The Tribune

Tribune readers are not in favour of the government’s plans for a new House of Assembly and Prime Minister’s residence.

Prime Minister Perry Christie recently said it was an appropriate time to consider the matter especially regarding locations for both facilities as New Providence currently sees a spark in new developments.

But the majority of voters on the tribune242.com poll didn’t agree.

Fifty-one per cent said they did not support the plans, while 37% said they did support them, but not in the current economic climate.

Just seven per cent were in favour of the new facilities. There was a small amount of votes (3.2%) in support a new House of Assembly and a new Prime Minister’s residence (1.9%).

The poll results were reflected by readers’ comments concerning the Prime Minister’s recent remarks.

‘BahamianAway’ said: “So what’s the point of Government House then... They have that big house sitting there for pretty. Utilise that if you want to entertain guests on behalf of the Bahamian people. I am sure there are enough rooms in there to facilitate such a thing.”

‘hj’ thought the Prime Minister had his priorities wrong: “Is this man so out of it or he is simply trying to distract the attention of the Bahamian people? With so many serious issues the country is facing, he is talking about new Parliament and PM’s residence?”

‘JohnDoes’ raised the issue of the prison facilities: “Rebuilding those facilities before expanding and/or relocating Her Majesty’s Prison will be a complete shame and waste of the country’s money. This is more proof that they are more concerned about their personal comfort rather the comfort of overall Bahamians.”

And ‘RealityisnotPC’ had harsh words about the timing of the plans: ‘It’s not hard to make an argument for the need for an official PM’s residence, BUT you have to be completely brain dead to think NOW would be the appropriate time to spend millions of dollars on such a project. It is pure insanity and shows a complete and utter disrespect and/or misunderstanding of the desperate need for our country to put its fiscal house in order. If a political leader in any developed democracy in the rest of the world were to make such a suggestion under such circumstances, he or she would immediately face a vote of no confidence and be out of the job in weeks. It is just shameful.’

• Don’t miss your chance to join the conversation and vote in a brand new poll on tribune242.com.