By DANA SMITH
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
AN MP has demanded to know where are the 10,000 jobs that were promised by the PLP a year on from their win in the 2012 General Election.
Criticising the government’s first year in office, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman accused the Christie administration of making “unrealistic promises” during the election campaign last year in an effort to win.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, yesterday, Mr Chipman told the government to “get serious” and “admit that the election promises were only that – promises to win the government.”
He listed a plethora of items the government had pledged to do – including creating employment and reducing crime – questioning the status of each one.
Mr Chipman questioned the success of Urban Renewal 2.0, stating “we can see evidence of a marching band” as well as the cleaning of properties and dilapidated buildings – “but is that all we can expect?” he asked.
“Urban Renewal was supposed to help with the reduction in crime.”
Pointing to recently released crime statistics, Mr Chipman claimed “it has become increasingly dangerous to even go home.” He explained Bahamians are “seriously afraid” of being followed, robbed, or murdered.
“And the stats tell us that we have every right to be fearful,” he said.
The mortgage relief plan was “a total failure,” Mr Chipman continued, noting admittance from State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis that the plan hasn’t benefited any home-owners.
“This was a major plank in the government’s platform and many voters bought into this,” he said, adding the government also promised to create employment.
In April last year, the now Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, told a rally in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera: “Vote PLP. Vote for a PLP government that is ready to create 10,000 immediate new jobs for young Bahamians.”
Mr Chipman said yesterday: “Where are the 10,000 jobs that were promised? The only way the mortgage plan can work is by putting people back to work.”
He also questioned the status of the National Health Plan, which the government promised to implement within its first 100 days.
“Last week the Minister of Health communicated to this House that government plans to create a steering committee to oversee the implementation of the National Health Plan,” Mr Chipman said.
“While I support the plan, I don’t think the people of the Bahamas will be able to afford this any time soon. That’s why the plan was only partially implemented by the FNM .”
Industry professionals advised that implementing this plan would be cost prohibitive – costing Bahamians approximately 4 per cent of their income,” Mr Chipman said.
“The people can’t pay their mortgage and keep their lights on. So where is this money coming from? Another empty promise?”
Mr Chipman also asked: “Where are the plans to secure our borders? New training?”
He said the government has “fooled the people, again.”
“Now that everyone, but the die-hard PLPs, has realized the emptiness of those promises, disappointment has lit a dangerous fire,” Mr Chipman said.
“What we saw outside this historic House is just the smoke from the smouldering fire. Unless this government delivers on something that brings our people real hope and real relief, we will see flames leap up that cannot be easily quenched.”
Comments
Ironvelvet 10 years, 11 months ago
What Mr. Chipman highlights is failure of the Christie goverment to outline a plan and to execute that said plan. The Christie government has long blamed the most immediate past government for its failures of this year....however this is a government with cabinet ministers who sat in the opposition and had access to all the documents that the previous government had just before they then became the governing party. A learned person does not make a promise that he cannot forsee a plan or go forward with a plan that cannot be executed. That person is a fool! Funny thing though the PLP made promises with no plans....
It is high time that the PLP realizes that you can't showboat on promises and lies, one must be honest and realistic with the future of a country. This is our livelihood! This is our history that impacts the future! Get it together PLP, I sure didn't vote for you, but I hope that they can get it together before it too late.
TalRussell 10 years, 11 months ago
While there was never a promise of 10,000 jobs mentioned anywhere in the PLP's 2012 Election Manifesto, the truth is that PM Christie has not only opened the doors to criticisms, he may have swung them wide open.
Let me talk. Does it mean we need a new government? Not only is the answer no, but it's absurd that somehow the official opposition or any fringe activists group thinks they possess the tools, much less the moral authority, to effect such a change.
Is the only real solution for PM Christie to either do his job, or set the date he will resign as PM, thus allowing for fresh blood to enter the picture, to do what the PLP is quite capable of doing. PROVIDING the good government?
Bahamaland still wants PM Christie to succeed, not see the return of Hubert.
But the youth are feeling betrayed when they are being passed over to make room for many of the same old PLP's, receiving the good jobs, appointments, contracts and overseas postings.
The "old Guard" has to show evidence that they indeed have left the political scene, for good. If you can call for it for Hubert, then start acting likewise?
John 10 years, 11 months ago
The question was about the 10,000 jobs promised by the PLP, not about who should be prime minister. And while 10,000 jobs may not be printed in the PLP's manifesto, it was surely a very large plank on its election platfrom...jobs, jobs JOBS! Five to six thousand children coming out of school right as we speak, some going to college, a small few, but what about the rest of them? Right now the tourism product is in overkill but it is not generating enough employment. The time has come to start and revitalise small cottage industries on the family islands along with fishing and agriculture. Time to stop all Bahamians from leaving the islands and piling up in Nassau then killing each other.Within 5 years a mailboat should be able to leave Nassau or Freeport, loaded with supplies and go to a respective family island and return loaded with products to be sold in Nassau and Freeport. Pinapples, waternelons and tomatoes from Eleuthera, Bananas and mutton from Long Island, Salt and its by products from Inagua, and so on. Then there should be interisland trade, Long Island with Eleuthers, Abaco with Freeport and Eleuthers and so on. This can generate sufficient commerce to allow the Bahamas to sustain itself and to maintain a good standard of living when the world is recession as it is now.
TalRussell 10 years, 11 months ago
Comrade John you make some worthy for consideration ideas but I challenge you or anyone else to produce for Tribune readers, this 2012 General Elections "10,000 Promised Jobs Plank" you speak of? It simply does not exist, accept in the propagandist mind's of those who use the media to spread it.
Ironvelvet 10 years, 11 months ago
TalRussell, I do believe that those are direct quotes, not propaganda!
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/inde...">http://www.thenassauguardian.com/inde...
http://news.caribseek.com/index.php/c...">http://news.caribseek.com/index.php/c...
Collin 10 years, 11 months ago
TalRussel, the proof has been presented. Where are you? We know you are yellow shirt apologist, but are you also a yellow belly?
Stand up! We are waiting...
concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago
come on guys Baltron Bethel , James Smith and Frankie Wilson got good high paying jobs ,i,m sure ole Godfrey Eneas got something too ,,see only about 9,990 more to go ..lmfao
TalRussell 10 years, 11 months ago
The only time PM Christie ever mentioned jobs was when he said that some 43,000 (not 10,000) jobs were going to have to be created to fill the need for the many left paychequeless by the Hubert regime?
Do you really expect the government to be the one creating jobs? Hubert borrowed umpteen millions to artificially lower the unemployed statistics, by keep "unneeded" government workers on the payroll.
Do you really think PM Christie is some kind of anti job PM? Of course we all want to see many more new jobs in Bahamaland but it they must be created by private businesses growing and opening, not funded by the taxpayers.
Comrades, yes we want PM Christie to get his Mojo working but the last thing we want to see is PM Christie adopting Hubert's reckless spending and borrowing habits? Now, do we?
PKMShack 10 years, 11 months ago
@ Iron I read it, maybe TAL can't READ. LOL Thanks for proofing what you are speaking,,,Where you at Tal or did the link not work for you. It was in the first few lines.....let me give you the link again.http://www.thenassauguardian.com/inde...">http://www.thenassauguardian.com/inde...
http://news.caribseek.com/index.php/c...">http://news.caribseek.com/index.php/c...
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concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago
Tals don like dat link ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hee hee hee hee
jo 10 years, 11 months ago
Tal is busy looking for new pictures of HAI
hj 10 years, 11 months ago
Several PLP candidates,including Brave Davis promised 10,000 jobs right after the election. Now,all of a sudden it's not their responsibility to find jobs for Bahamians. "we never said that", We did not mean it like that" and one of my favorites " I am not aware" Go figure
bismark 10 years, 11 months ago
typical plp,lying to the people,lord help us,we have another four years
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