The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said Prime Minister Perry Christie “is living in a fantasy land” over his government’s legacy, adding that Mr Christie will etch his place in the history books as the worst prime minister to ever lead the Bahamian people.

His comments came after Mr Christie told College of the Bahamas journalism students that his government will not be matched by any other administration in the history of country.

Last week, Mr Christie cited taxation and gaming reform, plans for National Health Insurance (NHI) and a pledge to enact a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as key achievements his administration will have completed by the end of its term.

He also said international observers have praised the efficiency of value added tax (VAT) implementation by his administration.

When asked to comment on this, Dr Minnis said: “For once he spoke the truth. Mr Christie and this government will not be matched because they will be the worst government this country has ever seen.

“He is living in a fantasy land and thinks he is doing something good. The people no longer have faith in this government or the Cabinet.”

Dr Minnis spoke yesterday during a press conference outside of the Ministry of Agriculture, where the party called for the resignation of MICAL MP V Alfred Gray.

His comments elicited cheers and applause from FNMs gathered.

As he spoke to COB students last Thursday, Mr Christie said despite the “naysayers”, his government’s performance will not be matched “in the history of this country,” citing his administration’s legislative agenda and reform of the tax system and gaming sector as achievements.

Mr Christie said: “The International Monetary Fund will give a report to the Bahamas ... that report will be coming out; they have looked at (our taxation reform) and analysed it; they have said we have had the most efficient implementation of VAT of any country. And we did it because we incorporated the private sector.”

VAT was implemented at a rate of 7.5 per cent on most goods and services on January 1.

Regarding the Freedom of Information Act, Mr Christie said: “The consultation process for the Act is coming to an end.”

He added: “When the historians look at this government, notwithstanding what the naysayers say, there will never be any to match it in the history of this country (in terms of) what we are going to do, the legislative agenda, the reforms that we will put in place.”

The Ingraham administration passed a FOIA in early 2012, shortly before the May general election. When the Christie administration was elected, it said the legislation needed to be significantly overhauled or replaced with a new one.