Tribune Exclusive: Economic slump hits PM's plans
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
THE economic downturn that has gripped the country for almost two years has caused the Prime Minister and his Government to "substantially and significantly" scale down plans to further develop the country during the FNM 's present term in office.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said yesterday that appointing a Minister for Grand Bahama Affairs and introducing local government in New Providence are among the initiatives he had planned to undertake before the next general election which have been "postponed."
Mr Ingraham was speaking with The Tribune during an interview at the Cabinet Office yesterday.
Asked to what extent the economic downturn in The Bahamas and the world, which has seen Government revenues fall sharply as import and tourism-related receipts in particular have dropped, impacted plans he had for the country in the 2007 to 2012 term, Mr Ingraham said "significantly, substantially."
"But that's the reality. You take it the way you find it," he added.
Nonetheless, pressed as to what projects or initiatives in particular he would most regret having to postpone, Mr Ingraham stressed that he "hasn't gone yet."
"Circumstances alter cases. We are committed to those things we said we'd do but circumstances have changed. We are in a different environment so we may not be able to do all those things we'd wished to do but we are doing as many as we can as rapidly as we are able to," he said.
Speaking of plans he expressed early on in the present term to appoint a Minister for Grand Bahama who would be able to bring more focused government attention to the northern island and its long-ailing economy, Mr Ingraham said he cannot now go ahead with this plan because of a lack of funds at this time.
"I am seeking to conserve expenditure and that's one of the things I want to do but there are plenty of things I want to do that I am unable to do," he said.
As for the introduction of local government in New Providence, like that which exists throughout the Family Islands, Mr Ingraham said "that too is one of those postponed things."
"But it is desirable, that it should happen. Whether we'll be able to do it in this term I don't know."
Local Government for New Providence was just one of many promises made by the FNM in its Manifesto and election platform for the 2007 general election. Many have been fulfilled, but many others remain outstanding. Among them, key projects such as the establishment of a National Library, a National Forensic Institute with a DNA lab, establishing a Consumer Protection Agency and constructing new schools to meet the demands of growing communities.
Referring to the advantages of the Local government he would like to see introduced in New Providence, Mr Ingraham said it would be a "more efficient and responsive form of government" that would reduce delays for communities in getting problems addressed by precluding the need to wait for central government to process the situation.
"I don't think you should have to wait for the Ministry of Works to come and fix the pothole in the road, or the street light is out or if you need a license in the area in which you live...(instead) you'd have the local representative you elected to the Council, you'd see him in the foodstore and you'd be able to say 'Listen man...'."
"In places like Green Turtle Cay it's working very well. I was there a few weeks ago and the local district council showed me the post office there and they said you know this part is rotten and needs to be changed etcetera, we've got the materials but we don't have any money, we think it's going to cost about $14,000 to $15,000... so we (central government) were able to help them but they will do the work, they will cause the work to be done," explained the Prime Minister.
July 16, 2010
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