Leader of the Opposition Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ national address Monday night fell flat and avoided important issues, according to Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis.
“A PLP administration would have announced the airport had been started in Exuma, the school in Black Point and its clinic fixed and functional, and announced a buyer and operator for the hotel in Grand Bahama complete with the requisite supporting airlift,” said a statement by Mr Davis.
“Further, Ragged Island would be well on its way to being back on its feet again; the construction of a new runway at the Lynden Pindling International Airport would be well underway. The PLP would have said something to give people hope in other words.”
Dr Minnis’ national address was broadcast on more platforms than usual for such addresses as it was carried by ZNS, Our News, JCN and Eyewitness News.
The hype beforehand convinced some in the PLP that Dr Minnis’ address could serve as a turning point for the administration, The Tribune understands. However, the prime minister made no major announcements and largely rehashed economic figures and summarised tourism projects that are in the pipeline.
Mr Davis said: “Bahamians were treated from their prime minister to a litany of non-performance. What a travesty this address was. A nothing burger trying to pass for sensible policy and accomplishment. Mr prime minister, after 20 months in office you must surely know you cannot simply pronounce something as truth––that which is clearly false. You have fallen short.
“The prime minister stapled together every piece of paper he could to try to make the government look ‘busy’. It’s the kind of thing that children do when the teacher walks into class. But nothing that he said (Monday night) can hide the fact that his government is failing. Some of what he prompted as successes, are simply processes. For example, we hardly need a plan to clean up Bay Street. It simply needs to be done. Just clean it up.”
Dr Minnis noted unemployment on Grand Bahama has declined according to the latest labour force survey. Mr Davis said this was “a selective story” but he did not refute the Department of Statistics’ survey.
“In any event the figures show that unemployment is up in the country at large,” he said. “This is simply breathtaking and inexcusable. How can you fire thousands of people, hire your cronies, then claim that unemployment is down? I do not want to belabour the point. Suffice it to say, the Hubert Minnis and his administration have been disaster for the country. The facts show it. Everything is going in the wrong direction. Most of all, there is no feel good factor in the country for him and the FNM. The misery index is up in the Bahamas.”
For his part, PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell said he was not surprised Dr Minnis address “was as dull as nails.”
“Forty-four minutes of drivel,” he said. “The tone of deafness is not surprising but interesting, particularly as it relates to the pain and suffering all their cutbacks have caused this economy and the reliance on statistics to the exclusion of real life experiences.”
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
Repost:
All of this being promised by a PM who can't walk and chew gum at the same time, and who by his own admission never seems to know whether he's headed east or west! LMAO
Sickened 5 years, 10 months ago
And this headline coming from Philip "Drivel" Davis himself. LMAO! Davis is one to talk.
TalRussell 5 years, 10 months ago
'C’mon. Comrade "Brave," how can you take Monday night's broadcast seriously when apparently, there are comrade crown members Imperial red party who actually believe there is credibility to the long back dismissed by even the street corner whisperers of there being an inheritance 21-miles longs high sitting in some bank account in the Billions dollars. Yes, no?
The_Oracle 5 years, 10 months ago
The PLP would hav promised all the above, but never delivered. Besides, no money left, aside Chinese loans. Fred can drivel on all he wants, and unless Brave is gonna fund the above with nin I mean his $$........ No, the bitter pill we are all forced to swallow is the PLP and FNM 50 year legacy of incompetence and avarice.
Gotoutintime 5 years, 10 months ago
Bring back the UBP---We need some white boys to run this country!!
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 10 months ago
The white boys kept the money for themselves too. We need some honest ethical people they could be purple for all I care...
Gotoutintime 5 years, 10 months ago
LOL
TalRussell 5 years, 10 months ago
Yes, or no - recognize the little boy in short pants - walking all carefree swinging he lunch box.... wanna take guess, who did he grow ups become?
Holy Comrade Joseph, father Jesus, look all tourists walking ups, down and abouts shopping at all the well-stocked happy merchants shops on Bay Street.... what went so damn wrong since 1960's.... and, did little boy go on play really big, if any, in Bay Street's positive or negative roll, yes, no?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOw_GmC…
SP 5 years, 10 months ago
STFU Brave!
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 10 months ago
If nothing else these guys certainly know how to use colorful language, "fortyfive minutes of drivel", "didnt want to get my hopes up for the speech because they'd just be dashed", " as dull as nails", lol
I don't know what to say about Dr Minnis. I think the problem isn't him or Brave, the problem is the machine. We need to be focusing on the parties that gives us these undesirable candidates. And I mean all of them. These people gonna end up making laws and can't even read, making economic policy and don't understand finance and arrogant with it. The parties are the problem
BONEFISH 5 years, 10 months ago
You just figure that out hey.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 10 months ago
Actually yes. Shame on me...it's unbelievable
pingmydling 5 years, 10 months ago
Philip "coward" Davis, you need to take a long vacation. Maybe Princess Cays ( oh no that burned down, besides you sold that to foreigners) How about Half Moon Cay? Oh no you sold that to foreigners. There must be somewhere in this country that you and the PLP didn't sell. I thought it was just overweight but now it seems it is just those pockets bulging with the ill gotten gains. Cat Island he is coming home!!!!
joeblow 5 years, 10 months ago
... but the former government gave us 5 years of drivel !!
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
This man is so lost and incompetent. . .AND THINK WE ALL ARE MYOPIC PLP SUPPORTERS. . .HE IS SO LOST AND CHILDISH. He is impossible . . .but we must temper our disdain. . .we used to say some of those same things about Doc. . .now look. . .our country was never this healthy under any government since the UBP!! Davis may be a "magician" in administration. . .but a "bent pole" in being a political leader. . .especially a rogue, tiefing party like the PLP!! He acts like one of them himself. . .defending them when they are caught doing tiefing things!!
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