By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
AS a Free National Movement conclave begins tonight, one former deputy prime minister says he hopes the Minnis administration's struggle to create job opportunities for Bahamians will top the agenda.
"Most people are concerned that the jobs are not coming as soon or as fast as they wish," said Frank Watson, a former Cabinet minister in the first two Ingraham administrations.
"That's the major complaint. Thank God for tourism, but that can only help so many people. The economy has been on the downside for the last five to six years and you have to put a lot of effort into getting work for the children who come out of schools looking for work."
According to the most recent job figures, the national unemployment rate stood at 10 percent in May, falling slightly from 10.1 percent in November 2017.
The FNM's conclave will assemble parliamentarians, council representatives, executives and party officers in what organisers hope to be a frank dialogue about the party's successes and failures after nearly 20 months in office.
As if to highlight the desire for frankness, participants will not be allowed to bring their cell phones to the sessions, which are closed to the media and general public, one party source told The Tribune.
In a ZNS report last night, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he looks forward to the airing of concerns at the two-day conclave.
"We will regroup, reorganise ourselves and project ourselves even further," the prime minister said. "At the same time we'll look to see if there are any problems that we may face ourselves within the organisation that we are not vocalising.
This is the time to vocalise the problems. Let's resolve them now because we must get ready to move into the 2022 election and new governance again in 2022 to 2027."
For his part, Mr Watson said aside from job creation, a second major concern of his is that some parliamentarians have not been visible enough in their constituencies. "It's very important if they want to be returned to government that they develop a relationship with their constituents," Mr Watson said. "From what people tell me they are not very visible and I know a lot of people."
One issue the former DPM hopes consumes little oxygen at the meeting is the standing of four FNM MPs who have bucked their party on key issues in recent months - Centreville MP Reece Chipman, Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller, Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine and Bain and Grants Town MP Travis Robinson.
"I suspect that will be on the agenda, but I don't know why they would want to deal with them just now," Mr Watson said.
The four "rebel" MPs broke with their party on two of the most divisive parliamentary issues of the year, the decision to raise value added tax to 12 percent and a decision to rent the Town Centre Mall, which is partly owned by Financial Services and Immigration Minister Brent Symonette, to temporarily house the General Post Office.
Comments
TalRussell 5 years, 5 months ago
Tell the whole story Tribune Reporter Rashad, that cell phones are also a no, no for crown members Imperial red shirts - whilst attending cabinet meetings, nor when one on one 'audience' in front Imperial comrade prime minister. { Can't just be making such a thing as 'audience' up cause 'Acee' be's original author on record }.
John 5 years, 5 months ago
Guess Minnis says y’all ain’t gonna put him on blast. What happens in the party..stays in the parking lot.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 5 months ago
The Black Trump is at it again ........... Luckily, all you need is a Apple watch or high tech button.
When since a democracy gotten to this point?????????? .............. What a farce!!!!!!!
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 5 months ago
Lol. I thought the same thing. But him Kwasi and KP still think a call center makes GB a "tech hub" ..so go figure...I wonder if he'll change his Trumpianess "if" the republicans lose the house...not sure about the senate
licks2 5 years, 5 months ago
The government is made up of both PLP and FNM party members. . . the FNM party is not the government!! Every private citizen can say if they want phones or not. . .THEIR BUSINESS IS THEIR PRIVATE BUSINESS!! Their Democratic process is based on the constitution and their collective consensus allowed within the habitions of their constitution!! Now if they say such a thing for a government endeavor. . .you have a point. . .otherwise. . .come kick rocks with me until they "gee" us a foot hold (mistake) to beat them with!
sheeprunner12 5 years, 5 months ago
And why would an old, useless, raisin like Frank Watson be the spokesman for this Conclave???????? ............ He is the FNM equivalent of the George Smiths of the PLP.
licks2 5 years, 5 months ago
Hahahahahaha. . .the very thought I had when I saw the paper went to Watson for comments. . .and he had the nerve to respond!! It seem that no change of party faces can assure the change of party favorites!
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 5 months ago
Get ready to move into 2022????? They need to fix what happening in 2018. We could have starved to death by 2022, and word to the wise, they're not going to win with Minnis at the head. The PLP boogie man don't look so scary in opposition
birdiestrachan 5 years, 5 months ago
The problems doc and the FNM has is no one can believe anything doc says. He said VAT was bad. then he increased VAT. The spay bill was bad then they passed it. BAH MAR was and the Chinese were bad Then they fell in love with both. NHI was a bad idea. now it is a good idea to get more money out of the poor people pockets.
The PLP only looked out for some. Then they gave a big Contract to Mr. Small things. The PLP victimize they say. When they Victimize they call it something else. The master full liar doc says. If I say I am going East and then I go West I changed my mind. the TRUTH is doc Lied.
licks2 5 years, 5 months ago
Are there any smart people dem in this nation who like to come on this site??? I know there are smart PLP and DNAs dem out there. . .I speak to them all the time. . .outside of this little insular and myopic brain fog typically on this site!! I need to start recruiting people from the streets to come on this site so that we can have some sensible input rather than this constant diet of political outdoor toilet smelling nonsense all the time!! One heap of stupidity after another. . .by the same low brow thinkers. . .so damn annoying. I guess it is really like one young man said to me a few days ago. . ."we have to wait until these dumb political cronies them dead for any real socially changing dialogue to take place"!! I did not agree with him. . .but the more and more I read the stupidity posted around here the more and more his hash conclusion is becoming a reality for me!!
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