The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

RADIO talk show host Kendall ‘KC’ Colebrooke unleashed his rage at the government, which he claims is misleading the country when it says that things are happening in Grand Bahama.

During the live airing of Solution Radio on KISS FM on Tuesday, Mr Colebrooke said that it is not true if anyone says there is an economic turnaround in Grand Bahama.

He noted that many businesses have closed in Freeport and that people are unemployed and hurting, especially since the government’s implementation of value added tax (VAT) in January. He also noted that the Port Authority has now moved in and started to refurbish the many abandoned buildings in the city.

Mr Colebrooke was angry with the Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville, who he said he had previously respected.

“I don’t want to talk about him no more, he is not relevant, he does not count,” Mr Colebrooke told his listeners. “If you could sit by and hear the prime minister say things are happening in Grand Bahama and knock on the table top saying things are happening, it is (not true) - he is nothing to me no more. He is not even my friend, not even in Christ.”

“I am sick. I got people who are supposed to be in this studio who are angry, but they are afraid to come. I am not afraid of nobody or nothing. I dare the government to come after me like they try to shut down everyone else. This is not a game, people’s lives are at stake,” Mr Colebrooke said.

The talk show host believes that the government has failed the people of Grand Bahama. He said he has a list of 50 things that he claims have been ruined by the government.

Mr Colebrooke, who is an auto-body technician, does not support the import ban on wrecked vehicles and vehicles more than 10 years old and has called on Dr Darville to speak out on behalf of those affected by the change.

He said Bahamians are being taxed when they pay their insurance, license their vehicles, and even when they pay for a glass water.

He also noted that gas prices are too high in Freeport.

“The gas price is almost $5, where are our MPs?” he asked.

Mr Colebrooke said that the Baha Mar resort, whose stakeholders are currently fighting in court, is on the list of things that the government has failed at. He also said that the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) is putting farmers in Andros out of business.

“They have cut a deal with Super Value and Atlantis who will purchase from the BAMSI project and putting farmers out of business, so who is the enemy?”

While the government has touted the success of VAT, Mr Colebrooke said it is evident that the poverty index has increased since the tax’s roll out.

“If (Social Service Minister) Melanie Griffin say they have poured $4m in the first quarter for social assistance, that is not something you brag about – how could that be a success?” he asked.