By SANCHESKA DORSETT
Tribune Staff Reporter
sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell yesterday criticised Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest for suggesting that recent comments from the PLP regarding the Commercial Enterprises Bill could ruin the Bahamas’ international reputation with investors.
In a statement, Mr Mitchell said he is surprised the East Grand Bahama MP finally “recognises the world was watching” what goes on in The Bahamas.
On Monday, Mr Turnquest told The Nassau Guardian Official Opposition Leader Phillip “Brave” Davis’ statement that the PLP would repeal the CEB is “wrong and dangerous.”
“For them to have made this statement in a time when we are trying to attract investment, when we are managing a very fragile economy… I think is very unfortunate,” Mr Turnquest said.
In a statement on Sunday, Mr Davis warned potential foreign investors to “think carefully” before accepting the benefits contained in the CEB and vowed that the PLP would repeal the bill if re-elected.
“The Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest really has a nerve. He has suddenly found religion in the sense that he now recognises that the world is watching what is said in The Bahamas,” Mr Mitchell said.
“The PLP was aware of this all the time. That is why the PLP warned Mr Turnquest from the day he took on the job of minister of finance that he ought to be careful what he says about our finances because what he says about the state of the finances of our country could hurt or damage our country. Mr Turnquest in his arrogance ignored us and continued with his loose talk which led to the outlook for the economy being changed to negative. He went about saying the country was broke, implied that the PLP had stolen the VAT money, then said himself that the PLP used $42m earmarked for hurricane relief to buy the last general election. All of those FNM inspired brickbats were false and untrue. We warned them that it would backfire on him and the FNM. We remind him that a fisherman does not call his own fish foul.”
“Now that the PLP has said it will repeal the Commercial Enterprises Bill, he suddenly finds that the world is interested in what goes on in The Bahamas. Indeed they are interested and we repeat that if the bill passes, it will be repealed by the PLP when it comes to office,” the statement said. “No less a person than the former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham today [Tuesday] intervened in the press to say that no bill should be passed without the agreement of the PLP on so fundamental a matter as immigration. Remember Mr Minister of Finance when you dig one grave, dig two.”
On Monday, Mr Ingraham attacked the controversial bill, saying the Minnis administration should “rethink the bill and make necessary adjustments”. He told The Tribune if the Minnis administration wants to adjust the country’s immigration policies on work permits, it should not only do so in concert with the PLP but it should also take a comprehensive approach rather than a piecemeal one.
“Many investments are stifled and are not properly proceeded with because of immigration regulations and procedures,” Mr Ingraham said. “That’s a fact. It would be good for The Bahamas if both political parties can agree on an immigration policy that becomes a national immigration policy so that when the PLP is in and the FNM is out they don’t change it and the FNM doesn’t change it when it gets in so everyone knows this is the national policy of The Bahamas.”
The CEB would allow foreigners or Bahamians to receive “economic concessions” if they establish specified types of businesses in the Bahamas with an investment of no less than $250,000.
Such businesses would be entitled to a specified number of work permits for executives, managers and people with “specialised knowledge.”
Comments
TheMadHatter 6 years, 4 months ago
Thank goodness we don't have to worry about the PLP coming back into office until Neverary 32nd.
The true concern behind the "worry" of those opposed to this Bill is the realization that the specific high paying industries listed are operated mainly by non-blacks - and we sure don't want any more of them here.
If this Bill was about allowing 5,000 Haitian "farmers" to come and plant and manufacture sugar from sugar cane in Andros, Mr. Ingraham would have been quieter than a mouse. He, more than many, is responsible for the pissing contest that has been going on between the government and the Port Authority over the last 25 years - each trying to insult and bring the other down at all costs - even at the expense of the livelihoods of the residents of Freeport - many of whom are currently sleeping in their cars. The resulting dip in deposits to the Treasury from Freeport is a significant part of the reason why we need V.A.T. to fill in the gap.
This thing is very simple. Either we allow in the businesses and people who can provide opportunity, training, and prosperity to our people - or we will continue to suffer from so-called "brain drain". College graduates remaining in whatever country they graduate college from. Didn't we just have an article a couple months ago about the loss of nurses across this nation because we cannot compete with the higher salaries and benefits offered to them in the USA and Canada? That is only one example.
Minnis is moving to make the Bahamas better, so we can keep our very intelligent and productive Bahamians here to be role models for our youth and to bring prosperity to all.
We recall that Pindling said something along the lines of "you either fish or cut bait". I guess that is the future Mr. Mitchell sees for our youth. Well, they got Android in their hands now, and they are no longer willing to accept that. That's why there are only 4 PLPs warming seats in the House.
OldFort2012 6 years, 4 months ago
Oh, it is much worse than you describe (100% accurate though, I applaud your reasoning, deduction, acumen and logic).
The PLP could just about stomach another few hundred whites stuck behind some wall, because they are no political threat.
What they can't stomach is the few hundred BLACKS that those whites might educate in technology, empower and give opportunity to. Because if they succeed...no, that will never do!! THEY WILL come after the PLP politically and that cannot be allowed to happen.
The PLP has a vested interest in keeping blacks as ignorant and without opportunity as possible. You aren't going to ask people who are educated and prosperous to vote for your cretinous policies that have ruined the country. You want them as uneducated and beholden to you for their very survival.
BMW 6 years, 4 months ago
Keeping people uneducated is the easiest way to control them. Where has the plunder loot and pillage taken this country over the years? This clown should be the last idiot to open his mouth about the world is watching. Go away you worthless P.O.S.!!!!!
i_land_boy 6 years, 4 months ago
I cant believe Fweddy Boy managed to slime his way to a PLP chairmanship, I guess S#!t flows downhill afterall. unfortunately now we have to hear this stupid parrot squawk 100 dollar words at the current administration for another few years. i was hoping we were done with him, guess we couldnt be so lucky.
sealice 6 years, 4 months ago
he knew who he should prostrate himself in front of....
sealice 6 years, 4 months ago
anything he says and does just shows us more and more day after day that you are your cronies are nothing but bloody thieves that don't GAF about Bahamians!!! Who needs coffee with this crap??
proudloudandfnm 6 years, 4 months ago
God I hate Fred. What a deuche...
Tarzan 6 years, 4 months ago
On reading this article I was planning to comment, but those who beat me to it have said it all. No one, is apparently ready to speak up for Fred. Maybe he needs to move permanently to his Cuban paradise.
banker 6 years, 4 months ago
I can actually feel sorry for Fweddy. His life ambitions have been thwarted all along. He was smarter than every other PLP in the caucus and he knew it. Yet it got him nowhere. He had more polish and more worldly acumen than anyone else. Unfortunately he was was personally burdened with a heavy load related to gender predilection. I wouldn't not have wanted to be in his shoes growing up in the Bahamas. Then he used his "situation" to advance himself with Pindling and it got him nowhere because Pindling didn't want him for his brains. And somewhere along the way, instead of pride, he developed an inferiority complex about being Black, and that coloured his worldview and domestic reality. The sum total of all of this, is that to operate effectively, he became unacquainted with the truth in almost every vapid, bitter utterance that came out of his mouth. The weird thing is that he knows that it is unpatriotic to be that way. For smart people like Fweddy, the heaviest burden to carry is an unfulfilled potential and that's what makes him a bitter old man. But it doesn't excuse his perfidy, lies and lack of integrity -- personal or otherwise.
BahamasForBahamians 6 years, 4 months ago
The FNM hate for this man is laughable.
This commentary section sounds like an FNM council meeting - with all personal attacks and no substance.
To hell with the guy delivering the message - what is true though is that KPT after 7 months now realizes that the world is watching.
this is of course after 'scaremongering' and telling investors the country is broke and has nothing to offer them.
banker 6 years, 4 months ago
as opposed to the PLP criminally robbing the people blind. Where was Fweddy's voice. All that he did, was vituperative ad hominem attacks at any who had the temerity to question the PLP. A true patriot would have stood up for the country. Nobody in the PLP did. It was all for me baby, and Fweddy is as guilty as the rest of them.
Porcupine 6 years, 4 months ago
I think you're right on all of these counts. However, if Mitchell was that smart, and cared about The Bahamas, he would have left politics long ago. He was neither smart, nor patriotic.
OMG 6 years, 4 months ago
This is the man that flew first class, stayed in the best hotels and what does the average Bahamian have to show for it. For your information yes the world of investors does take careful note of government policies, stability, creditworthiness and comments expressed by fools like yourself. Have you not realized that this is not the only country with sun sea and sand and investors and tourists can choose umpteen more accessible and friendly places. Bahamian people are friendly no doubt but that is only if there are visitors to be friendly with, and that you idiot depends on people like you and government ministers putting out positive vibes. But there again your not really bothered are you,, when did you last go to a food bank, have your power turned off or lay on a gurney in A and E for two days?
TalRussell 6 years, 4 months ago
Comrades! The world's stage is no place for Minnis, ACEE, KP, Dionisio James, Marvin, Carl Wilshire, and Jeff. The act billed at Jokers Wild Comedy Club as The Seven Most Useless Tits - - be run off the stage and over da bridge.
banker 6 years, 4 months ago
If what you don’t know can’t hurt you, you’re invulnerable.
stillwaters 6 years, 4 months ago
I really, really hate this man!!!!!!!!Why can't we get rid of him???? He is like bugger stuck on the end of your finger!!!!!
BahamasForBahamians 6 years, 4 months ago
I'm sorry that is not how it works..
WE don't get rid of someone YOU hate.
The world or The Bahamas is not yours to decide who stays or goes.
BaronInvest 6 years, 4 months ago
World isn't watching, the world doesn't care. Watching the Bahamas is like watching a runner in a marathon running into the wrong direction. And while he runs and yells "everyone else is wrong" the distance between the Bahamas and the rest of the world is getting bigger. At some point everyone else won't hear that runner anymore.
licks2 6 years, 4 months ago
Wel-muddo-take-sick. . .now as a Bahamian myself that "HURT LIKE NO BUSINESS". . .but I must congratulate you for explaining "our stupidity" in shooting ourselves in the foot economically like nobody has ever managed to achieved. . . thanks my good sir/mam!
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