PLP Leader Philip "Brave" Davis.
By EARYEL BOWLEG
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis criticised the government as “mis-stepping, backtracking” and “fumbling” in a pre-budget statement he delivered last night. He claimed the Minnis administration has cut the Ministry of Works’ capital budget, saying this hampers the work Bahamians could be doing.
He also accused Minister of Works Desmond Bannister of breaching Cabinet protocol by publicly requesting an increase in his capital allocation for the second year in a row.
Mr Bannister told Tribune Business earlier this month he would be “smiling from ear to ear” if he got his wish for a $500m budget for the ministry after the bridge linking Spanish Wells and Russell Island collapsed.
Last night, the Cat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador MP said: “They have slashed the Ministry of Works’ capital budget, and I could call that short-sighted, but the better word for doing that in this economy is stupid. When we build or rebuild bridges, docks, seawalls and more in this country, we are hiring Bahamians and investing in a stronger country.
“But this year marks the second straight year where the minister of works has breached Cabinet protocol and publicly requested an increase in his capital allocation. We can guess what they’re likely to tell him. Yet the folly and expense of depending on global supply chains have never been more obvious.”
Mr Davis questioned again why some islands with zero COVID-19 cases are open for business while Exuma, Eleuthera and San Salvador cannot and demanded the matter be dealt with now.
He called for the government to do more to prepare for hurricanes and highlighted the need for a stronger health infrastructure to fight future viruses.
He said: “Why shouldn’t our country finally lead other small island nations in a new fight for debt relief for the debts incurred by crises not of our own making? We need to lead the way. Don’t come at us with your small thinking anymore.
“We need to do more to prepare for and protect ourselves from hurricanes – hurricanes made more deadly and more destructive by the carbon emissions of other countries. Why shouldn’t those countries share some of that cost burden? Don’t tell me it’s impossible when you haven’t even tried. And if viruses from other countries are going to be a new and recurring threat – and Ebola, MERS, SARS and COVID-19 are evidence enough for me – we need to invest in a stronger health infrastructure too, and not just in New Providence but on Grand Bahama and all our islands.”
Mr Davis also suggested waiving the fees for the taxi drivers and tour drivers who can’t renew their licenses at the moment so they can be back on their feet when visitors return.
Comments
stillwaters 4 years, 6 months ago
Every government is fumbling right now.......even Putin can't get ahead of Russia's covid cases. Trump....well......what can be said?
joeblow 4 years, 6 months ago
... none of those leaders are doctors. We had two doctors stumble, bumble and fumble since the earliest days of this virus, right up until today.
It is Gods grace NOT medical leadership that has allowed us to come through this relatively safe thus far!
Hoda 4 years, 6 months ago
Maybe for Davis' audience the debate on first world /industrialized nations moral and economic obligations to the effects of climate change is a cutting edge proposition and not dated. This wouldnt be surprising since he was busy representing and approving these ppl who say they intended to drill for oil. But, hey the climate change is a hot topic so i would be interested in a full presser at plp headquarters on your plan to get guilty nation to compensate us for sideeffects of climate change...reprariations too.
Porcupine 4 years, 6 months ago
Will we forever be holding our hands out? Wonder why we're failing spectacularly? Honest Bahanians should be preparing their kids to emmigrate , as the vast majority already have in recent history.
Hoda 4 years, 6 months ago
I was being sarcastic. I don’t think he has a clue yet alone any interest in climate change. To be honest I think that is a new narrative in the plp bedtime story plot to Bahamians that we will live off taxing white ppl and foreigners alone.
Porcupine 4 years, 6 months ago
Noted. Sorry I missed that.
Clamshell 4 years, 6 months ago
Gravy Davis’ biggest concern is that at the gub’mint buffet, somebody put a plastic screen between him and da Gravy boat. “Where my spoon?!?”
moncurcool 4 years, 6 months ago
This honestly sounds like Davis was just rambling from pillar to post without knowing what he talking about. And then he criticised the government for cutting ministry of works budget and criticised the minister for talking about increase? Really? So wha the hell he wants. Besides, the minister ought to say in public what he wants. He represents the people, not some secret Cabinet dealings after all.
DDK 4 years, 6 months ago
The man is just a politician. He can't help himself. He has, we must sincerely hope, delusions of becoming the next in a line of failed Bahamian P.M.s. . .
DWW 4 years, 6 months ago
somehow we are assuming davis could do a better job in the current situation. i sure dont want the job bulla
The_Oracle 4 years, 6 months ago
That second to last paragraph quoting Davis, Good grief! Pandering to his voting block ( I hope he doesn't actually believe that tripe himself) without a hope in hell of yielding one red cent from any other country who supposedly "caused" whatever situation we find ourselves in. It is all not our fault so someone else must pay!!
WETHEPEOPLE 4 years, 6 months ago
This current government is lost and has no long term solution to move this country forward. Its not about Davis or Minnis, its about the Bahamian people. All of these mis steps will only cost us more taxes, a crumbling economy and more dependency on "foreign investments". Keep selling pieces of the pie, eventually no pie is left. I suppose as a black nation, we should all enjoy beingnl part of a service/slavery based economy.
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 6 months ago
THANK GOD THE INCOMPETENT PLP ISN'T IN OFFICE!!!!!
geostorm 4 years, 6 months ago
I'd have to agree. The situation is grim as it is. I can't imagine the PLP at the helm, given their poor track record on accountability and fiscal responsibility.
WETHEPEOPLE 4 years, 6 months ago
3billion, thats billion with B, borrowed in 3years, and what do we have to show for it? More debt, more borrowing, more taxes, declining quality of life....you really want to talk about fisical responsibility
JokeyJack 4 years, 6 months ago
"Mr Davis also suggested waiving the fees for the taxi drivers and tour drivers who can’t renew their licenses at the moment so they can be back on their feet when visitors return."
So when will they return Mr. Davis? Which American do you think is going to fill out that travel form and risk a $20,000 fine AND a 5 year vacation in Her Majesty's Motel ?
themessenger 4 years, 6 months ago
@WETHEPEOPLE, I suppose as a black nation, we should all enjoy being part of a service/slavery-based economy & do YOU really want to talk about fiscal responsibility?
Are you honest enough to admit how we got to this point and who were those that led us here? The current government might be lost, but we were lost long before Minnis and Co arrived on the scene.
We have proven time and again that as a people we are incapable of governing ourselves, since independence its been a steadily accelerating slide to the bottom.
WETHEPEOPLE 4 years, 6 months ago
Its actually our fault for not demanding that the ruling governments invest more in the security of its people, whether its food stability or economic stability. How can we ever reach a point of true independence when we need foreigners to come to our country in order to only buy back supplies from their countries. With that formula its almost near impossible for any economy to grow and or remain sustainable. We as a popullation so small should be able to supply ourselves with even the basic of food and nescesities . Every hotel venture the government is so qucik to buy into only helps to serve the foreign capitalist, whiles keeping young Bahamians as slaves to this so called service industry
stillwaters 4 years, 6 months ago
Doom and gloom ..............bah humbug, scrooge.....
BONEFISH 4 years, 6 months ago
Phillip Davis is simply an empty suit.He is just a cipher.
Now he is talking debt forgiveness.He is just talking Mia Mottley's idea,
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