The Tribune

PRIME Minister Perry Christie’s efforts to create a national development plan are “not genuine” and “not likely to go anywhere,” former Free National Movement Chairman Darron Cash said yesterday.

Mr Cash, a former senator, told The Tribune that he believes the promise of a national development plan is just “for show” by a prime minister who is “desperately trying to build a legacy”.

Among ten “failures”, Mr Cash listed the government’s “secretive” handling of reform at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation; the decision to go against the results of the 2013 gaming referendum and the continued delays to the constitutional referendum to support his argument.

“In his talking points (Mr Christie) talked about ‘proper data’ and its importance in ensuring evidence based planning and analysis. This from the same prime minister whose government refuses to release crime statistics at a time when gun and other violent crimes are ravaging the country. If on something as basic as the release of un-doctored crime statistics the Christie government has no credibility, who is to believe the other statistics they release... or that they will even release them in the first place.”

Mr Cash also cited the government’s handling of the reform of the BEC as further evidence that the Christie administration has shortfalls when it comes to planning and long-term development.

“At the moment the BEC deal appears to have been conceived in iniquity and destined to be born in sin,” he said. “Few people know what is going on. The deals are shrouded in secrecy. Given the long-term implications this deal will have for our nation’s energy policy, a government that was truly serious about policies that can withstand scrutiny across political administrations would have been working hand in hand with the opposition on this initiative. This has not been done and so even as Mr Christie talks a good game about a so-called apolitical national development plan, he spits in the face of the opposition on one of the most critical issues the next generation of Bahamians and their political leaders will face.”

Mr Cash said the government’s decision to regulate web shops in spite of the results of the 2013 gambling referendum was another “offensive” example of an instance where public engagement meant nothing to the prime minister.

Mr Cash also labelled Urban Renewal, the handling of Bank of the Bahamas and job creation as other “failures” of this administration.

“In view of all those points, I reiterate the point; no one can or should take the prime minister seriously when he talks about development of a national development plan,” Mr Cash said.

“His clearly demonstrated style of government demonstrates that he is all talk and has no commitment to backing up his sweet talk with genuine action.

“He needs to stop wasting the people’s time and money.”