Loretta Butler-Turner
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday blasted the Christie administration over the reported launch of a jobs programme in her constituency, claiming 28 people were handpicked for new employment as an election approaches.
Describing this as “ridiculous” and “reprehensible”, the Independent candidate further accused her Progressive Liberal Party rival, attorney Glendon Rolle, of making promises to get support as he campaigned on the island.
While Mr Rolle could not be reached yesterday, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said he had no knowledge of a newly-launched jobs programme in Long Island.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Mrs Butler-Turner raised concern over the reported “pre-election hires”, adding that no guidelines or advertising had been done for the jobs.
She also questioned where the government was finding the money to pay the new employees.
This comes as government officials have still not answered questions regarding the reasoning for a quadrupled budget for the Office of the Prime Minister.
Details of the government’s mid-year fiscal performance revealed the $62.532m increase. The increase came under the heading “grants, fixed charges and special transactions.”
“The Prime Minister’s Office has directed the Long Island administrator’s office to implement a job programme with immediate effect,” Mrs Butler-Turner said in a Facebook post.
“Already 28 persons have been identified for these pre-election hires. No guidelines or advertising has been done for such jobs. These persons are being hand picked by the PLP and their Long Island candidate.
“This is not hearsay. This is confirmed using the people’s tax dollars, the very same thing they accused the previous (Ingraham) administration of.”
Days after the PLP defeated the Free National Movement in a landslide victory in the 2012 general election, Prime Minister Perry Christie said his government would seek to prevent future governments from awarding contracts ahead of and after the dissolution of Parliament. He described these as “bribes”, adding that he was concerned about contracts awarded under the former government just prior to the election. However the government did not implement any law or policy prohibiting this and instead has been accused of issuing contracts over the past several weeks to gain favour with voters.
Mrs Butler-Turner, the former Deputy Leader of the FNM, continued: “I cry shame on Perry G Christie. Long Islanders take the jobs. You need them. But catch the wave. Do not vote for these people that have not looked at you since last election.
“They are running scared. Team LBT and the ‘Blue Wave’ is moving to keep you updated of the tricks they are playing on people.”
In a later interview with The Tribune, Mrs Butler-Turner said she found it “unfathomable” that there were people in Long Island that have not been paid for contracts since last year, but yet the PLP was giving away jobs.
“They are all hurting (because) I had the biggest crowd out on Saturday night. Every candidate had an event so they are feeling it. PLPs came to my event to look for food (and) they brought two buses of people to look for food.
“The (PLP) candidate is up and down making these promises and now Christie has given him the validation to hire these people,” she claimed. “Where were they when the people needed help after the hurricane?”
The budget for the Office of the Prime Minister, approved as $17.069m last year, has expanded to $79.947m.
In an interview with The Tribune earlier this month, FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said this increase was “absolutely crazy”.
Last June, the Office of the Prime Minister’s budget increased from $9.8m in 2014-2015 to $17,069,450 in 2016-2017. That increase was attributable to funding increases for several high-profile projects that came under the Office of the Prime Minister.
This included the National Health Insurance Secretariat, which received $2.5m in last June’s budget.
Comments
Cobalt 7 years ago
Classic PLP tactics! Throw the poor people some scraps in exchange for a vote. The PLP has always been a ham and turkey government. Utter disgrace.
If the Bahamian public can't see their value, self-worth and the fact that they deserve more than this worthless government, then they deserve exactly what they get.
licks2 7 years ago
To be fair. . .so has the FNM. . .and I dare to say. . .if they should win the upcoming election. . .so shall the DNA!!!
sealice 7 years ago
they have already interviewed, articles in this paper, in centreville who said the only reason they are voting for chrispie is because he got them jobs - this been going on for ever though
jackbnimble 7 years ago
They do this because IT WORKS!!
The vast majority of people are just happy for A JOB.
Know a lady in Marathon who just got a job as a janitress from Jerome Fitzgerald. He came to her house campaigning and she complained that she needed a job as she hadn't been working for over two years. Two days later she was employed as a janitress at one of the schools. This after asking the old PLP MP for help for the past 4 1/2 years! And guess what? She doesn't even think the PLP deserves another term in office but now she feels obligated to vote for Fitzgerald he gave her "a job". It's ludicrous. But you know this is Politics 101. Keep um broke, uneducated, and ignorant. Exploitation at its finest and a guaranteed win!
licks2 7 years ago
He just hired over 200 the same way. . .it works for them all with the poor who need to live as well. . .they are most likely to trade a vote for a job!!
TalRussell 7 years ago
by TalRussell
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
This PLP jackass Glendon Rolle is a filthy sissy liar ......... He is on Long Island right now with his boy toy administrator friend (Campbell) placing over 30 people on government jobs ........ The people as so stupid that they are showing up to the offices saying "Mr. Rolle tell me to come here to work" .............. But Eeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnn Long Now ......... Bush crack and May 10th this lil jokey fool will go back to Exuma with his sissy tail between his legs ....... Adrian gat a serious cut-ass in store for Rolle and LBT
Cobalt 7 years ago
I know Glendon. He was always a PLP faggot.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
And what does LBT think Ingraham did and Minnis would do when it comes to jobs being given for votes in the run up to a general election?!
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
The FNM created a 52 weeks program long before the 2012 election.......... The PLP cannot even pretend that this "fake jobs" program is similar ..... GET REAL!!!!!! ........... I agree, that both have political overtones, but the PLP does it shamelessly with NO long term rationale
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
I suspect, if Minnis was PM, you would be the first one to sing "Oh my Lord, he ain't doing what he promised, and he doing all the same foolishness Christie did and then some more to boot!"
John 7 years ago
This will be one of the Most lonely and miserable elections ever for Loretta Butler-Turner. Having to run as an independent candidate and feeling her support shift from under her feet, not unlike when an earthquake strikes and shifts the ground under your feet. And the election results may not be much more comforting to Mrs Butler Turner. But the making of the situation is none other than her own. She never learned to sit small so now she must sit alone.
birdiestrachan 7 years ago
Who would know better than Butler Turner. after, all she knows all about the FNM tricks so she equates the PLP with the FNM Good bye and Good luck to Butler Turner. It is all over now.
jusscool 7 years ago
God forbid the PLP to win because all those who got jobs by disgraceful means will be dumped right back on the streets. So I heard their using and old Chinese tactic !
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
Boy LBT really looks bad on this photo ........... The December coup and this upcoming election cut-ass will be a bit too much for her ......... She may have to book a ward at Sandilands after May 10th .............. Sooooo Lonnnngggggg, Bye Bye Retta Gal .......... Go bury the dead
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