FNM supporters at Christie Park.
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement (FNM) Free Town candidate Dionisio D’Aguilar has committed his party to several “day one” initiatives should his party triumph in the general election, contending that the ousting of Prime Minister Perry Christie and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government would again give way to “good governance” spearheaded by the FNM.
On stage at the FNM’s regional candidates launch at Christie Park on Thursday, Mr D’Aguilar questioned the Christie administration’s handling of Value-Added Tax (VAT) revenue collected over the past three years.
To that end, the Free Town candidate said the FNM would institute both a Freedom of Information Act and a Fiscal Responsibility Act on day one of its administration.
“Emperor Christie and his band of bandits have plundered this country over the past five years,” the well known businessman told supporters. “(Some of them) made their bank accounts fat signing contracts and making deals that benefits them and their families, leaving the poor Bahamian people to pick up the tab for his out-of-control spending.
“Everything they touch smells stink. They have spent $400m of taxpayer money, your VAT money, bailing out loans for their cronies from the Bank of The Bahamas. They have spent tens of millions. Some say $50m, some say $100m - the exact figure we will never know - awarding contracts to their friends and families to build buildings at BAMSI, sometimes twice.
“Then there is the tens of millions that went missing at the Road Traffic Department and the Passport Office. And let us not forget the hundreds of millions that have been allocated and spent on housing projects, new schools, garbage collection and the dump and we have nothing, I mean nothing, to show for it.
“Emperor Christie and his fat cat Cabinet are corrupt. They are thiefing, thiefing our VAT money and they need to go. The only people who seem to get anything from Emperor Christie are his corrupt Cabinet and the Chinese government.
“FNMs, if we give Emperor Christie another five years, he will drive our economy over the edge. When the PLP came to office in 2012, our National Debt was $5 billion. Now the National Debt is $7 billion. And that is even after they collected $1.4 billion in VAT,” Mr D’Aguilar said.
He said the Prime Minister’s unrelenting push for re-election should stun voters, as it comes despite the evidence that Mr Christie’s lengthy political career had done nothing but improve the lives of his friends, family and colleagues as everyday Bahamians struggled to survive.
He said his party would also look to “guard against” the potential of any other leader pursuing legacy terms in office by implementing fixed election dates, term limits and an independent Boundaries Commission.
“FNMs do you believe that Christie is a god? Do you want Christie to remain the Emperor? Emperor Christie has been in Parliament for the past 43 years. Let that sink in, 43 years. That is a lot longer that half of you have been alive. I was eight years old when he went into Parliament, and I am now 52.
“And we know why he doesn’t want to leave. He loves the pomp, he loves the pageantry, the nice Mercedes, the beautiful Lexus, the bodyguards, the outriders, the private jet for him and his family. What other job can Christie find where he can get away with the slackness he does now? Please, please my fellow Bahamians, in the name of Jesus, on election day let us send Emperor Christie home.”
Mr D’Aguilar went on to mention the Prime Minister’s propensity to fall asleep while at public functions. He alleged that during a meeting in which he and Mr Christie represented Bahamian interests, the Prime Minister feel asleep during negotiations. “Emperor Christie did close his eyes and bam, he was asleep,” Mr D’Aguilar said.
“I had to bang my hand on the table to wake him up. Unbelievable. Embarrassing. FNMs, Emperor Christie is tired. He is exhausted. Let us retire him on election day,” he added.
Addressing his Free Town candidacy, Mr D’Aguilar said he would put his 25 years of business experience to use improving the lives of prospective constituents. He said the constituents of Free Town are in need of jobs. He insisted that unlike attorney Wayne Munroe, the PLP’s Free Town candidate, he was suited to meet the needs of these residents.
“FNMs, I have had to use my ingenuity, my passion, my creativity to grow my business to create job opportunities for Bahamians and I pledge tonight that I will do the same for the people of Freetown. I am certainly better qualified to deliver on this promise that my PLP opponent, lawyer Wayne Munroe. We need to make it easier, not harder to start a business.
“We need to make it easier, not harder to operate a business. Do that and the jobs will come and the crime will go down. In addition, I want to use my many years of running a business to empower the people of Free Town to start and run their own businesses.
“I will provide seminars. I will teach them myself on the dos and don’ts of how to make a business successful. The FNM will also create a tax-free zone in the inner city for small and mid-sized businesses, making it easier and cheaper to start a business in these economically depressed areas.
“Free Town, I hear you and I will do my best to create employment opportunities for you.”
In addition to Mr D’Aguilar and Mr Munroe, the DNA have ratified Karen Davis as the party’s standard-bearer in Free Town, while the Bahamas National Constitutional Party has ratified Andrew Stewart.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
Yappity yap yap yap.....but notice how this poodle makes absolutely no mention of the necessity for a Royal Commission of Enquiry to be held should the FNM be lucky enough to become the next government.
SP 7 years ago
…………………………… Very Good Point! ………………………………..
Something stinks Here Besides Christie & The PLP**
Cobalt 7 years ago
You and SP....... your PLP colors are showing. You've done a really good job of trying to cloak it over the past few months. But as the election race heats up, it's clear where your loyalties truly lie.
realfreethinker 7 years ago
Cobalt I have been saying that for awhile. However I think mudda-sic is Bran or one of his henchmen DNA
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
Sticks and stones.....
DDK 7 years ago
Nothing seems to satisfy you.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
As a reminder: The blind always step with greater peril, especially when stepping down rather than up a flight of steep stairs. Often it is safer for the blind to neither step down nor up, but rather remain firmly footed for a while on the existing (safer) step.
ThisIsOurs 7 years ago
I wish an FNM government would stop making ridiculous promises. No one expects miracles, we just want sensible, honest, ethical governance.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
Trust me, with Minnis it would not be '"the people's time". It would instead definitely be "Minnis and cronies time"...... so much so in fact that it would seem like "Christie and cronies time" on steroids!
DDK 7 years ago
You appear to be fixated, Mudda. Why don't you give it a rest?
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
I just don't believe in taking a blind leap of faith on a matter of such great importance, plus I know Minnis only too well. You're right though...that's a bad combo when it comes to being prone to fixation! I wish I could be a helluva lot more ignorant and bliss!
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
Mudda ........ If you have something on Hubert A, Minnis, please go Facebook Live like Omar Archer and say it!!!!! ......... The PLP will not lock you up
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
In doing I would be much more worried about the possibility of Minnis locking me up if he should ever become PM.
licks2 7 years ago
You got "pushed" off the FNM gravy train too aye? Lol! Doc mussie tief ya wife. ..you will bleame him if the rain comes down in mid day. . .either you is one of dem FNMs who get send home fer being too old or just too HI and you so pissed that yoon thinking straight when it comes to doc's name!!!! Give it a relax baby. . .yinna doc has done a good job for himself so far. . .lets see where this goes. . .een nobody on ya rowdy run. . .hahahahahahaha!
banker 7 years ago
It is really tiresome to see professional trolls like mudda and his doppelgangers here (who has more than one account).
Tired of yapping monkeys with a hidden agenda who are not what they pretend to be. Only the intelligent folks offer solutions (like dollarising the economy, getting rid of BISX, prosecute kleptocrats, diversify the economy, update the education system to a STEM-based one, take back our sovereignty from the Chinese etc).
Spewing cat piss on everyone like mudda does not contribute to the national debate on how to restore direction in a directionless state.
The FNM slate are honourable men trying to save their country, and mudda's disingenuous remarks are so petty -- however little things seem big to small-minded little men, and so they continue to soil their minds trying to influence and push their own agenda. I have more respect for birdie - because when you peek under her skirts, you see the PLP crabs the same as when you look at her -- no mystery there.
I do know for a fact, that the FNM slate have been discussing real policy -- from updating the education system, to creating diversified jobs, to formalising economic key performance indicators to doing real good for the country. However, we are so cynical, that a little man like mudda prefers to spew hatred, bile and lies -- while real men feel deeply patriotic, act boldly and express themselves in a positive manner while aligning themselves to a moral compass. And I do know that the entire D'Aguilar family are genuine Bahamian patriots. Vince did more for this country than any PLP ever did!
Carry on smartly. I think that enough of the Bahamian population is smart enough (unlike the view of Fweddy) to put in some patriots in power to change the downward trajectory of the country. Mudda -- take your masturbatory lies elsewhere -- or not -- this is a free country until the Chinese outlaw dissent like Trump tried to do. Forward Upward Onward Together -- and the rest of you -- FOOK off!
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
@banker: You seem so filled with hatred as the election draws near. So much so that you can't even think straight, even as you try so very hard to take a higher road. I suspect you were just as passionate about the PLP during one or more of their landslide elections in the past as you now are about Minnis and the FNM. But unlike you, I know Minnis very well. Oh well, if you must insist in getting yourself all worked up in a tizzy, at least make sure you stay on your blood pressure medication.
banker 7 years ago
Yes I am filled with hatred. I hate liars. I hate dissemblers. I hate people who deliberately kill truth to push an agenda. I despise your tactics and your mistruths. I despise your trolling. I despise your fakery. You made up a polling firm. You make up poll results. You, sir are a liar and have no personal integrity. You make shiite up here and try to pass it as the truth. You are no better than the sub-human PLPs. My blood pressure is fine. The blood pressure of the country is not.
I just wanted to point out the good folks here, your real agenda, and the dissembler and prevaricator that you are. God Bless You.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
I did not make up the name of the polling firm I gave you but understand they have offices in many cities around the world. My knowledge on the outcome of the poll was second hand, but from a reliable source whom I've known for many years. I therefore can understand why you elected not to give it any credence....that's after all entirely your privilege.
DDK 7 years ago
Thank you Banker, that needed to be said (all of it)!
John 7 years ago
At this point it seems like Perry Christie will not only NOT be prime minister after May Elections 2017, but he will also lose his seat in Centerville. People just can't seem to stomach him anymoreand, of course, he is the easiest person to vent their frustrations on. These paid propagandist on here getting out of control. Some of y'all need to go back home and visit the FEMA camps..yea you!
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
That will be a glorious day in May 2017 ......... Perry gone in Centreville AND the PLP lose the election ............ That is a dream of at least 70% of Bahamians right now .............. and it is coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
birdiestrachan 7 years ago
May the Bahamian people never forget that this Dionisio said on a TV Program that he Dionisio D'Aguilar can not find Bahamians to manage his wash houses. Why should Bahamians vote for a man like him.??;
birdiestrachan 7 years ago
D'Aguilar is just a fast talking liar. He talks to Bahamians as he speaks of them, they are deficient just stupid and they should believe members of the Cabinet stole VAT money. he calls them corrupt and thieves, he should know it takes one to know one,
If He really cared he could have provided seminars on business ideas.a long time ago But I suppose He just throws that lie in with the rest. Bahamians do not allow The wash house man to wash or press any one of you.
banker 7 years ago
God Bless you birdie, and the PLP crabs that gnaw at you.
John 7 years ago
Well,well well, Perry Chrisite needs to find another campaign strategy. Looks like the one to attack Hubert Minnis isn't working. Whoever would have thought the FNM would have grown into this strong and powerful force overnight? And the more Christie attacks Minnis, the stronger the red team seems to grow. Even Loretta Butler and the rebel seven must be having regrets now.
Seaman 7 years ago
Mudda....... Christie like the past two PM's has served his Country, sometimes well sometimes not so well. To say Mr Christie is a stupid man would not be a good thing. But this Election is about the people........... Mr Christie has lost the respect of those power seeking persons who are Ministers in key spots. They do what they want without fear of him. And the remaining one will do whatever he says to remain on his good side. The only real MP is Mr Miller. A few marbles loose but he calls it like it is. How can you say Mr Minnis will not be a good PM? If he is blessed to have the opportunity to Govern this Country, I'm sure he will do some thing that people like and some what people don't like. The only person you think can run the Country is .........one guess......... ok then..... look in the mirror. So don't say Mr Minnis can't do the job, just say he's not your choice. Mr Minnis will do just fine, he's gotten this far that say a lot.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
I can safely say I accept not being a political animal, but like you I want and deserve the best possible governance available for our country. There are numerous reputable Bahamians well qualified to lead our country as PM or serve as a cabinet minister. Many of these same individuals also have great charisma and appeal. But sadly most of them are simply not willing to run for elected office because they know full well they would not be able to fire incompetent non-performing civil servants at will and/or appoint competent individuals in their place. Active politics will therefore continue to attract the worst that our country has to offer, and the accompanying corruption will mean our better days have long passed. That's the harsh reality of the situation confronting us in the upcoming general election and no amount of wishful thinking is going to change it. I have listed what is perhaps the eight most important initiatives that our next government should undertake at the earliest possible time, but you can be rest assured that neither the PLP, FNM nor DNA will commit to doing so. As for your remarks about Leslie Miller, I strongly disagree with your view of the man. He's a known outright crook and self-confessed abuser of women!
Reality_Check 7 years ago
A lot of what you say here is why we now find ourselves going back and forth between FNM and PLP governments every five years with increasing annual deficits and national debt no matter which political party governs the day.
OldFort2012 7 years ago
I like playing the odds. If a country of 300+ million like the USA produces a mo..n like Trump, then the odds of a country of 300,000 producing a decent Prime Minister (of whichever party and in whichever timeframe) are absolutely zero. Forget about electing someone "good". The best we can hope for is the "least bad" option.
Seaman 7 years ago
Ok good people........ Of all the persons out there seeking to run, who are some of the names that you thank can truly Govern this Country?
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