The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday branded the Free National Movement's (FNM) impact as inconsequential and bereft of political prowess as he marked the fourth anniversary of his party's electoral victory in 2012.

Mr Roberts touted the PLP administration's progress across sectors of labour, health, energy, education and crime in a statement yesterday. He said that Bahamians should be proud of the nation's communal achievements.

"The incredible progress our country has made over this short period of time reflects the indomitable spirit and confidence of the Bahamian people," he said.

"I am proud of the work the country has done together.

"Since 2012, when unemployment had doubled during the previous five years, the economy has added over 20,000 jobs in just four years. We remain confident of an imminent resolution to Baha Mar to the benefit of thousands of Bahamian families and our national economy.

"The approval and execution of scores of Heads of Agreements for tourism-related projects in various stages of development will sustain the growth of the Bahamas economy in the near to medium term.

"I have said this before and I will say it again: when the FNM clearly lacked the strength of leadership, courage, confidence and political will to make the difficult, unpopular but necessary policy decisions to secure the future of our country, the PLP government stared down these national challenges and boldly confronted them.

"The FNM was practically inconsequential over the last four years - literally betting against the Bahamian people every step of the way."

Mr Roberts pointed to demonstrable signs of growth and economic diversification in several family islands, and the ongoing progress restoring hurricane-ravaged communities.

"We are especially optimistic about the strides made in Grand Bahama with its infrastructural development," he said, "the reform of the Grand Bahama Port Authority; the apprenticeship programme in the industrial sector; the depth of stakeholder involvement in that island’s economic future and the overall confidence investors have expressed in the potential of our country’s second largest market."

He also commended the government on fiscal and gaming reforms, which he termed as tough but successful policy decisions. The PLP Chairman noted that Bahamians were on the verge of universal health care for the first time in history, and encouraged citizens to rebuff naysayers.

"Bahamians must reject and rebuff the naysayers who are betting against them and vociferously advance their interests on this," he said. "We are encouraged by the level of stakeholder consultation and the expansion of the country’s health infrastructure. Just as the government of The Bahamas made good on its promise to bring relief to thousands of CLICO policy holders in making the policies whole, the government is fully committed to universal health insurance coverage.

"The individual mandate and the public option is the best strategic plan to securing the future health and by extension, the productivity of our nation."

He also pointed to recent meetings between international heads of state on matters of energy and crime as a testament to the government's commitment to sustainability and citizen security.

Mr Roberts invited supporters and the wider public to a Thanksgiving Service at New Destiny Baptist Church on May 22.