Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis.
By Khrisna Virgil
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party interim Leader Philip “Brave” Davis admitted yesterday the former government was not perfect, made “serious” mistakes and lost the “trust’ of Bahamians, but offered no outright apology for the missteps of the previous Christie administration.
Instead he sought to justify the former governing party’s actions saying that during its last term in office the Christie administration was always thinking of the people affected by its policies.
Despite conceding his party’s mistakes, Mr Davis also castigated Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis saying his national address last week left the Official Opposition “perplexed” and offered no vision, concrete policies or credible plans for taking the country forward.
He further urged the government to ensure its anti-corruption measures are “independently institutionalised” to ensure a fair and just process.
He said this process must be non-political and it must not degenerate into selective witch hunts.
The fight against corruption must not just be against the government’s political opponents, but also against private corruption, the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP said.
“Our previous administration was not perfect,” Mr Davis said in a national address, which aired on television last night.
“We made mistakes, including some serious ones. But we were always especially mindful of the people impacted by our policies – we did not and do not think in terms of statistics, but in terms of individuals, people, families, neighbours, friends. We know the people who will be helped when the government does good, or harmed by an ill-considered government slash-and-burn policy.
“In considering the human impact of government policy, we have always been steadfast.
The frustration and sense of hopelessness amongst our ‘poorly-guided young men’ will only grow if the government cuts off their educational, economic and social lifelines, and its expression through criminal activity will only increase,” he said, referring to the government’s announced austerity measures.
Earlier in his address, Mr Davis said: “Three months ago, the Bahamian electorate sent a powerful message for change. We face very serious challenges, and – like so many other nations – have struggled to create enough jobs, grow quickly enough, or solve our security problems.
“With their votes, Bahamians decided to see if the FNM can do better.
“It is a message, which we in the Progressive Liberal Party heard loudly and clearly. In fact, we have already begun a period of listening, of consultation and reflection. We approach this task with humility and with determination.
“In our conversations throughout the archipelago, Bahamians tell us they still profoundly support the ideology and mission of the PLP. They know that the PLP has brought about the biggest, best and most profound positive changes that are the foundation of the modern Bahamas. And they still believe that the PLP remains a powerful force for good in our country.
“But Bahamians also want us to know that along the way, we lost their trust on too many fronts. We know it’s up to us to earn it back.”
He continued: “And so already, we have begun that process of change and reform. And indeed, where the new government seeks to promote and institute thoughtful reforms in our public sphere, they will have our wholehearted support.
“Of course, when they go beyond public policy goals, and seek to scapegoat and exact political revenge, we will not be silent. Playing with people’s lives to further a political agenda will not be tolerated.
“The fight against corruption must not just be against the government’s political opponents, but also against private corruption. The wealthy businessman who cheats on his customs duties is as corrupt as the politician who awards government contracts to his own businesses.
“Beyond the anger of this current time, Bahamians are a fair people. And in a society as small as ours, if they see their families, friends, colleagues, church members and associates, being unfairly victimised, they know that one day it may land at their door, and they will rise up against it,” he said.
Economy
Mr Davis said the prime minister’s address last week brought to light a realisation that across-the-board cuts will potentially render many Bahamians jobless and risked putting the economy back into recession.
He suggested because of this, crime levels could continue to skyrocket.
During his national address last week, the prime minister announced a variety of conservative fiscal measures, including a ten per cent cut in spending in all government ministries and no new public sector hiring.
He also said there will be no renewal of contracts for salaries which exceed $100,000 per year.
Dr Minnis also announced a reduction in government vehicles as part of a “new era of financial discipline.”
Mr Davis said: “Regarding the economy, the prime minister offered no plan for growth. He offered no vision for diversifying the economy. He had nothing to say about alleviating the high burden of debt, which stops so many households from moving up the economic ladder.
“What is the strategy for getting new revenue into the economy? Where is the plan for growing the economic pie? Instead, the prime minister announced across-the-board cuts, and the intention to make thousands of Bahamians unemployed.
“In doing so, the government is risking putting the economy back into recession, which would mean excruciating hardships for families across our islands. If this was his intention during the campaign, he took care to hide it from voters.
“Much of the FNM’s campaign was a fiction, now they face reality.
“The transition to governance has not been easy for them. The reckless statements they made during the budget debate caused the Moody’s ratings agency to consider downgrading the Bahamian economy; we can only hope that brush with danger has taught them that their political rhetoric has consequences, and that they will be more truthful and less careless in the future,” Mr Davis said.
“My fellow Bahamians, there is little that is more important than strengthening and expanding education in our country. We need 21st century ideas, new approaches, and real investments.
“The Free National Movement made big promises about education during the campaign. They promised to improve accessibility to higher education through free admission to the University of The Bahamas. They promised to out-do the Progressive Liberal Party which had doubled the country’s investment in scholarships.
“But instead, the government has recently announced that they will not keep those promises. They will not help young Bahamians to fulfil their dreams of higher education. This is a huge betrayal and will put a brake on the country’s future. We need our people to be educated.
“Education is not an area in which to move recklessly. It is an investment in the future of the country, the best defence against poverty and crime.”
Crime
Mr Davis went on to lash out at the government, saying it campaigned on the promise of having the answers to crime. He said the government has been “laid bare” because of a weak crime strategy.
“As the prime minister observed, crime continues to plague our society,” Mr Davis said. “During the campaign, he promised that they had the answers, that once in government, he and his team would unveil a crime-fighting plan, which would successfully tackle the problem.
“Rather disappointingly, just last week we now have the Minister of National Security admitting that they don’t have the answers.
“So far we have heard nothing but promises of a ‘zero-tolerance attitude’ and efforts at increased policing. As this approach has been in place for the past several years, we hope there is more, and that the government does not delay in offering new policies.
“The prime minister noted that he is committed to providing resources to help the ‘poorly-guided young men’ in society.
“Yet, by already firing hundreds if not thousands of people in the past few months, and by blindly cutting education and social service support by 10 per cent, his government is increasing the stresses and strains on the young people in those households, condemning them to desperation and a life of economic hardship. This does not support families or provide stability in their homes,” Mr Davis claimed.
He also said: “And while we share the government’s view that the problem of crime has developed over many years, we completely deplore the prime minister’s dishonest attempt to rewrite history and assign blame to the leaders in the 1970s and ‘80s.
“The drug trade that has ravaged every country in this region is international in nature, devastatingly local in impact. This is a matter of fact. Playing fast and loose with our history is shameful, and beneath the dignity of his office.
“Even so, the prime minister’s attack makes no sense. The average age of people committing crimes over the last several years has been between the ages of 17-25. Those persons would not have been around in the 1970s and ‘80s. The prime minister should be careful about blaming ‘history’ for all our challenges.”
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 3 months ago
The only thing this pudgy corrupt man regrets is the number of his fellow PLP politicians and their business cronies who are likely to end up spending time in Fox Hill prison for their criminal conduct. His lame excuse about the corrupt Christie-led PLP government throwing away millions and millions of dollars of the people's money because it was thinking of the people affected by its policies is utterly ridiculous, especially when one considers most of the money was thrown at cronies of members of the last PLP cabinet, including his own cronies. Davis can't hide all what his short stubby grubby dirty yellow sticky fingers did during the last government!
The_Oracle 7 years, 3 months ago
The PLP has always had a "human impact" over the decades, an immeasurably severe impact! I do not think he will be perturbed by visiting "colleagues" in Fox Hill, should be old hat at that.
realfreethinker 7 years, 3 months ago
I started to watch his address but couldn't get past the first 30 seconds. Nothing he had to say was of interest to me at this time.
Honestman 7 years, 3 months ago
Davis is still stuck in his delusional bubble. He thinks that the Bahamian people actually give a damn about any of his ridiculous utterings.
DDK 7 years, 3 months ago
"Brave" Davis why don't you just crawl under a rock?
Clamshell 7 years, 3 months ago
... that's where he came from.
TalRussell 7 years, 3 months ago
Comrades! Why is the Prime Minister or 'Interim' Official Opposition Leader - taking to the airwaves? Unlike the President of the Untied States who don't hold an elected seat in either the Congress or the Senate - both Minnis and 'Brave' hold seats in the People's House of Assembly and that is where they were elected as MP's to make their cases for their agenda or explain the past deeds.
' It's the People's time' for both these men's to stand up on the floor of the People's Honourable House of Assembly - not to interrupt the People's listening and viewing time on the various broadcasting networks. If the truth be told - neither the two men's does possess much of an entertainment value. More likes they is downright boring.
Only 'ACE' could have found the two poorly scripted performances - entertaining.
.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 3 months ago
Thank God the speech was not on ZNS ...... cuz there is no Cable Bahamas TV where I live ....... I was spared ....... BOL ........... Soldier on Brave ....... Keep the PLP alive (even if only in name)
OldFort2012 7 years, 3 months ago
"The wealthy businessman who cheats on his customs duties is as corrupt as the politician who awards government contracts to his own businesses." I would beg to differ. One contributes less to the public purse, because it is the only way to survive in this economy, the other steals directly from the public purse because he thinks it is his right. Even though he receives a handsome salary from that very same purse for doing not very much. Not to mention that he also breaks the oath of office. All in all, if Brave cannot see the difference than he really is not fit to be in politics.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 3 months ago
The comparison by Davis was a well aimed swipe at the greedy yapping little white-haired poodle whose last name is D'Aguilar. But truth be told, cheating is cheating and stealing is stealing, no matter how you may choose to look at it.
OldFort2012 7 years, 3 months ago
I got the comparison and agree with you that stealing is stealing. But any rightful judge would/should sentence the corrupt politician far more harshly than the businessman who under-reports his custom duties. Having said that, both should be punished. No question.
sealice 7 years, 3 months ago
Of course they were thinking about the people affected by their policies, they only want their approved foreigners, they don't want anything to do with Women besides the token few Rich Chicks they let in their clubs that are really only there because there are no Males in that family in the current generation..., only the Cronies get jobs and contracts..... this is why you got bounced fool you didn't care about the right people only your select bunch of cronies blowing smoke up yer arsses and making you all feel good....
sheeprunner12 7 years, 3 months ago
If anyone wanted to give Brave a chance .......... his denial that the PLP collusion with the drug & gang culture of the 1980s .................. had nothing to do with the current crime and social decay .......... HE HAS LOST THE FINAL SHRED OF RELATIVISM AS A 21st CENTURY BAHAMIAN POLITICIAN.
WHAT BRAVE SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS BREAK DOWN AND CRY AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FOR HIS FORMER CABINET MINISTERS ........ AND PUBLICLY CONFESS TO HIS INVOLVEMENT IN WASTAGE OF FUNDS IN BAHAMASAIR, BAMSI, UR2.0 AND MOPW ............. BUT HE DIDN'T
WHERE ARE THE PLPs WHO WANT TO PRESERVE THE ORIGINAL 1953 PLP????? ....... BUT THIS MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE OLD PLP HIERARCHY (LIKE BRAVE, BRAD, AMG, OBIE, FWED ETC) WILL DIE HARD BEFORE THEY QUIT.
OMG 7 years, 3 months ago
What you did Mr Davies and your Prime Minister was saddle this administration and the Bahamian public with a huge almost impossible debt even after record VAT revenues. As for caring for the people your own leader said that the PLP takes care of its supporters and by association Damn the rest. All your mad hair brained schemes such as Bamsi and long since forgotten failed projects are still being paid for.
SP 7 years, 3 months ago
How the hell can Brave Davis open his piehole? “Perplexed” and offered no vision, concrete policies or credible plans for taking the country forward? Pillage Loot Plunder had 5 solid years at the reigns of government and cannot identify one single initiative for taking the country forward!
Who are these people Pillage Loot Plunder conversed with throughout the archipelago? What are these imaginary biggest, best and most profound positive changes that are the foundation of the modern Bahamas? And who the hell is stupid enough to believe that the PLP remains a powerful force for good in our country?
Brave Davis continue to insult Bahamians intelligence. Bahamians know that Pillage Loot Plunder did not lose their way. Alternatively, they purposely mislead the electorate with their 2012 election "we believe in Bahamians" & "Bahamians first" campaign promises which they immediately, kicked to the curb on election night never to be heard about again! There is absolutely no way of Pillage Loot Plunder "earning" back the electorate's trust.
Mr. Davis needs to identify exactly the year and date when Pillage Loot Plunder turned around the economy and led the Bahamas out of recession. Bahamian joblessness is at an all time high after five years of failed Pillage Loot Plunder policies.
How can "stupid Brave" quantify that Dr. Minnis is taking us "back to the future" to the DEPRESSION of the past 9 years? This idiot is still stuck on the notion that "Bahamians are stupid"!
Mr. Davis failed to acknowledge Pillage Loot Plunder: “Regarding the economy, then dancing prime minister Perry Gladstone Christie offered no plan for growth. He offered no vision for diversifying the economy. He had nothing to say about alleviating the high burden of debt, which stops so many households from moving up the economic ladder. In fact, slick talking, dancing PM Perry Christie, and sticky fingers Davis had NO ANSWERS to anything after 5 years in office but are now asking PM Minnis for a detailed plan after 3 months in office?.
After five years of governance, where was Perry Christie and Brave Davis plans for the future? “What was the strategy for getting new revenue into the economy? Where was the plan for growing the economic pie?
Mr. Davis now suddenly and mysteriously understands "we need 21st-century ideas, new approaches, and real investments"......Exactly WHERE the hell was Davis and his innovative ideas from 2012 to 2017?
Bahamians are absolutely, totally and uncharacteristically sick and tired of "Brave" Davis type of political jargen, asinine assertions and horse manure type political stupidity when opposition parties "miraculously" have all the answers to all the countries woes until they themselves are in the seat of power.
SHUT-THE-F----UP and go away Mr. Davis. Bahamins are not nearly as stupid as Y-O-U!
Sickened 7 years, 3 months ago
Since Davis has been in politics he's been sitting in the corner like a good puppy waiting for master Christie to tell him what to do. "Can I run for leader... please, please!" Christie says "No! sit down!" Davis is a well trained dog that will roll over for his supper!
SP 7 years, 3 months ago
As an avid dog lover and owner all my life, I have never seen a dog as stupid as Mr. Davis!
This idiot is even worse than his dancing clown predecessor. No wonder Christie never passed the leadership to him.
Maynergy 7 years, 3 months ago
Listen Up! Hear Ye Him: “I don’t know of any witch hunt that is going on. This is just political hypocrisy, political grandstanding, by the PLP… The mischief that Fred Mitchell and others have been fostering is unacceptable.” - Fred Smith, QC The esteemed Leader of the Opposition Phillip Brave Davis, kept saying 'Give me your hand. I will lead you back to the land called P.L.P". Seeking to avoid any upheaval now or ever, it remains clear to many in the islands of the Bahamas that to just admit they i.e. The P.L.P. government under Prime Minister Perry Christie op·u·lence with choas, the people had had enough and rose up and spoke with such trep·i·da·tion, many are running to the hill and saying " I told you so?" or "It's not me." But listen to Mr. Whatucallhim who just said was; "Where was Whatucallshe? Another said "Wilcombe was in the choir and never said two cents because greasing the pan was easy to do. Then said "Sit down and be quiet." What ac·ri·mo·ny?
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