The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

It is exactly seven months since the fateful election of the PLP and its parliamentary team, led by the Honourable Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, MP. How do you, the Bahamian voter, rate their performances without fear of bias, rancor or downright fawning? I am a partisan of the ruling party, but I do believe that all of my views expressed herein are truthful and based on the ground facts and figures.

While we are all able to agree that with the initial onslaught of COVID-19 drastic health measures and mandatory curfews and lockdowns were necessary while authorities got a grip on precisely how to deal with the virus logically and economically, those measures were outlandishly tough. The death and infection levels were high and seemed also insurmountable. Clearly, the Minnis administration, in hindsight, badly misjudged the effects of those measures.

With the dramatic and long term shut down of the entire nation, the economy went south. Thousands of jobs were lost and countless businesses were obliged to close down, many of which have yet to reopen successfully. Personal savings, where they existed, were wiped out and many persons found themselves on the proverbial breadline. Hundreds of Bahamians ‘lost’ their lives and thousands more have yet to recover their pre-pandemic health. Our students are only now, after almost two ‘lost’ years of in person tuition, trickling back into the classrooms. The economy is back, even if not yet back to where we were in 2019.

It would be dangerous to simply say that the PLP administration, automatically, caused the rebuilding and rebranding of the economy and that its measures, health wise, caused a tumbling in deaths and infection rates. It cannot be denied, however, that under the benign leadership of the Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, MP, that we have entered a ‘Brave’ new world.

Governmental and trade union relationships were at the worst level while Minnis held sway. Our vital health care workers were, according to their union’s president, treated like dirt and their reasonable requests were rejected out of hand. Omni buses and other forms of public transportation were universally negatively impacted. Hotels and motels had no business and hospitality workers were sent home in droves. Within the short seven months of a new government all of this has changed. Happy days are here again.

The messaging that is sent by the Davis administration is very positive and pragmatic. The Bahamas is back and opened for business. A clear message is being sent to international and local investors. It is anticipated the biggest white elephant in the room, Our Lucaya, will be put into play by the end of this month. It is also anticipated that the Hon I Chester Cooper (PLP-Exuma), our erstwhile Minister of Tourism; Aviation and Investments will announce movement with the refurbishment and eventual rebuilding of the Freeport International Airport so as to generate airlift into Grand Bahama.

Several huge projects are coming on stream and it is only a matter of time before thousands of well paying jobs become available for all and sundry who wish to find gainful employment and are qualified for the same. I would urge all Bahamians who wish to be certified and trained in assorted educational and technical pursuits to seek out BTVI and enroll in one of its short term courses...most if not all of the same are tuition free.

Some might suggest that the Davis administration has yet to come to grips with the crime phenomenon, but that would be a Big Lie. Crime, for too long, has been politicized. It is not a PLP or an FNM creation. Crime was made and is actively or passively encouraged by a large number of Bahamians. Too many of us facilitate trafficking in stolen items, motor vehicles included. Most of you all ‘know’ who the criminals are and the locations of assorted dens of criminality.

Brave, to his credit, recently hosted a conclave with stakeholders to discuss the causations and possible solutions. Even before the conclave was effectively concluded, the opposition was puncturing holes and crying wolf. I am more than persuaded that we are now back on the right track and the emergence of a Brave New World is at hand.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr

Nassau,

April 18, 2022.