The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement party unveiled a sweeping slate of promises for Abaco during the party’s first rally on the island on Friday, including improved road infrastructure, reduced boating fees, easier business processes and a pledge to keep more island-generated revenue in the local economy.

Addressing a crowd of party supporters in Cooper’s Town, Abaco, party leader Michael Pintard accused the Davis administration of neglecting the island for far too long, citing limited health resources, poor infrastructure and inadequate sporting facilities while government spending on travel continues.

He pointed to road contracts awarded on other islands, but said in Abaco potholes remain unfilled and roads unpaved more than four years later.

“Millions for a trip, but pennies for the port here in Abaco. Millions for a rally, but only promises for your roads. Millions flowing through their slush funds while Abaco waits on a working X-ray machine,” Mr Pintard said.

He also accused the PLP of being lax in enforcing protections for the marine sector and pledged to revise the Fisheries Act to help “reserve the fisheries stock in The Bahamas” for future generations.

The event, which drew more than 200 supporters, featured pledges and fiery political messages from FNM candidates including Central and South Abaco candidate Jeremy Sweeting, Garden Hills candidate Rick Fox, Golden Isles candidate Brian Brown and others.

Mr Sweeting said an FNM government would introduce a unified digital maritime platform to simplify and speed up permits and licensing, and restore The Bahamas as a premier yachting destination.

He also pledged measures to reduce power outages and improve electricity supply, resurface the highway from the North to the South, build a high school in South Abaco, rebuild the Marsh Harbour port, and reintroduce Sandy Point as a port of entry.

Mr Sweeting further promised affordable housing subdivisions, faster Crown Land processing, better resourcing for firefighters and upgraded sporting facilities.

Mrs Terrece Bootle, the party’s North Abaco candidate, used her address to highlight her ties to the community and the FNM’s record for Abaco under the Ingraham administration.

“Don’t talk to Abaconions about progress. We know what progress looks like,” she said in an emotional speech.

Meanwhile, Mr Pintard also took the time to address lingering concerns among about the FNM’s handling of Hurricane Dorian, an issue that remains a sore point in the community.

He conceded the response could have been better and apologised, but said the party is now under new management.

Turning to the party’s candidates, Mr Pintard described Ms Bootle and Mr Sweeting as the kind of leadership the island needs, and urged supporters to back them.

He pledged that under their leadership, they will remove the “harmful” boating fees implemented by the Davis administration and improve the ease of doing business.

“We'll make sure that the funds that are earned in Abaco, a larger percentage of those funds remain in Abaco rather than go to the Treasury in Nassau,” the FNM leader added.

He added that, under an FNM government, funding for grants and loans to small and medium-sized businesses would be increased from $50 million to $100 million.

Mr Pintard closed his speech with this message to undecided voters: “You should know all of these fellas are just alike, but we ain’t like them. We are asking you to support a change.”