I have noticed that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) will fight back even when there is no reason to fight back or there should be no reason to mount a defense, simply because of the fact that you should be able to stand on the record of your achievements and allow that record to stand for itself.  This then brings me to make the point that this defense in nothing more than deflection from the dismal performance of this Progressive Liberal Party government to date and its failed record.

“PLP Chairman hits back at FNM Convention speakers” – Press release by Mr. Bradley Roberts, National Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party

Excerpt from this release; “Amidst the high drama at the Free National Movement’s national convention, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts released a series of missives tacking claims made by Thursday’s speakers.

Defending his party’s governance, Mr. Roberts charged that Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner’s speech was mediocre at best and surmised that East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest was ‘chasing his own shadow.’

‘It is clear that Butler-Turner’s blind ambition to become prime minister eclipses her ability and capability to get things done.

‘Her record of undermining leadership, sowing seeds of discord and a lackluster record as a cabinet executive are all transparent testaments to mediocrity and are sure to hold her accountable in the court of public opinion.’

‘Mr. Robert continued : ‘Her attacks on the PLP are laughable as the PLP can show workable and working strategic plains to address the myriads of complex challenges facing the Bahamas, Loretta Butler-Turner’s FNM cannot do the same.  She can deflect…she is good at political bluster, stealing PLP policies and vitriol, but she has not articulated viable plans.’

Mr. Roberts went on to assert that the Long Island MP was ineffective in her Cabinet post as Minister of Social Development under the Ingraham administration.

Regarding Mr. Turnquest, Mr. Roberts advised that the East Grand Bahama MP and the FNM must not re-write history because of their failure to ‘generate messaging to capture the attention of the Bahamian people’.

Mr. Roberts said: ‘They should instead apologies to the Bahamian people for the dismal state they left the country in, not just in 2012, but also in 2002.”

Indeed the Free National Movement’s convention had its moments of high drama, but it was expected especially since every position was open and being contested but at the end of it all the convention was a success and now the people of the party will get to putting aside their differences and unite to rid the country of an incompetent and inept government that uses a chairman that is out of touch with the realities of the country; the PLP’s chairman’s views are nothing more than a direct reflection of his party, that seeks to move the country forward operating on outdated software.

The chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party uses most of this statement to attack Ms. Butler-Turner, I assume that he has reached the conclusion that she is the ‘weakest link’ (operating on outdated software as usual), but what he does not realize that she is  not a weak link and that she is still a member of the Free National Movement and as such I will, as will MANY others, defend her fervently – I caution Mr. Roberts, as he advances to attack Ms. Butler-Turner, to STAND DOWN!, as it seems to be the PLP’s way to begin ‘wars’ which they have NO exit strategy for.

As the National Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party calls on the Free National Movement to apologize for the ‘dismal they left the country in’, I ask; no DEMAND, that he and his government fall to their knees and beg forgiveness for bringing the country to the edge of the cliff on which it is now precariously perched, over the past four years after promising to have all the answers to indeed lift the country up but it is clear that they had no plans; as unemployment is at an all time high since May 2012, the crime rate is out of control, the misery index is at an all time high and you have failed the people that you claimed to have believed in; the heavy lifting was already done all this government had to do was carry out the plans left in place by  the last administration but it decided to discard these ‘blueprints’ to the future and bring about its own ‘bridge to the future’, this ‘bridge’ now sits in decay much like Baha Mar; a constant reminder of the many failures of this PLP government.  But have no fear Mr. National PLP Chair, Ms Butler-Turner, along with the Leader of the Free National Movement, Dr, Hubert Minnis and Deputy Leader; Mr. Peter Turnquest, will take delivery of that which you are unable to deliver; the sun as long set on this PLP administration.

The Progressive Liberal Party is I desperate need of a national convention, as it should seek to discontinue its undemocratic ways as it violates its very own constitution; you cannot seek to continue to govern a country when you seems to discourage democracy within your very own political organization.  How long will you call yourself democratic as you continue to suppress the voices and votes of the voting delegates and anyone that that honestly and fervently believes there is no need for a national convention within the Progressive Liberal Party because the PLP ‘s leader, Perry Christie is the ‘best man for the job’ is indeed themselves delusional.

I will leave you with the words of Fredrick McAlpine as he addressed the Free National Movement Convention 2016; “Our country’s future is at stake, the Bahamas CANNOT take another five years of the PLP.

FNM”s, FNM’S!

Mo matter the outcome of the leadership election, we must all unite behind whomever emerges as leader, for the benefit of the Bahamian people and whoever emerges as leader MUST create an atmosphere that enables us to unite behind them

 END

“Gray: Christie is holding the PLP together” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article: “Minister of Agriculture V. Alfred Gray yesterday said he supports Prime Minister Perry Christie staying on as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as Christie is holding the PLP together ‘because everyone respects his leadership.’

‘It does not mean that everyone agrees with everything he say or does’, Gray says.

Gray also said the prime minister is the ’best man for the job, ‘and there is no one in the PLP who could challenge Christie at ‘any convention and win.’

When asked about Christies’ statement that the PLP would be unstable if he stepped down, Gray said, “That is speculative to say the least.’

‘But, I do know that the Prime Minister has the support of the majority, if not all, of the [PLP] MP’s today.”

The Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie is now 71.

Alfred Gray calls the Prime Minister’s remarks that suggest that without him the PLP would fall apart “speculative”, while at the same time endorsing these remakes further making the statement that “…..there is no one in the PLP who could challenge Christie at ‘any convention and win’, does this mean that Perry Christie is the only person within the Progressive Liberal Party at this time that is capable of successfully leading the organization? Surely, Minister Gray is not suggesting this for one moment.

Maybe Minister Gray is correct when he says “……there is no one in the PLP who could challenge Christie at ‘any convention and win” but how progressive is it to even put this notion forward and is Mr. Gray suggesting that he, himself, is not capable?

So the bottom line is that “the prime minister [Perry Christie] is the ’best man for the job, and “that the Prime Minister has the support of the majority, if not all, of the [PLP] MP’s today.” 

Well we know that he does not have the full support of all PLP members, as Dr. Kendal Major, member of parliament for Garden Hills has come out and questioned this statement and he has been labeled “delusional” by former PLP MP Philip Galanis, so surely there are others within the PLP that not only disagree with the PLP’s leader’s assertion  of being the stabilizing factor in that party but also simply no longer see him as the ‘best man for  the job’, the question now becomes what would make Minister Gray come out and make such a bold statement, even as he belittles himself?

Sometimes it all comes down to paying back a ‘favor’

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

As the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham encourages FNM’s to unite as his good friend the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie continues to face heavy criticism for suggesting that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would fall apart without him as leader and for further suggesting that he will not step down, as promised, because enough young members of the party has asked him to stay on as leader.  Each and every day more and more persons within the PLP have come out to refute these remakes but as he does this we now have a bid to bring back Hubert Ingraham as leader of the Free national Movement; this brings a serious indictment on the country as the question is now asked are these two men the only men capable of running the country?

“Bid to return Ingraham” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Several prominent FNM’s plan to enter the name of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to run in the leadership race at the party’s convention this week.

Over the weekend, they were reportedly busy organizing paraphernalia in support of an Ingraham return.

There is reportedly a team that has organized financing in the event that Ingraham allows his name to go on the ballot.”

So former Prime Minister, Hubert Ingraham, who was quoted as saying just last week that he is happy in retirement and is asking for the FNM party to unite has allowed for his name to be placed on paraphernalia that would suggest that he is indeed attempting a return but I guess he would argue that is has been said that “…in the event that that Ingraham allows his name to go on the ballot”, suggesting that it is not a done deal; interesting.

The return of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham leads me to ask what happens in a three way race for leadership of the party, will Hubert Minnis acquesece in the same way that Tommy Turnquest did in 2005, how does this affect Loretta Butler-Turner’s chances in her bid to be leader of the Free National Movement and the first female Prime Minister or what role does she play in an Ingraham return.  Also, what becomes of Hubert Ingraham’s legacy if he steps out onto the convention floor and is beaten?

It would appear that as Christie feels that he brings ‘stability’ to the Progressive Liberal Party, someone has filled Mr. Ingraham’s head with the notion that he is the one and only ‘saviour’ of the Free National Movement, this in my opinion, is utter nonsense.

END

“Butler-Turner suggests Hubert Minnis’ re-election would make party weaker.” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article;”Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner said yesterday if she is unsuccessful in her leadership bid at the party’s upcoming convention, the Free National Movement (FNM) would find it difficult to beat the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).

‘I dare say that if we are not successful, the FNM will have an even harder challenge to take on the PLP ‘machinery,’ she said.

The PLP gas yet to turn on their engines and already we are left wanting.’

Butler-Turner, who appeared as a guest on the Guardian Radio show ‘The Revolution’ with host Juan McCartney, was answering a question regarding her plans should she fail at her second bid for leadership of the party.

Butler-Turner suggested that if she loses, she might be denied a nomination.

‘So I then will have to determine for myself where do I go from here’, she said.”

When you read these comments, you can only likened  them to the recent comments made by the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Perry Christie, leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), wherein he gives his reason for not stepping down as leader of that party as being that it would fall into a state of disarray like what he claims is happening within the Free National Movement at this time. 

 With a comment like this and comparing the possible outcome of what may happen, Perry Christie not only attempts to deliver a political upper cut to the Free National Movement but also paint a picture of ‘doom and gloom’ for all that would even consider challenging him for the leadership of the party but also to those that would even think about asking for this resignation/retirement.  Of course we have now come to see that there a  few ‘brave’ souls within the PLP that totally disagree with him, with one even going so far as to call him delusional, so what would make Ms. Butler-Turner make such a pronouncement?

To tell the truth I feel only Ms. Butler-Turner can answer this question but with all respect due unto her by myself; it is a statement of pure arrogance. 

As Ms. Butler-Turner goes about putting on her Town Halls, claiming to bring a message of unity, she is also delivering a message of division when she suggests that ‘if she loses he might be denied a nomination’, certainly this has never been suggested by anyone within the party and such statement do nothing to bring about the possibility of unity.

END

Yesterday Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie suggested that without him as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the party would fall into disarray, likening it’s possible state to the current state of the Opposition Free National Movement (FNM), his opinion, and it would seem that the Prime Minister’s opinion has to be taken with a ‘grain f salt’ as his Deputy has now come out questioning his statement.

“Davis: PLP will not fall apart – Deputy PM insists party will survive if Christie steps down” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis yesterday rejected the idea that the Progressive Liberal Party would become unstable like the Free National Movement if Perry Christie chooses to step down as leader.

Mr. Davis’ statement comes after Mr. Christie, during an appearance on the ‘Ed Fields Live’ show on KISS FM Monday evening, said the instability affecting the Opposition might happen in the PLP if he stepped down, Mr. Christie gave this as one of the reasons he has decided to remain leader with no indication of a possible retirement.

When asked if the PLP would become instable without Mr. Christie. Mr. Davis said:’Depends what is meant by instability.  The Official Opposition is in a shamble.

The PLP always finds a way to right its way at any given time despite whatever happens.’

Asked why Mr. Christie would make such a claim, he declined to speculate, saying ‘You should ask him.  I don’t know why he would think that.  That is for him to answer.”

Indeed, this is a question for the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party to answer, actually a few questions rise because of this statement; why does Perry Christie feel that he is the only one within that party that can successfully lead it?  What would lead him to such a conclusion is there something going on behind the scenes that the rest of us are not privy to?  Is the Prime Minister deluded and if he is, is he fit to further lead the country?

If we all remember the Prime Minister had made a promise that he would not serve out a full term but now as we draw closer to the country’s general elections, he has convinced himself and attempts to convince others that he is the only person capable of leading that party and the country and he has been told this by the younger people in the party but barring whether or not it is true ‘because enough young members of the government have urged him to do so’, that is stay as leader; another serious question has been raised and this is the line of successor ship within the PLP as it seems to be a problem with both major political parties; at any given time is a viable successor being ‘groomed’ if ‘heaven forbid’ the current leader becomes too old to be effective as leader and therefore is unable to carry out his duties?

“Given that FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis has faced rocky leadership tenure because a significant faction in his party views him as incompetent. Mr. Christie statement also raises the questions about whether he has confidence in the leadership abilities of members of his party.”

So as the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party spoke about being the ‘bridge to the future’ he intimates that ‘the future’ within the PLP do not want to use the ‘bridge’ but rather watch him on the other side while it all rapidly falls into decay.  The younger persons within this person should be incensed by this suggestion.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

The country is now crying out for younger leaders; persons with new and progressive ideas and a different perspective and approach to solving ‘old problems’; the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie and leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) suggests that his party does not feel that need for younger brighter minds to take the country in a new direction because they want him to lead them into the next general election and beyond.  The main question now is what happened to the ‘bridge to the future’?

“Christie vows to stay as PM’ – Young members of government want me to lead.” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday that he seeks to continue leading the Progressive Liberal Party, including into the next general election, because young members of his government has urged him to do so.

He also suggested that instability would arise in the party if he were no longer leader, similar to what is occurring in the Official Opposition.”

It is indeed a very sad state of affairs if indeed the younger members of the Progressive Liberal Party have encouraged the present prime minister to remain as leader of the PLP and as prime minister, especially in light of his performance to date; it is clear that he has been a dismal failure; completely void of any new and progressive ideas to move the country forward and we as a nation have paid for his inadequacies and will continue to pay for them as long as he remains as prime minister and the Progressive Liberal Party will continue to pay as long as he is the leader of that party.

Yes, the PLP will continue to pay; because as long as he as he is the leader of that party, to keep the peace, others such as Alfred Sears that show promise and seem to be better thinkers with better and more progressive ideas will always be at his mercy and by extension the country will remain at his mercy, because at this point Prime Minister Perry Christie ‘retards’ the progress of the PLP by remaining in active politics, we all pay but Mr. Christie is of a totally different belief, as he believes that him stepping down as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party would lead to ‘instability’ in that party.

“And the question for us moving forward, one great advantage that the PLP offers to the country is a very stable government, one with the capacity to guarantee continuity in governance and one that has been meaningfully employed in major reforms in this country, the latest one of which is the University of the Bahamas.”

Indeed, the Prime Minister and Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party can speak to a ‘very stable governance’ if you look at it ‘crossed-eyes’ but he can never call it competent or transparent and it is also very sad that the Prime Minister and Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party believes that without him at the helm, the PLP party and by extension the Commonwealth of the Bahamas would fall into a state of disarray; what must some of the young persons in that party think and feel about their futures after such an arrogant statement.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

“How arrogant and disconnected from reality do you have to be to tell Bahamians “We Deliver” when suffering is all around, when one in three young men are out of work, when nearly 500 have lost their lives to murder?

They borrowed $1.7 BILLION dollars Bahamians.  They sold BTC to foreign control for another $200 million.

That means they’ve spent nearly $2 billion.

Two BILLION dollars.”

Excerpt from remarks by Perry Gladstone Christie, Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party at a mass rally in Golden Gates, 2012.”

How do you sell something and add to your debt? But then I digress.

 

This is now Prime Minister, then in opposition on the campaign trail, shortly thereafter, [June 07 2012] Minister of State for Finance is quoted as saying “…………the Ingraham administration spent money like ‘inebriated mariners’ or ‘drunken sailors’ with no plan or provision as how the spending spree would be paid for.”

It is oddly amusing, indeed, to reflect on these statements especially in light of what is going on today.
“National debt near $6.8bn following Govt. spending rise.” – The Tribune Business section.

Excerpt from this article; “A 17.3 per cent increase in total government spending drove a $125 million jump in the national debt to almost $6.8 billion to end March 2016, the Central Bank revealed.

The regulator, in its economic review of the 2016 first quarter, said the continued rise in the national debt came despite Value-Added Tax (VAT) collections ‘more than doubling’ year-over-year’ to 4157.1 million.’ But I thought that they said….

“In its management of the economy, the PLP will direct all resources of the state in pursuit of these clear goals.

• Reaching and rescuing those in poverty
• Reversing the effects of mortgage foreclosure.
• Help those overwhelmed by consumer debt
• Reducing the cost of electricity
• Expanding the role of Bahamians as investors
• Effective promotion
• Removing impediments to business
• Reinventing the Bahamas Development Bank
• Investment incentive for Bahamians “

Excerpt from “PLP – A Charter for Governance”

Yet with all of these promises the national debt still continues to climb but as we now know these were only promises, never to be fulfilled, never to be heard of again but then it is the PLP that we have come to know just a little too well.

But to their credit the PLP did have a backup plan to rescue  those in poverty and it was called “VAT”, this was supposed to lower government borrowing and help bring the cost of living down but yet here we are facing yet another credit downgrade with NO explanation as to what went wrong.

Perry Christie called the Ingraham ‘arrogant and disconnected from reality” for telling the country “We Deliver” but what do you call it when a government promises “Believe in Bahamians” but yet does very little to ease the day to day living condition of the average proletarian while adding taxes?

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

The big question this week has been why would a prominent Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) member of Parliament openly endorse the Leader of the Opposition, going do far as to be seen at the official launch of his campaign for leadership bid at Christie Park, and the ‘obvious’ answer, which some call ‘painfully’ obvious’ is that they know that they [the PLP] cannot win or stand a better chance of winning with Dr. Minnis at the helm then with someone else at the helm and right now the only other person vying for the position is Ms. Loretta Butler-Turner, member of Parliament for Long Island.

“Mr. Miller: People of color would do better under Minnis” – The Nassau Guardian 16^th July 2016

Excerpt from this article; “Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller said he believes that the average Bahamian of color would get more done in their lives ‘under the Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis than they would under the leadership of Loretta Butler-Turner and Elizabeth candidate Senator Duane Sands.

‘Minnis is a man [who] represents the small Bahamian’ the PLP MP told The Nassau Guardian earlier this week.  ‘To me, the other two represent Bay Street and the Eastern Road’

‘No on dictates to Minnis because he is self-made man.’

‘It is time for small, black Bahamians to get something in the country now.”

Of course these comments by Mr. Leslie Miller can be seen as being very disingenuous at best but coming from someone, just how truthful are they?

Then there is the question; is Mr. Miller intimating that even the Progressive Liberal Party does not have the ‘small, black Bahamian’ in mind?

Indeed, if Mr. Miller and the Progressive Liberal Party are seeking to endorse Dr. Hubert Minnis because he is the ‘easiest win’, they must realize that they are indeed playing a very ‘dangerous game’ and I am wondering if they are willing to ‘roll the dice’ on this?

They ‘rolled the dice’ on the ‘Gaming Referendum’, did not listen to the people and ‘crapped out’.  How do you lose a ‘referendum’ on ‘numbers’ when everyone plays ‘numbers’?

They ‘rolled the dice’ on the Gender Equality Referendum, did not listen to the people and ‘crapped out’ with the largest voting segment being women; just how do you do this?

But it was the Free National Movement (FNM), going into the 2012 General Elections, that thought that they had that election ‘in the bag’ especially after the ‘Red Splash’ events but the people had other ‘plans’.

So, indeed, Mr. Miller and the Progressive Liberal Party, go right ahead endorsing Dr. Hubert Minnis as a champion for  ‘small Bahamian’, they just may come to see it as being the truth because the PLP has spent the better part of four years proving that they are not and when Dr. Minnis wins leads the FNM in the next General Election and is victorious, I would like to thank you in advance on behalf of the Free National Movement and the country, because the people are looking for change not just in political organization but also the types of person leading these organization.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

Over the past two years, or there about, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government has been attempting to make a case to prove that the Free National Movement (FNM) is just as corrupt or even more corrupt than themselves; basically a case of ‘the pot calling the kettle black’.

They did this while they themselves continued to sink the country into total and utter corruption because anyone that would dare tell you that the Free National Movement has not seen its share of questionable dealings would either be deluding themselves or attempting to call us ignorant.

This all began when the PLP tried to incriminate the Leader of the Opposition, Free National Movement, Hubert Minnis, when it was ‘revealed’ that the Public Hospital Authority was renting from him but had signed the lease agreement with him before Dr. Minnis entered politics, they called it ‘conflict of interest’.

Then they proceeded to incriminate Mrs. Butler-Turner, when it was ‘revealed’ that the government was renting space at a shopping center where they claimed that she had some ‘financial interest’, again labeled ‘conflict if interest’.  As we all know none of these cases held any merit, so they [the PLP], kept digging and came across what could only be seen to them as a ‘golden nugget’; the BEC generator sale scandal, so what if the incident had happened over a decade ago, it proved that the FNM reeked of corruption, so they proceeded to make a case for corruption.

The government then opened a full investigation into the matter, a person was arrested, tried and convicted for the matter but wait, it seems that it still did not turn out the way that the PLP had hoped; too small a fish?

“Bid for probe into bribery at BEC after Ramsey case” – The Tribune July 12 2016

Excerpt from this article, “The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is calling for the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate a bribery scandal dating back over a decade involving Alstom SA and the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said yesterday.

His statement came after the Supreme Court decided not to jail 79-year-old former BEC board member Fred Ramsey who was found guilty of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from Alstom to influence the awarding of contracts between 1993 – 2003.”

Indeed too small a fish because as PLP Chairman, Mr. Roberts, puts it”…..the PLP respects the court’s decision, Mr. Roberts said.

Public trust in governance must not be undermined.

He added, it would be naïve to think the crime was perpetrated exclusively by one board member, especially  when the Cabinet decision ran contrary to the decision of the full board of the corporation”……touché, Mr. Roberts, do you seek to convene a commission of enquiry into the matter?  Does the Progressive Liberal Party want this headache or more to the point do you want this headache, because we all know that if ‘something’ was being ‘given out’, in all likelihood, ‘someone’ from the PLP was there with their hand out, so as you ask for this ‘war’ ask yourself are you willing to live with the consequences of the ‘rooster coming home to roost’?

At this time Mr. Chairman, if I were you, I would direct ALL my energies in another direction and that would be the scandal that in unfolding at Baha Mar.

“Rollins want inquiry into Baha Mar” – The Tribune July 12 2016

Excerpt form this article; “Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins said yesterday that the status of the Baha Mar project is more ‘worrisome’ than Prime Minister Perry Christie is letting the public know. 

Dr. Andre Rollins, who is shadow minister of national security, said a new Free National Movement administration must urgently ‘convene’ a Commission of Enquiry to look into the matter.

Dr. Rollins also claimed that he estimated costs to fix ‘construction deficiencies’ in the stalled project have allegedly skyrocketed to #1.8 billion dollars. He also claimed that he was told that a recent site inspection of Baha Mar by an insurer concluded that the property is ‘presently uninsurable’ and has become a $3.2 billion dollar liability.” Yeah but Dr. Andre Rollins ‘crazy’, right and on one listens to anything he has to say but where is he getting his information from but even in the absence of his new information, one thing about the Progressive Liberal Party you all do not seem to like insurance, there is still the question of the way that this government seems to have colluded with the Chinese to take this project over; how did this government ever get in the position to side with one of the persons in this dispute? Remember now, this all began a simple dispute between a developer and his construction company; nothing more, nothing less.

So while the PLP is seeking to uncover and further dirt on the FNM from a decade ago….I say someone needs to be right ‘across the hall’ filing a petition to know the extent of the involvement of the Christie administration in removing the original developer from the head of Baha Mar.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

This past week the rating agency Moody’s threatened to downgrade the Bahamas’ credit rating and ever since this announcement was made this government has been playing a very dangerously embarrassing ‘game’ in some silly attempt to convince the people of the Bahamas that they have ‘control’ of the situation; a lot doubt that they do and they may be right.

“Bahamas Facing Moody’s Downgrade Threat in Two Months” – The Tribune – May 4^th 2016

Excerpt from this article; “The Bahama faces the prospect of a fresh credit ratings downgrade within two months, after Moody’s was stunned by data showing two consecutive years of recession.

The Wall Street rating agency announced on Friday that it was placing the Bahamas ‘under review’ for a potential downgrade, due to both its unexpected economic contraction and further deterioration in the Government’s fiscal position.”

To listen to the words of the Prime Minister/Minister of Finance and to Mr. Michael Halkitis, State Minister for Finance, this cannot be happening because of the cutbacks in government spending but more importantly due to the tax reform through the introduction of Value-Added Tax (VAT), so maybe one of our government financial gurus can sort this matter out and ‘splain to the people what is happening.

Govt. not worried – Halkitis: Govt. knows what to do to prevent Moody’s downgrade” – The Nassau Guardian, July 5^th 2016

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of State for Finance, Michael Halkitis said yesterday that the government is not worried by an announcement by ratings agency Moody’s that is looking to downgrade the Bahamas’ credit rating within the next 60 days.

Halkitis said the Christie administration knows what to do address concerns raised by Moody’s, and is committed to doing it.

‘This is one of those things he said.

‘We think are at a point where we have stabilized things.  Our forecasts show that the debt-to-GDP ratio will begin to decline going into next year.”

Mr. Minister of State with responsibility for finance did you and your government not make these same promises and assurances when you did your first review of VAT and reported that it was exceeding all expectations?

Mr. Halkitis you claim that your government knows what to do to prevent a downgrade then why has this not been done?  When Standards & Poor’s downgraded our credit rating but Moody’s took a ‘wait and see’ approach due to the implementation of VAT and awaiting the outcome of the Baha Mar matter, why wasn’t ‘something’ done then?

Mr. Minister of State for finance when you say that you are not worried and you know what to do, do you plan on opening Baha Mar in the next 60 days?  Will this be on the list of promises that you will make to Moody’s as you sit down and ‘plead our case’?

It is indeed very troubling the nonchalant attitude that the government seems to have taken toward this very serious matter and Mr. Halkitis, while you say that you and your government are ‘not worried’ and claim that you and your government ‘knows what to do to address the concerns raised by Moody’s…”, interesting wording there by the way; it is painfully clear to the rest of us that the government does not know what to do, so the rest of us are very concerned.

But then this government always finds away to compound on it statements of utter nonsense, which you would have to intoxicated to believe in the first instance.

“Fire Moody’s if Bahamas is given downgrade” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Former State Minister of Finance James Smith said he would suggest that the government fire Moody’s if the rating agency follows through on its threat to downgrade this country’s credit rating.

Arguing that although the state of the country’s economy is relatively weak, Mr. Smith said many countries not under threat of a credit downgrade have worse performing economies or greater level of debt.” 

Seriously?  Are we as a country looking to progress or play to the lowest common denominator? 

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END