The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday questioned the feasibility of the Christie administration’s pledge to create 10,000 jobs within the next year.

Dr Minnis was responding to Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, who recently said the government still plans to make good on that promise, which was a major cog in the PLPs 2012 campaign message.

While admitting that he would “be more than happy to see the goal materialise,” Dr Minnis said the PLP has chosen to make this major promise based on hopes of foreign investments that are only in the primary stages if discussion.

“The difference between the FNM and the PLP is that we are results-oriented. When we’ve made announcements, its because we know things will come to fruition. The announcement they made about jobs is only based on the initial discussions they’ve had regarding foreign investments,” Dr Minnis said.

“Furthermore when he (Mr Davis) talks about creating these jobs, I firmly believe he is talking about taking jobs away from FNMs and giving them to PLPs. So essentially it’ll be a displacement and not a creation.”

Noting ongoing discussions between the Genting Group and the government over a resort at Bimini, Dr Minnis said even the outcome of those talks is uncertain.

“With the project in Bimini,  the Group has applied to Florida State to build a casino. If that is approved, the Bimini project might not materialise and the job number of the project would be affected.”

The PLP has projected, since winning the 2012 general election, that at least 30,000 jobs are to be created during their term in office.

As it stands, there is widespread uncertainty over the current unemployment statistics. As of last November, 15.9 per cent of the population were unemployed.

According to the party’s “Charter for Governance” job creation is to be anchored by four pillars:

• The effective promotion of the Bahamas at home and abroad

• Recognition of the importance of foreign direct investments

• An increase in local entrepreneurship

• The removal of impediments to businesses

The plan also states the PLP would aim to increase the opportunities for Bahamians to become employers through a national resort development initiative.