The Tribune

By CELESTE NIXON

Tribune Staff Reporter

THE FNM are to be thanked for the promising employment numbers revealed last week, opposition deputy leader Loretta Butler-Turner said.

Speaking as shadow minister of labour and social development Mrs Butler-Turner noted that the survey released by the Department of Statistics was conducted for the period in which the FNM was in office, and shows a significant decrease in the unemployment numbers for both New Providence and Grand Bahama.

The survey said: “Both New Providence and Grand Bahama experienced a decline in the unemployment rate. In the case of New Providence the rate fell from 15.1 per cent to 14.0 per cent and in Grand Bahama from 21.2 per cent to 17.3 per cent.”

Mrs Butler-Turner said it is clear the policies of the Ingraham administration were critical in helping to stabilise the economy and boost employment numbers.

She said these efforts included:

• The 52-week job retraining programme which the PLP proposes to discontinue;

• Bringing on-stream, and doubling the value of contracts for Bahamians in the redevelopment of Cable Beach;

• Various ongoing infrastructural projects criticised by the PLP.

Mrs Butler-Turner said: “The opposition is mindful that despite improving numbers, that unemployment remains too high and that many Bahamians are hurting and continuing to struggle financially.

There is still much work to be done to improve the jobs prospects for thousands of Bahamians, especially Bahamian youth, she said.

“Accordingly, we urge the government to reconsider its reckless and ill-timed decision to discontinue the 52-week job retraining programme, which would throw many Bahamians out of work.

“Further, we are pleased that because of successful negotiations by the FNM, that there are more tourism and hotel-related jobs on the horizon in Grand Bahama, which preceded the PLP’s election to office.”

Mrs Butler-Turner said the opposition is also pleased that the official statistics show the former FNM administration was on the right track in terms of economic recovery and job growth.

“We hope that the government continues with these policies, and that it does not put the economy at risk through reckless actions and rhetoric by various cabinet ministers,” she said.