By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday lashed out at recent criticisms of the public funds used for official ceremonies, adding that naysayers should be focused on the over-budget roadworks project.
The government has estimated it will need an additional $77 million to complete the New Providence Road Improvement Project by October, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works Philip "Brave" Davis, who met with representatives from the International Development Bank yesterday.
"We had a meeting about where we are, where we want to go, and discussing the way forward with respect to additional funding that we may require to complete the works."
Said Mr Davis: "The application has been made, there are some other things that we as a government have to do to determine whether we will need more than $77 million or less than $77 million."
A recent report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on proposed financing to complete the project undertaken by the Argentinean firm, Jose Cartellone Construcciones Civiles, acknowledged the negative impact the extensive roadworks have had on multiple Bahamian-owned businesses amid "a prolonged recession".
The IDB said it was "in the best interest" of whichever government was elected at the upcoming general election to bring the New Providence Road Improvement Project "to a quick and efficient end".
The IDB report indicated that its total lending to the Bahamas with respect to the New Providence Road Improvement Project might even exceed the $206 million figure previously provided by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to the House of Assembly.
Noting that it had provided initial financing of $62 million when the project was first conceived in 2001, the IDB said this was supplemented by a further $100 million loan in May 2008, giving an "amalgamated budget of $162 million".
Now, the proposed $65 million loan would, on the surface, taking the Bahamas' total borrowing from the IDB for just this project to $227 million.
Speaking at the appointment of seven PLP senators yesterday, Mr Christie explained that swearing-in ceremonies were an integral and long-standing part of the constitutional process and served to display the quality of persons both elected and selected for governance.
Mr Christie said: "Those people who criticise ought to really be focused on the very chilling reality that our predecessors in office have overspent on roads more than 100 million dollars.
"If they want to talk about wastage, if they want to talk about ostentatious demonstration of money being spent, that's what they should be focused on.
He added: "How do we go about avoiding that kind of thing happening again, that's what they ought to be talking about.
"They shouldn't take these little small issues with us."
Comments
James 12 years, 7 months ago
So the Government needs more money and one of their first actions (part of their first 100 days plan) is a stamp duty tax cut on the most expensive properties,. i.e. a tax cut for the rich. People buying a $100,000 home will now pay the same % of tax as those buying multi million dollar homes. In a country of poverty and millionares the Progressive Liberal Party needs to implement a Progressive tax system where the wealthiest in society pay their way. Combine this with the regressive import tax system (the poorest pay by far a larger % of their income than the rich) and I wonder why the PLP can use the name 'Progressive'.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 7 months ago
very misleading Mr Davis ,you said it has cost 200mill aready and now you need 77mill. that would be 277 mill ,but then it says the total from IDB will be 227 mill ...that means part of the 77 is for work already done ,,,and during your campaign you said no end in sight ,,,so with 90% done theres is an end in sight ..THANKS FOR THE ROADS HAI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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