Public tit for tat erupts over Baha Mar
By STAFF WRITER ~ Guardian News Editor:
A public tit for tat has erupted between Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Opposition Leader Perry Christie over the Baha Mar project, and PLP MPs' recent decision to walk out of the House of Assembly without voting for the 2010/2011 budget.
Ingraham, who is leader of the Free National Movement, last night released a statement responding to a statement released yesterday by Christie on the issues.
Christie's statement yesterday was in response to Ingraham's statement on Sunday on these matters.
The prime minister's Sunday statement came after Christie held a news conference on Friday to respond to comments the prime minister made in the House of Assembly the night before on Baha Mar and to discuss the Opposition's walkout.
It appears that neither side is willing to allow the other side to have the last word.
"In addition to the PLP's abandonment of its role as the Official Opposition during the budget debate, the leader of the Opposition has also abandoned various responsibilities related to that role," the prime minister said.
"He is also shirking responsibility for past decisions as prime minister. This includes accepting no responsibility for not implementing any significant economic, social or infrastructural projects in five years."
The FNM has implemented many significant projects in three years which continue to drive the PLP to distraction and to an endless distortion of the facts, the prime minister said.
"Mr. Christie has resorted to making wild accusations about the current government's considerable efforts to bring to a conclusion a Baha Mar deal that he was unable to complete on his watch. This is typical. The FNM usually has to finish the work the PLP is incapable of completing."
Ingraham repeated that the government will bring to Parliament various resolutions related to Baha Mar, including immigration matters arising from a potential agreement on that project.
"Rather than rhetoric, the PLP will either have to put up or shut up on a deal they initially proposed when it comes before the House," the prime minister said.
"Mr. Christie is the poster child of failure and stunning incompetence in government. During his single disastrous term he borrowed $800 million but failed to rebuild [Lynden Pindling International Airport], failed to dredge the [Nassau Harbour], failed to build the [Bay Street] straw market, failed to move the downtown port, failed to build a single school, and failed to implement an unemployment benefit program. He even failed to bring his signature project of National Health Insurance to fruition. Compare that record to what the FNM did between 1992 and 2002, a period during which government borrowing totaled $700 million."
Ingraham said Christie and the PLP failed to negotiate a single Tax Information Exchange Agreement needed to protect the financial services industry.
And, he also failed to reign in his scandal-ridden colleagues, the prime minister said.
"In addition to attempting to wreak havoc on the Constitution and the budget process, Mr. Christie and his colleagues got the facts wrong on the matter on which they sought to offer what would have been an unconstitutional amendment," said Ingraham, referring to an attempt by Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell to have a Social Services line item amended to increase the amount of money the government gives poor people to help bury their dead.
Ingraham said in his statement last night: "Had they (PLP MPs) done their homework, they would have realized that the budget head about which they were concerned includes assistance for several categories of individuals and families in need, not only funeral expenses.
"From July 2009 to date, the government has provided funeral assistance in the amount of $67,650. Indeed, it has honored most of the requests for assistance it has received. It will continue to do so if there is a demonstrated need."
Ingraham charged that the PLP is so desperate to return to power, and so shameless, that it is prepared to use the grief of the loss of loved ones to further its self interests.
"They have no shame over using even death to stage their political stunts," Ingraham said.
"The same people who now claim to care for the poor never increased funeral assistance from 2002 to 2007. Bahamians were losing their loved ones then, as they are now. Where was the PLP then, in what were economically good times? In 2008, it was the FNM that increased funeral assistance.
"Because the current leadership of the PLP have no record to stand on and no vision for the country they are engaging in stunts, smoke and mirrors, unconstitutional behavior, obstructionism, temper tantrums and shifting blame."
June 15, 2010
thenassauguardian
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