PM: I will learn from mistakes

Prime Minister Perry Christie speaks at the 10th annual Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems held at the Paul Farquharson conference centre yesterday. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

As of Tuesday, July 22, 2014

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday vowed that his administration would learn from the mistakes he made during his first term in office as he defended the government’s foreign direct investment thrust.

Replying to recently released unemployment statistics, Mr Christie also reflected on the failure of successive leaders to plan ahead for development at the expense of the country.

“There are examples whether in my term, or in (Hubert) Ingraham’s term, or in (Sir Lynden) Pindling’s term – the prime ministers of the Bahamas – their lack of planning has cost the governments of this time a lot,” he said.

“Therefore we are all obliged to empower any planning facility or agency and get them to work because that is the way you pass on this country to future generations with minimal degradation and that’s the only way.”

Mr Christie also said: “There is a fundamental difference between this time and 2007. The difference is I knew the mistakes I made in 2007 and I’m going to ensure, whether I’m there or not, that this grouping have learnt from those mistakes.”

He added: “I’m always selling newspapers, and sometimes I have to comment on it. But I want to begin by addressing the unemployment statistics because it’s all in the context of what we’re doing here.

“I don’t know why people don’t listen to me and understand when I speak of optimism as to the economy, and when I go to a budget communication and I speak specifically about what is happening in the Bahamas.”

The Department of Statistics released its Labour Force Survey last week. The study revealed a slight increase in the overall number of employed persons, and a reduction in the unemployment rate to 14.3 per cent from 15.4 per cent.

It also revealed a reduction in the number of discouraged workers, and the addition of more than 8,000 jobs since May 2012.

Mr Christie reiterated promises of “dramatic” economic development over the next 18 months, adding that government initiatives were guided by “research-driven and evidence-driven policies”.

“You have a wonderful debate in the country about transition to leadership and whether or not my attitude with respect to transition is the right one,” the prime minister said. “I have been elected for five years, the people have invested their confidence in my government, and my government will go about effecting change.”

Mr Christie spoke at a commemorative ceremony for the Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems (BNGIS) Centre, which celebrated its 10th year since it was reactivated in 2004.

He called for increased integration and coordination in government services, which he said were still unsatisfactory.

During his keynote address, Mr Christie said he first turned his attention to geospatial planning in 2004 in response to the ad-hoc expansion of settlements.

It was then, he said, that he discovered that the country had already taken the initial steps to build infrastructure in the early 90s.

The BNGIS centre was reactivated to guide strategic economic development planning, improve the efficacy of government services and implement a joint project with the Inter American Development Bank on land use and administrative management.

“This is about ensuring that the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas are the subject of good governance, responsible governance, constructive governance and governance that is predicated on planning.

“This organisation (BNGIS) is tied to the progress of the civilisation of the Bahamas, to our existence. Our country has been governed on the basis of a lack of planning, the level of integration and coordination in government services still lacks a lot. There is still a lot to be desired.”

Efforts to institutionalise the centre through legislation were critical to guard its work from political interference, which he said had the potential to undermine planning in a bid to win votes.

Mr Christie also forecast that his government’s wider economic strategy to encourage full participation of Bahamians in development, specifically foreign direct investment, will yield positive results.

He said a central focus of concern was the government’s ability to keep pace with development in a bid to ensure that its planning initiatives were not overtaken by private sector planning.

proudloudandfnm 9 years, 9 months ago

Man you're near 2 1/2 years into this term and you have not learned a damned thing. Just go away man. You are a lousy leader and an even worse PM. Please, for the sake of our country just leave....

B_I_D___ 9 years, 9 months ago

Apparently it is a VERY steep learning curve...nearly impossible to climb for some...he strugglin' man...strugglin'!! Cut ya boy some slack!! ROTFL

TalRussell 9 years, 9 months ago

Comrades this is the only communication needed by this PM at this time. Comrade PM, I took the liberty to write what is the only communication you should be making to Bahamalander's at this very moment, at a time when your very "authority as PM" may be under attack?

July 22, 2014

Dear Bahamalander Peoples

Contrary to how many Bahamalander's may interrupt news reports attributed to my Deputy Prime Minister, over who determines who stays or goes in my administration, I as your Prime Minister must be prepared to learn from the late Prime Minister Pindling, when after losing the General Elections said; "How he and his PLP Colleagues had so underestimated the anger held against his PLP government by the Bahamalande's.

As your PM I must step forward to apologize for keeping members of the public and the member for Bamboo Town waiting for a decision I should have made days ago. We are dealing with a large amount of money - $600 million to be exact - in a "Letter of Intent" that far exceeds the pay scale signed for by my Permanent Secretary Comrade Renard Wells.

Comrade Peoples I must apologize for not firing Renard as the facts speaks for themselves. My firing today of the now former Permanent Secretary is a continuation of my government's promise during the 2102 General Elections, to always place Bahamalander's first in every decision made by PLP "second-chance" government and in particular my governments promise to practice transparency.

Effective immediately I have take action for the Bamboo Town MP to demit himself from the office of permanent Secretary.

I can also guarantee Bahamalander's that anyone, regardless of whom they might be or what high position they hold in my government, of which I find to have played a role, directly or indirectly, in the issuing of the $600 million "Letter of Intent," will immediately be fired.

Respectfully, Perry Christie Rt. Honourabe Prime Minister Bahamaland cc: Deputy Prime Minister "Brave" Davis

proudloudandfnm 9 years, 9 months ago

And stop dying your hair. You starting to look like a muppet...

hurricane 9 years, 9 months ago

LOL!

sheeprunner12 9 years, 9 months ago

Perry is a bold faced liar or a complete clueless mouthpiece for the Pingdomite elite ... maybe both

jlcandu 9 years, 9 months ago

Those statistics are like everything else in the PLP -- made up to look good. The DOS did a survey of households for a week and prepared their statistics based on the extrapolation of the survey. Therefore as any educated person would determine, these new statistics are bogus.

There is no way in hell that 8,000 jobs were created in an economy that is basically flat or growing at less than 1%. Also the unemployed work force actually INCREASED from May 2012 in real numbers. And there is no way that over 5,000 "discouraged" workers found a job since November 2013 (ie) DOS does not classify discouraged workers as unemployed.

And they are trying to say these jobs were "created" in the private sector -- where?

The numbers don't make sense and don't add up. I am disappointed that the DOS is now playing politics.

ChaosObserver 9 years, 9 months ago

Crap the PM must be a Rhodes Scholar by now! All at the expense of Bahamians. And yes we can see that he's "priming the pump" to say he's going to run again in election.....mark my words......and to state that the employment is up etc apparently he's mixing his own cool-aid and drinking it...cause that's a lie...ball faced lie!!! But some will believe this buffoon......

birdiestrachan 9 years, 9 months ago

Mr.Christie I was very proud to see the Urbane Renewal band, it is one of the wonderful things you have brought about.. It has to be about people,. I wish the Bahamas every success in the farming in Andros. people have to have a deep love to plant and watch things grow. and if they do they will reap a great harvest.

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