Tag: business

My Morning Paper – December 09, 2024 – Holding the Progressive Liberal Party Government to Account 

Today I write to speak truth, expose failures, and remind the people of this great nation that we deserve better. 

Just this past weekend, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) gathered in St. Barnabas in what can only be called a mini-rally, as they brought all the big guns. Now, you would think they would have focused on pressing issues like the rising cost of living, crime or the struggles faced by everyday Bahamians. But no—what did they do? They spent their time painting the Free National Movement (FNM) as “unhinged” and “violent.” 

How does that help the average working man put food on your table?

 How does that reduce his light bill?

How does that get his children a better education? And then, amid the noise and distractions, Prime Minister Philip Davis made yet another promise

“Plans to reduce the cost of living will be revealed in the new year.”   

Does this sound familiar? 

Let me remind you of what he said back in January of this year: 

“Our top three priorities are the economy, education, and crime.” 

Now here we are, nearly a year later, and the promises to reduce the cost of living have been recycled for another time, with no real action taken and you can draw your very own conclusions as to how they did on their other two priorities at the time. 

As if this were not bad enough, just a day or two earlier we had  one of their senators—a man whose name I won’t bother to mention because most Bahamians don’t know it either—decided to defend this government’s failures by attacking Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis for speaking the truth. She called out the PLP for failing to stimulate economic growth, and instead of addressing the issues, this senator delivered a condescending tirade with cherry-picked numbers: 

2017 (PLP’s departure): $12.24 billion GDP 

2020 (FNM’s term): $9.9 billion GDP 

2022 (PLP’s return): $13.14 billion GDP 

2023: $14.43 billion GDP 

Let us take a decent look at this, shall we? This senator conveniently ignored the fact that the 2020 numbers reflect a global pandemic that crippled economies worldwide. The rebound wasn’t because of any PLP magic—it was a natural recovery as borders reopened and commerce resumed. 

And while the PLP pats itself on the back, Bahamians are struggling. Rising costs have eaten away at any so-called “progress” this government claims to have made. The Prime Minister himself admitted,

“Many people are not feeling it.”

So, what has this New Day PLP government done to reduce the cost of living? Nothing. What they have done is promise, delay, and distract. Their strategy seems to be hoping that inflation will cool down naturally so they can claim credit for forces beyond their control.  

As they are trying to do with the economy 

Meanwhile, Bahamians are caught in the middle, simply trying to survive. Families are choosing between paying bills and putting food on the table. Businesses are struggling under the weight of rising costs. And instead of offering solutions, this government is focused on petty politics. 

Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot sit idly by while this government plays games with the future of our country. The PLP has proven time and time again that they are not capable of delivering real progress. Their nature is to fail, and their promises are empty. 

The Free National Movement, under the leadership of Hubert Minnis, laid the groundwork for recovery. The plans and policies that have brought any relief or progress were put in place by the FNM. The record is there for all to see—I dare them to prove me wrong.

It’s time to stop the grandstanding. It’s time to stop the distractions. It’s time to focus on what really matters: reducing the cost of living, creating opportunities, and building a brighter future for every Bahamian. 

The PLP has failed you, but we won’t. Together, we will build a Bahamas where the people—not the politicians—come first.

END

My Morning Paper – November 9, 2024 – Ignorance in Action: The Cost of Political Games in The Bahamas

“Nothing is more terrible than to see ignorance in action.” – Goethe

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), under the guise of “good governance,” seems to have embraced what could only be described as “silly season” – a term frequently used by PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell to dismiss criticisms from the opposition Free National Movement (FNM). Ironically, Mitchell’s attempt to call out the opposition on various issues ignores the glaring contradictions in his own party’s approach to governance.

Prime Minister Philip Davis, in an attempt to address rising public frustration, recently noted that individuals’ choices impact their cost of living. While there’s some truth to the notion that personal spending habits play a role, the statement came across as dismissive, particularly since it was paired with his admission that the cost of living in The Bahamas is indeed excessively high. The average Bahamian faces soaring prices on everything from basic necessities to utilities, and attributing this solely to personal choices appears somewhat out of touch with the economic realities. Many believe that the government’s decisions have done little to ease these burdens, and instead, this approach feels more like an effort to deflect responsibility.

The government’s minimal interventions and inadequate strategies to address inflation have left citizens struggling with high prices. By pointing fingers back at citizens, Davis’s statement comes off as an exercise in deflection rather than genuine problem-solving. For many Bahamians, this statement symbolized yet another instance of the PLP avoiding accountability for failing to alleviate the pressing financial struggles facing their people.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper recently chastised individuals for circulating a video that, according to him, “could hurt the image of The Bahamas.” While it’s understandable for a government official to be concerned about the nation’s global reputation, this stance would feel a lot more genuine if the PLP’s own history didn’t reveal a similar approach. In fact, when the PLP was in opposition, they famously placed billboards across Nassau that highlighted The Bahamas’ murder count, all in an effort to paint the FNM government as inept in handling crime. This move undoubtedly impacted the country’s image, yet the PLP seemed comfortable with these tactics when it benefited their political agenda.

It’s difficult for many Bahamians to reconcile Cooper’s criticism with the PLP’s past actions. It raises the question: does the PLP’s concern for the nation’s image only extend as far as its political expediency? This double standard demonstrates an unwillingness to own up to their own actions, especially when those very actions mirror the same behaviour’s they criticize.

The “silly season” label has become the PLP’s go-to defence whenever faced with valid criticism, conveniently ignoring the fact that their approach to governance has often been marked by a lack of introspection and accountability. Since May 2007, the PLP has seemingly been in a perpetual “silly season,” displaying a pattern of pointing fingers outward while avoiding difficult self-reflection.

The Bahamian people deserve a government that doesn’t just speak about “good governance” but embodies it through consistent actions, even when those actions require acknowledging past missteps.

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

END