The performance of the Free National Movement and its Members of Parliament in the House of Assembly yesterday was absolutely disgraceful.  They were insulting to all Bahamians and I know that many of my constituents did not appreciate or accept the rude behaviour of the Prime Minister.

It was the Prime Minister who agreed the time for comments to be made on the economy on the adjournment.  Then he and his colleagues proceeded to make a mockery of the whole event, even while suffering unemployed were demonstrating outside the Parliament.

This betrays a state of mind of a government that is seriously out of touch with the actual reality of people's lives in this country.  Instead of engaging in substantive debate, they engaged in obfuscation, deflecting and jocularity.  Everything was a big joke.

Indeed what is more insulting is that following the debate, Mr. Ingraham chose instead to speak to the press to flesh out the ideas that he has on relief to the unemployed and distressed.  The place for that is the people’s parliament.  He risks making Parliament irrelevant if he and his government persist.

His Minister of State for Finance should also be careful how he precipitates class warfare.  This is the second time that he has used in aid and comfort of his cause personal considerations, which are not up for debate in the country.  Each person has in their background hardships and strife.  There is no use precipitating a class war.  Everyone in the Parliament, with the exception of the Deputy Prime Minister can speak to deprivation of one kind or another and even he one suspects has “private griefs” to bear.  Indeed, it was Mr. Ingraham himself who described another one of his own members having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.  It was not a wise idea for the Minister to go down that road with making those accusations at the PLP.

In the mean time, what do we do?  The Minister of State sought to compare the situation in 2002 with today in terms of the unemployment figures.  The fact is when the PLP came to office in 2002, despite the unemployment there was forward momentum for change.  This time we face a worldwide recession, layoffs from the main driver of the economy and a forecast of bad news for two years to come.  The momentum is all in the other direction.  The government must accept that this situation in 2008 is different and extraordinary.

We need to address the following:

• A government programme on mortgages borrowing from the Jamaican experience in 1997.  I have a particular concern in my constituency.
• The question of getting the Oasis properties in Freeport open again, and other special measures for Grand Bahama.
• The problem of credit for small businesses should be addressed.
• The question of unemployment benefits and unemployment insurance.
• The upgrade of the tourism sector.