Demonstrating its unfitness for governance, the FNM again refused to accept responsibility for the part it played in facilitating the worst recession in the Bahamas since the Great Depression.

The record will show that the Bahamas enjoyed its greatest level of capital inflow during the Christie years which were in excess of $2.5 billion and the creation of $5 billion worth of wealth in the Bahamas; a substantial increase in annual household income to over $45,000; reduced inflation (1.7%); reduced unemployment (7%); and robust economic growth that stood at 4.5% by 2006.

The record will show that the financial crisis occurred in August 2008, a full fifteen months after the FNM came to power. During that time, Hubert Ingraham has managed to drive away important foreign investments with his poor attitude and poor quality of governance, underpinned by his disastrous stop, review, and cancel policy. The record clearly shows that the policies of the FNM brought a halt to the economic momentum of the country and the increased prosperity of the Bahamian people, resulting in an increase in unemployment, unsustainable borrowing, and the misery index, while household income, government revenue, and tourist arrivals plummeted.

The Bahamian Dollar Government Bond is now under threat as it was recently downgraded and faces a further downgrade if current economic conditions do not improve. We note that this sorry state of affairs continues after the government has added more than $1 billion to the national debt and has to borrow monthly to pay its bills. The amount of this monthly borrowing has not been disclosed to the Bahamian people. Clearly the return of Hubert Ingraham has been disastrous for the wellbeing of the Bahamian people.

The collateral damage to the social infrastructure of our beloved country is incalculable as crime has gone amuck; totally out of control and the hapless FNM government is paralyzed to do anything about it.

The PLP election We remind the FNM of their failure to implement reform within their organization when they brought back a retired leader who claimed he had no interest in the job. His apathy towards governance and special-interest agenda are evident in the sorry performance of the government and the hopelessness, despair, and misery being visited upon the people of the Bahamas.

The PLP further reminds the FNM of their undemocratic practices when Sir Arlington Butler, Maurice Moore, Algernon Allen, Pierre Dupuch, and Tennyson Wells were unceremoniously driven from the FNM government because they demonstrated their democratic rights. The record will show that those who question the Maximum Leader will be ostracized and politically destroyed. This is the FNM’s version of party democracy.

The FNM need only look within its leadership ranks to be reminded of its scandalous past and present. Hubert Ingraham appointees Brent “small things” Symonette, Dion “school contract and Stephen’s Close” Foulkes, Tommy “Mr. air condition payback” Turnquest, Zhivargo “Mr. Mona Vie” Laing, represent an ineffectual, incompetent, scandal-ridden motley crew of misfits and pretenders that are the faces of the FNM and by extension, the political leadership of the Bahamas. The FNM lacks the moral authority to use the words “reform” or “scandal” in their vocabulary.

The PLP will not be distracted in its fight for the soul and future security and prosperity of the Bahamian people. We will do whatever is necessary and will leave no stone unturned in ridding the Bahamas of Hubert Ingraham and his incompetent FNM government who have clearly lost the moral authority and ability to government this country.