The Tribune

DNA Leader Branville McCartney criticised Prime Minister Perry Christie for presenting a “fairy tale” filled with “fallacies” about the country’s circumstances while addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Summit last week.

“As part of his address he outlined a number of issues, which he claimed, are at the top of his government’s agenda. Among them: crime, gender equality, the environment and the elimination of poverty,” Mr McCartney said in a statement.

“In the three years since taking office, the PLP has stood idly by as communities here in New Providence have become war zones, as Bahamian mothers have watched their sons and daughters cut down – many of them in the prime of their lives, and as the police commissioner is forced to beg in the media for the government to act in a substantial way to keep criminals off the street. In recent weeks the country’s murder count hit (112) and is now on track to outpace last year’s record. It is against this backdrop that our (prime minister) insists that his government is doing all it can to eliminate violence and crime.”

The Democratic National Alliance leader said this government has botched the referendum on gender equality.

“In the face of such realities (Mr Christie) has pledged his commitment to that ideal to the international community.

“Equally disappointing has been this government’s record on environmental protection. Even after failing to act on behalf of the residents of Marathon; after failing to address air pollution from consistent fires at the Nassau landfill Mr Christie insists that his government is working toward a more sustainable Bahamas.

“Finally, one would need only to browse the pages of any local daily to read about the government’s economic failures. VAT continues to push many more struggling families below the poverty line.

“Unemployment, underemployment and the continued mismanagement of the country’s resources has limited opportunities for thousands of citizens while a decades’ long dependence on foreign direct investments has done little to advance the economic development of the country or its citizenry.”

Mr McCartney said the country does not need lip service but action.

“Rather than telling and re-telling the same fairy tale, the (prime minister) and his government must do what is necessary to address the lingering concerns of Bahamians and finally move our country forward, toward greatness,” the former Bamboo Town leader said.