The Tribune

IN an attempt to keep his party relevant in the eyes of the public, PLP Opposition Leader Philip "Brave" Davis promises to give us a frequent chuckle.

"It is also important," Mr Davis said last week, "to ensure that the favoured few who provided funding for this government (the FNM) don't end up being the main beneficiaries of this government. While the FNM speaks the words of the protection of the poor, we will ensure that the benefits do not go to the wealthy."

What a shame this light of wisdom did not switch on in Mr Davis's brain during his party's five-year administration so that he could have given such worthwhile advice to his colleagues, thereby preventing their self destruct. Or, perhaps, neither he nor his defeated colleagues are yet fully aware of the root cause of their catastrophic defeat at the polls on May 10. Former prime minister Perry Christie's main failing was that he was not strong enough to reign in his ministers before the wheeling-and-dealing of some of them became publicly offensive.

The "all for me baby" choristers have sung the "all for me" theme -- as though it were their Bill of Rights -- for far too long, dating from the days of the late Sir Lynden Pindling. It is now time that they face the truth, and help repair the damage.

According to Mr Davis, the Speech from the Throne -- read by the Governor General outlining the FNM government's plans for its administration -- "is an acknowledgement of the transformative foundation already constructed by the PLP government." Already the PLP's muffled cry seems to be: "You guys done tief my t'ings!"

What are the "transformative foundations" about which the good gentleman speaks? Foundations so poorly laid in so many ventures that it is going to take the FNM government the greater part of its administration to correct the flaws before reconstruction can even start. Firstly, the new government has to find out where all of the people's money has gone. Until that is done they will not know what they can afford to spend-- or borrow, if in fact borrowing is still an option. Every government department has to be audited and checks and balances have to be established under proper supervision. And while the FNM are at it, the Auditor General has to be given a competent -- and sufficient number of staff -- to be able to have the country's finances laid on the table of the House at the end of each fiscal year. This is required by law, but seldom adhered to in practice.

Now let us look at some of the PLP's ideas to improve the standard of living while cutting costs.

BAMSI - the Bahamas Agricultural and Maritime Institute -- was former prime minister Christie's dream for the country to produce its own food and reduce the nation's $1.1 billion import bill. It was a good idea, but poorly executed. It was no less a person than Mr Davis himself who had to admit to the House that it was his ministry that had overlooked the fact that the contractor had failed to pay the annual insurance premium on the building and so when one of the dormitories was burned to the ground -- even before BAMSI had time to open - there was no insurance for rebuilding. The Bahamas is still paying its high import bill on its food supply and BAMSI has failed where it should have succeeded.

NHI Bahamas was launched with free primary care. Here patients can choose their private doctor at no cost to the patient. On making the announcement, it was let slip that the PLP was still uncertain of how this was to be paid for -- something left to the Minnis government to figure out.

The indigent could always get free primary care at the Princess Margaret Hospital, which is where one would have thought the first emphasis on raising standards would have been focused. This is probably where one will hear the loudest complaints from patients expecting to receive superior care, only to find longer lines and extended waiting hours.

And then there is Baha Mar - although the Christie government celebrated a partial opening before the May 10 election -it introduced a new meaning to the word "open" in the context of a hotel. In fact it was "open" to non-paying guests. We understand many employees can still be seen today, but no guests are in sight. It also has been suggested that the reason for this is that all the "back of office" has not been completed, therefore, as yet, no guests can be billed.

Not to be left out, Bradley Roberts, PLP National Chairman, sent in a press release yesterday asking if Prime Minister Minnis has handed this country to "Sarkis Izmerlian and for what price".

"His very public and ill-conceived alignment with disgruntled foreign investor Sarkis Izmerlian who has inserted himself into the politics of The Bahamas with aid and comfort from Minnis and the FNM, raises questions about the FNM's spurious slogan, the people's time. We ask again, 'which people?'" questioned Mr Roberts.

This question was asked probably because Mr and Mrs Izmerlian were among the many guests who attended the opening of parliament. We understand that they were there at the prime minister's invitation. Mr Izmerlian is the resident investor, who was the developer of the $3.5 billion Baha Mar, only to lose it under circumstances that will only be fully known when the agreement is unsealed by the courts. The agreement was sealed at the request of the Export Import Bank of China.

But isn't this a strange question for Mr Roberts to ask in view of the fact that Peter Nygard of Nygard Cay fame boasted that he had donated $5m to the PLP's 2012 campaign and had a video posted on YouTube right after the victory declaring: "Nygard takes the Bahamas back"? The video shows Nygard with a raised glass of champagne, shouting "Victory! Victory! Take our country back!"

Since then, the Christie government and the court system have been plagued with the woes of Peter Nygard and Nygard Cay. Before asking any more questions about Mr Izmerlian, we think that Mr Roberts and the Christie government have left many shadows behind them. These need explanation --especially the Izmerlian situation. If this country is to ever again attract worthwhile investors the Izmerlian issue must be justly settled.

We shall return to this subject later.