim are now “PLP country”.

“Grand Bahama, I can report, is PLP country! They are sick and tired of how crime, unemployment and the bad economy were all poorly managed by the FNM.”

“These will be the hallmarks of the Failed Outgoing FNM Government. Hubert Ingraham’s five years in office, has proved he and his FNM do not believe in Bahamians! You trusted them and they abused that trust.”

Mr Davis accused the governing party of being responsible for a number of the problems in the country namely worsening the global economic crisis’ impact on the Bahamas through “mismanagement and short-sighted policies”.

He said: “They raised taxes across the board when other governments were reducing tax burdens to help people through tough times.”

He also said that they “borrowed millions to do the roadworks, but gave too many of those jobs to foreigners – all that debt our children and their children are on the hook for and we didn’t even stimulate our economy or ease Bahamian unemployment!

“When we in the PLP decreased taxes and delivered 22,000 jobs and outpaced US growth by the end of our term, the FNM increased taxes and today has delivered the highest unemployment levels on record.”

He added that the “when our solutions to crime – Swift Justice, Urban Renewal, School Policing, Witness Protection – were starting to make a real difference in communities like Sea Breeze, the FNM dismantled them all for petty politics and today we are suffering because of it.”

The Cat Island MP encouraged Sea Breeze residents to get registered for the elections, which, he said, are about “the future”.

“Elections are about restoring the dreams and aspirations of a people. Elections are about building communities and restoring ‘Hope’.

“Today as we open this centre of ‘Hope’, let us remember why we are here. The Bahamas needs the PLP! To you standing here tonight, our country needs you. The Bahamas is headed in the wrong direction.”

The deputy leader promises that Hope Strachan, PLP candidate for Sea Breeze will be working hard to help the party “bring you smart, innovative policies”, including tougher sentences for illegal weapons, an updated Urban Renewal, outreach workers in the streets for conflict mediation.

“We’re going to increase air and marine patrols, to reduce illegal immigration and stem the avalanche of illegal arms brought into our nation. We’re going to increase work permit fees for jobs where Bahamians are qualified. We’re going to give people the education, training and skills they need to compete in the 21st century.”

He concluded: “We’re going to invest in people.”