#THENEWDAYOLDWAYPLP

Prime Minister Davis, “Secret Squirrel”, brags about how his travels has repaired The Bahamas’ relationships around the world. He goes on to claim how he is bringing foreign investors to the country; but what are his goverment’s economic initiatives affecting the relationship between his New Day government and local businesses?

First, I would like to interject my suggestion that there were no foreign relationships to be repaired; to be repaired they would have first to be broken and I dare Secret Squirrel or any one of his government or even fervent supporters, helping to spread this version of “reality” to provide any concrete and concise evidence to prove my assertions erroneous.

‘Barbaric’ govt task force blasted” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “The government yesterday faced increased criticisms over the work of the Maritime Revenue Enhancement Task Force with the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) expressing concern over the “contempt” being shown for the business community through “invasive inspection strategies”, and one businessman branding as “barbaric, mindless and completely archaic” the work of the team of law enforcement and government officials.

Meanwhile, Acting Press Secretary Keishla Adderley told reporters the government was reviewing the procedures used by the task force after Vice President of CBS Bahamas Brent Burrows II complained of armed officers entering their Southwest Plaza store unannounced to review the company’s files.

The task force’s mandate is to ensure that companies are compliant with all taxes.

The team includes officials from the departments of inland revenue, immigration and customs, the National Insurance Board, and police and defense force officers.”

While it is my opinion and that of most Bahamians that each and every business and person should comply with our tax laws, it is also my opinion that there is no need for excessive and invasive force as a means to have businesses comply, like simply having them shut down until they choose to comply, and while people may still complain, this move is a far less invasive and excessive means in my opinion.

During the lockdowns brought about by the pandemic, there was excessive force used in several instances to have people comply with the law at that time.  It was and still isa my opinion that in a civilized society, a certain level of discretion should be afforded to its citizens especially by those enforcing the law, this is the only way that we maintain a healthy and cohesive society and remain truly progressive as a country.

So your methods to achieve this simply cannot be that which can only be perceived as pure and utter madness, then labelled as justifiably or unjustifiably as “barbaric”.

So to use the reasoning/excuse, you feel free to interject the most appropriate word that works for you here; “With regard to the armed officers, Bowleg explained that the team is a revenue collection team and needs to be protected as its members carry out their duty of collecting the government’s revenue.”, it very difficult to believe  and only seen as an excuse to attempt to justify the use of excessive and aggressive force in order to “review the company’s files”, when there are more less aggressive and excessive force available to agents of the government while “collecting government’s revenue” and at the end of this excessive and aggressive exercise, did the relevant agencies succeed in the purpose of the visit?

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

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Last week, Keith “Tippy Toe” Bell waltzed into Parliament and unleashed his magnum opus on the Budget Debate floor. For ninety long minutes, he waxed poetic about the “horrific acts” of the former Free National Movement (FNM) government, accusing them of selling the National Insurance Board’s (NIB) shares in American companies. High on emotion but perilously low on facts, Bell’s speech was the kind of grandstanding we’ve come to expect.

Enter Arinthia Komolafe, the former leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA). Unlike Bell’s melodrama, Komolafe’s response was a master class in clarity and substance. Her piece filled in the gaping holes left by Bell’s tirade, shedding light on what the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) conveniently glossed over in their haste to scream “scandal.”

And that’s where it all began and we all know what they say about dogs and parked cars.

 The PLP unleashed a relentless barrage against Komolafe, clearly rattled by her inconvenient truths. From the moment she exposed the NIB fiasco, she’s been under attack, an attempt to discredit her that is as transparent as it is desperate.

First, let’s set the record straight: nowhere in Komolafe’s statement did she claim to be representing the FNM. But in the twisted logic of the PLP, if she criticizes the New Day government, she must be doing it on behalf of the FNM. Apparently, in their world, independent thought is a foreign concept and seems to be highly discouraged within that political organization.

The attacks on Komolafe have been vicious and personal, aimed more at her character than her message. She’s been called everything but a child of God, with “political prostitute” being a particularly nasty favorite. It’s a classic deflection tactic, a smokescreen to divert attention from the real issue at hand.

This issue being that was done was recommended and sanctioned by the Governor of The Central Bank of The Bahamas, they have yet to attack him for what they now term a stupid decision.  Just imagine that a decision to help the Bahamian people and the country’s economy is now being labelled a “stupid decision”, just think about that and let that sink it

The PLP’s hypocrisy is staggering. They’re more than willing to smear a woman based on lies to protect “Tippy Toe” Bell. This isn’t surprising, though. It’s reminiscent of their attacks on the young and dynamic Deputy Chairman, Robyn Lynes, for daring to challenge Fred Mitchell for the PLP chairmanship. Yes, the same Fred Mitchell who once burned the Bahamian Constitution in protest and cut his political teeth as an FNM Senator.

The PLP has a long history of nasty, vile political attacks, and the New Day PLP seems to have inherited this trait from the Old Day PLP. The party’s witlessness knows no bounds, and it’s clear they’ll go to any lengths to protect their own, even if it means throwing truth and decency out the window.

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

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After rolling out a budget so lackluster it made a sloth on a Sunday look energetic, the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government of The Bahamas found themselves in desperate need of a distraction. Their budget, an exercise in mediocrity, offered concessions on sea moss, fire extinguishers, digital camera parts, and laundry detergent in sheet form. Truly inspiring, if you’re in the market for yawns.

But lo and behold, the PLP found their lifeline—a distraction that could rival a reality TV twist. Enter the headline: “FNM SOLD NIB SHARES.” In a melodramatic reveal worthy of daytime soap operas, Minister of Social Services and Urban Renewal Keith Bell disclosed in Parliament that the Free National Movement (FNM), under Dr. Hubert Minnis, had sold the National Insurance Board’s (NIB) entire portfolio of American stocks. Bell, never one to shy away from drama, described this like he was unveiling the location of the Holy Grail.

Bell revealed that in 2020, NIB offloaded shares in giants like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Cisco. His shock was palpable, pausing repeatedly during his speech—perhaps to catch his breath from all that theatrical gasping.

But here’s where the story takes a nosedive. Bell’s big revelation, meant to scandalize, fell flat because he conveniently left out the context. He provided just enough to intrigue but not enough to inform. Some might call it lying; we will politely label it as selective storytelling.

Enter Governor Rolle’s remarks from May 2020, which provided much-needed context. The Central Bank was grappling with maintaining foreign reserves and the fixed exchange rate. Tough decisions had to be made, including selling assets to stabilize the economy. The goal was clear—position The Bahamas for a swift recovery once tourism, the economic backbone, bounced back.

The PLP, however, seems more interested in Monday morning quarterbacking than acknowledging the tough decisions made for the greater good. Their narrative, fixated on what the shares might be worth today, misses the crucial point of why they were sold in the first place. It sends a loud and clear message: they would rather harp on hypothetical losses than appreciate the real, tangible gains in economic stability and recovery.

By focusing on the past, the PLP overlooks the essential truth—they’re signaling to the Bahamian people that taking necessary, albeit painful, steps to secure economic relief was a mistake. Their approach? Spectacularly misguided. And so, the PLP fails, as is their nature, to see the forest for the trees. Their nature, it seems, is to miss the point entirely.

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Alright, folks, buckle up because we’re diving into the latest from the House of Assembly, where the “Honorable” Keith Bell spent nearly an hour on his feet, delivering a scathing critique of the Official Opposition, the Free National Movement (FNM). Now, if you’re thinking this is just another run-of-the-mill parliamentary tirade, think again. Bell took it upon himself to berate the FNM for what he claims was the reckless selling off of all “American foreign assets in National Insurance” back in 2020. Yes, you heard it right, during the height of the pandemic.

Bell was so “behooved”—I love that word, don’t you?—that he stopped just short of explaining why it was necessary to sell these “American foreign” assets and, importantly, who exactly was advising the government at that time. But then again, sound reasoning might just get in the way of a good old-fashioned misrepresentation of the truth. You see, calling members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) liars is a surefire way to rile them up, even when the facts aren’t on their side.

Let’s take a trip back to May 2020, shall we? According to The Nassau Guardian, the National Insurance Board (NIB) began identifying which of its foreign assets to liquidate as part of stringent austerity measures. This was to safeguard the foreign reserves, as requested by the Central Bank of The Bahamas, to navigate the perilous economic crisis brought on by COVID-19. NIB Director Dr. Nicola Virgill-Rolle mentioned that the board was figuring out how to meet this mandate without straining the fund’s resources. The plan was to target the lowest-yielding assets to maintain liquidity, crucial for paying unemployment benefits at a time when the country’s economy was in dire straits.

So, the foreign investments by the National Insurance Board were essentially a support mechanism for the country’s reserves. By the end of 2019, these external reserve balances had jumped by an impressive 46.7% to $1.7 billion.

But if you followed Minister Bell’s narrative, you’d think the FNM was selling off these assets willy-nilly, just for kicks, with no good reason or advisement. In reality, this was a strategic move under the guidance of The Central Bank of The Bahamas, aiming to raise funds for critical social services during an unprecedented economic shutdown.

Now, I have to wonder if Minister Bell realizes that his version of events is, in fact, misleading Parliament and the people.

Is it any surprise that a minister from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), who has already weathered controversy, was chosen to deliver this dirty task?

 Survived one scandal, why not test if he’s “bulletproof” with another, right?

And there you have it, folks. A perfect example of political theater at its finest. Don’t you just love it?

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

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Ah, the Deputy Prime Minister, Chester Cooper aka “Morocco Mole” , graces us with another dazzling display of either gross misunderstanding or deliberate political gymnastics. Let’s break this down, folks.

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard dared to point out that, despite a surge in tourism, the country’s economic growth remains lackluster. What does “Morocco Mole” do? He dismisses it as “utter nonsense,” but in doing so, he unwittingly confirms the very point Pintard is making.

“Morocco Mole” boasts about a 17% increase in stopover arrivals last year, a 3.5% growth in the first quarter of this year, and air traffic to Grand Bahama surpassing pre-Hurricane Dorian levels. Impressive stats, but let’s not miss the forest for the trees. Pintard’s argument hinges on the distinction between visitor numbers and actual economic impact. And here’s where the spin gets dizzying.

“Morocco Mole” flaunts high hotel occupancy rates, the reopening of the British Colonial Hotel, and booming Airbnb business. All well and good, but Pintard’s critique is razor-sharp: the government’s own projections show economic growth sliding from 5.5% in May 2023 to a mere 1.1% by December 2023. So, despite the fanfare of record visitor arrivals, we’re missing revenue targets by a staggering $200-$300 million.

Visitor numbers up, economic benefits down. How does”Morocco Mole” respond? By accusing Pintard of making things up, of course. “He completely made that up,” “Morocco Mole” declares, yet provides no substantial evidence to counter the crux of Pintard’s argument. Instead, he doubles down on the cruise passenger growth narrative, ignoring Pintard’s pointed observation that cruise visitors spend a paltry $75 each onshore.

And the pièce de résistance: “Morocco Mole” claims the need for more hotel rooms to meet demand, suggesting that perhaps Pintard was “too shell-shocked at our successes” to understand. Ah yes, the old “you’re just jealous of our achievements” line. Classic.

“Morocco Mole’s” defense boils down to this: “We’re seeing more tourists, so everything must be great!” But without addressing the tangible economic benefits—or lack thereof—his rebuttal is as thin as a paper-thin hotel brochure.

In the end, we’re left with “Morocco Mole’s” bluster and Pintard’s inconvenient truths. The numbers don’t lie, but they can be very, very misleading when wielded by a seasoned politician. So,”Morocco Mole” we see your visitor stats and raise you a hard look at the economy. Who’s really spinning the “utter nonsense” here?

It’s simply amazing that the New Day government would attempt to use the numbers to prove a lie when the numbers do not lie.

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

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Today we will look into a story that’s raising more than a few eyebrows and leaving us with a lot more questions than answers. The New Day government promises us a grand total of thirty-eight dollars and thirty-three cents in annual savings. Yes, you heard that right, folks—thirty-eight dollars and thirty-three cents. While we appreciate every penny, we can’t help but scrutinize the details behind this so-called fantastic deal. And, let me tell you, those details are murkier than water in an outhouse on a sweltering summer day.

Let’s turn to a recent article from The Nassau Guardian. The headline reads, “BPL in the midst of privatization.” Opposition Leader Michael Pintard has some strong words on the matter. During the 2024/2025 budget debate, Pintard declared, “It is clear from the information provided by the government that Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) is in the midst of being privatized. BPL, by whatever name you wish to call it, is in the midst of a privatization exercise.”

Pintard goes on to reveal that the government has, rather slyly, introduced a privatization process under the guise of something else during the budget debate. Back in March, the prime minister assured us that BPL would not be privatized as part of their reform plan. Yet, just three months later, reports emerged, and the Minister of Energy confirmed, that $100 million worth of sovereign assets are being transferred from state control and ownership to private control and majority ownership for a quarter-century or longer.

So, let’s ask the obvious question: if $100 million of sovereign assets are being transferred for 25 years or more to private control, doesn’t that constitute privatization?

And here’s another pressing question: if the government is in the process of transferring BPL’s transmission and distribution network, retaining only 40% ownership of the new entity, what happens to the BPL employees who currently maintain these networks? Will they be seamlessly transferred to the new company, or are their jobs at risk?

And also, who will truly control BPL for the next 25 years?

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has historically criticized the Free National Movement (FNM) for what they consider the disastrous sale of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC). But now, it appears the PLP might be on the brink of making an even more colossal mistake, all while trying to convince us otherwise.

So, yes, we are grateful for the promised savings of thirty-eight dollars and thirty-three cents. But we must question what we stand to lose in this bargain. Is it really worth it?

Stay with us as we continue to unravel this complex and concerning issue.

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

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Alright folks, let me hit you with a question that’s been bugging me for the past two and a half years: how have the economic initiatives by the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) helped the average working man? Spoiler alert: it’s not looking good.

Now, they thought it was a brilliant move to reduce Value-Added Tax (VAT) across the board. Sounds good, right? Until they sneakily added VAT to items that were once untouchable—like breadbasket items and medication. Yep, they’re taxing your bread and your meds, folks. Real progressive.

For two and a half years, I’ve been trying to get an answer. Nothing. Radio silence. But then, this past Thursday, we got a gem of a headline: ‘PM: We had little success on inflation.’ You don’t say.

In this article, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis admitted that the government’s policies since 2021 have had ‘little success’ in driving down the high cost of living. But hey, they’re still ‘attacking’ the problem from several angles. It’s like watching someone try to fix a leaky boat with a roll of duct tape and a prayer.

Davis said, and I quote, ‘Since our first budget in 2021, we have introduced a number of measures designed to reduce the cost of living, but they have had little success in producing reductions in prices to the consumer.’ Gee, thanks for the update, Captain Obvious.

He also added, ‘It is clear that something more structural is at play.’ Translation: ‘We’re out of ideas and we’re just hoping something sticks.’

Look, I’m no economist, but even I knew these initiatives weren’t going to bring down the cost of living during high inflation. You need real measures to offset rising costs. Any economist with a pulse could’ve told you that. Now, we’re right where everyone predicted: nowhere good. And the most vulnerable among us? They’ve been catching hell learning this unnecessary lesson from the New Day government.

But wait, there’s more! This is the same Minister of Finance who then tried to criticize the leader of the opposition, the Hon. Michael Pintard, for ‘errors in analyzing his new budget.’ You just can’t make this stuff up.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) fails for one reason: it’s in their nature.”