MARCH 4, 2009
 
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank the constituents of Golden Gates for allowing me the opportunity to represent them in this Honorable place.

I extend sympathy for all those who are affected by the CLICO fiasco and pray for a quick and positive resolution. I was always curious about how CLICO was able to offer the kind of rates they did. Unfortunately, the more than thirty eight thousand clients of CLICO did not have advance notice, like the select few who were able to withdraw their monies because of inside information. I was given a list of names of senior officials who had money invested in CLICO, and it is said that they withdrew their monies. I have confirmed that these individuals are clients of CLICO but I will not be disclosing these names until I am satisfied that they actually withdrew their money at the first sign of trouble.

When it was first announced that there would be a mid-year budget, I really wanted to believe that the intent was genuine and maybe, just maybe it is; but the problem is this slack and uncaring Government just can’t seem to get their act together. I believe in every case since this mid-year budget was presented, it was riddled with errors in the supporting table, and in every case it had to be amended. While we are here in this Honorable place in this exercise which some describe as fruitless, Bahamians in large numbers are suffering. I’m still getting lots of complaints of  Bahamians who say that the Government announced relief is not reaching them. I believe that these are the kind of times when no new work permits should be issued except in extremely rare circumstances in those specialty highly technical areas which require specialized training and certification. Road building is not an area we should be bringing in foreign companies to build.
 
The Ministry of Works announced the value of different slices of the New Providence Road Improvement Project, and this uncaring Government could have easily done what was done by the Christie Administration and ask the IDB to allow Bahamians to complete the road works. With all these trucks and heavy equipment we have here in The Bahamas, coupled with a depressed economy, I find it incredibly insensitive and offensive that any foreign companies would be allowed to bring in their own equipment, depriving Bahamians of an opportunity to put bread on their table.
 
Since this Government called into question the credibility of Standards and Poors, it will be interesting to see which international rating agency this uncaring Government will depend on for The Bahamas rating.
 
What does the stimulus package of projects consists of?  Projects such as the Road Improvement Project was always in progress to be completed.
 
The 2500 jobs the Minister of Labor announced included among others, workers hired to construct Government affordable houses; and although we can very easily challenge the numbers, the housing program is NOT a part of a stimulus package as announced by the Minister of Labor.
 
When we look at the challenges of finding qualified Bahamians to fill key positions in the workforce; and when we look at the many developments going on, we thought it was important for Bahamians to take advantage of all of the opportunities that will become available. Because of this, and because of the experience that Agatha Marcelle has, we thought it was important first of all, to create an agency to fulfill this void in our national development.  Second of all, we thought it important to have someone heading it, with the necessary qualifications and experience.  That is why the National training and assessment agency was formed and approved by Cabinet.

This agency was meant to serve as an assessment agency, designed to assess individuals and help them decide a career path and it was also to assess the needs of the country. Some of the institutions they would be directed to, such as The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, The Bahamas Hotel Training College, and the College of The Bahamas, would then be the training grounds to hone the skills of those individuals who have found their initial career paths.

Just as BEC is trying and claiming greater efficiency by terminating 4 executives, I find it strange that the Cabinet of The Bahamas still has 20 members and that quite a few of them still cruise around in Government red plate vehicles so they don’t have to pay for gas like everyone else.
 
Based on the statements made by the Prime Minister that they are streamlining the organizational and administrative structure of three critical areas; namely, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Customs, and Immigration, then the definition of restructuring must be:

a) Terminate as many PLP’s as possible and throw in a few well known FNM’s as a sacrifice for good measure to give the appearance of fairness in selecting those to be terminated.
b) Reserve officers being taken advantage of.
c) Civilians feeling betrayed.
d) I was told that Water and Sewerage, Bahamasair and BTC is next for staff terminations

Mr. Speaker it was just so incredible how these young people completely analyzed and identified what the average Bahamian is facing today, because of the global crisis, and that no corresponding solutions have been initiated by the Government.  There are Bahamians who are:

a) Falling behind on mortgage and loan payments
b) Unable to get new loans or refinancing.
c) In cases where banks agree to refinance, they also want to increase interest rates
d) Unable to keep kids in private schools.
e) Unable to feed families.
f) Unable to afford health care.
g) Unable to meet with Government Ministers.
h) Government Ministers being disrespectful to and trying to embarrass and humiliate them.
i) Government terminating their family members in the midst of a recession.

These young people wanted to know why our historical sites were being kept in such a filthy state and why The Government isn’t doing more to create a one of a kind destination through proper development of these historical sites.
 
I had recommended a way to increase Government revenue, create jobs and increase spending in stores down town, by installing parking meters on Bay street and some side corners. A whole department can be created including, technicians, meter attendants etc.
 
Thousands of Bahamians are waiting on the mortgage assistance program to be announced, but I guess the best they can be given is a request from Blue Hills from the floor of this Honorable place for assistance from lending institutions. I guess Blue Hills and The Bahamas Government does not have access to these institutions privately.
 
Mr. Speaker, I want the Bahamian people to really look closely and evaluate what is being presented to them.  That is important because of a number of reasons -mainly because of the deceptive nature of this ‘smoke and mirrors’ Government.  I want the Bahamian people to remember last year, when they introduced the excise tax and slipped in all kinds of increases which weren’t detected until after the Bills was passed.  Bahamians have to really look at what is being presented and see that it’s not really in their best interest. I want to warn the Bahamian public that while they listen to what the Government is saying, it is more important to hear what they are not saying.  They will try, like a magician, to have you look one way; but they need to look the opposite way what to see what is really happening in this country – and it’s  affecting so many Bahamians.