By CHESTER ROBARDS
Tribune Senior Reporter
crobards@tribunemedia.net
NEW leader of the Free National Movement Dr Hubert Minnis said the government is already running away from its campaign promises.
He insisted during his speech at his party’s national convention Saturday, that the new opposition party will hold the PLP–led government to its pledges.
“We will not oppose for the sake of opposing,” he said. “But, in those times when our people cry out, we will be there.
“Already, many of the same old faces are back in the same places where they proved to be unproductive and self-fulfilling.”
PLP chairman Bradley Roberts issued a statement yesterday in response to Dr Minnis, calling his comments an attempt to “distort the record of the PLP government.”
He added: “It was as if Dr Minnis was unaware that the election was over and the votes had been counted and the majority of Bahamians had overwhelmingly rejected the policies of Hubert Ingraham and the FNM.”
Mr Roberts hit out at the FNM’s term in office, saying the government under former leader Hubert Ingraham caused a decline in the standard of living for Bahamians.
However, Dr Minnis insisted during his speech Saturday that Bahamians were happy the FNM was the party to lead the country through the global recession.
“Despite our loss, we believe that most Bahamians are thankful that it was Hubert Ingraham and the FNM that were in office during this most severe global economic downturn,” he said.
“No matter the clever lie by our opponents, we significantly lessened the blows of this downturn.”
Mr Roberts also suggested that the FNM did not “believe in Bahamians”, but Dr Minnis insisted his party had governed for the people.
“Our extraordinary record shows that we are the party of competence and heart,” he said.
“Our opponents are the party of incompetence and pretending to care while failing to deliver in real terms for the people they pretend to care about.”
Dr Minnis said his party will fight against poor governance and victimisation by the PLP by being an “effective opposition”.
Comments
positiveinput 11 years, 10 months ago
Again I say if they went in debt during their own election campaign, judge running the country for a next term.
BigD1 11 years, 10 months ago
Just like the PLP in 2007 who were in debt as well. Elections are expensive and dependent on donors. Yes the PLP had more money to spend. By the way On a totally unrelated topic is the PM and DPM still working for that oil company "wink wink"
notsogullible 11 years, 10 months ago
The Minnis/Butler leadership team, I believe, will be a force to reckon with - a welcome breath of fresh air - an out with the old and in with the new. I think we all can logically conclude that the way a campaign is financed usually has nothing to do with the individual candidate's ability to handle the economics of the country should he/she succeed in eventually becoming the gate keeper of the country. A major contest was in play and I believe that both parties went to extremes to ensure that each respective campaign was heavily financed. With whomever is successful in becoming the government, chances are very high that we'll never know the amount of debt they incurred and it doesn't really matter at that juncture.
BigD1, I echo your question about the PLP connections to the oil company. Sad thing is I don't know if we'll ever hear the truth about it. I have a sinking feeling the oil deal will continue to move forward and when we become privy to the progress of the process, it might be too late to have our input matter.
spoitier 11 years, 10 months ago
That is the reason why Bahamians should go ahead and buy stocks in BPC, it doesn't matter if you agree or not it is going to happen, so profit from it. Word to the wise.
Bril 11 years, 10 months ago
The FNM will be ok. I'm sure they will raise the funds over the next few years. The PLP went through the same thing in 2007. They even owed the BPC quite a bit of money for ads. All parties go through this type of thing. But I don't think either party could ever cry one side had more money and that's why they won. The FNM has traditionally had backing from the Eastern Road families and the PLP has had most of its funds from the 'nouveau riche' as it were of Bahamian society. Let us not forget the foreign interests that have funded both sides in the past. Some campaign seasons are just financially tougher than others.
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