The April 2009 Monthly Meeting
Progressive Liberal Party Women’s Branch
Sunday April 19th 2009
Lynden Pindling Center
Farrington Road
Nassau Bahamas
Dr Madelyn Sawyer, Chairperson, Officers and Members of the PLP Women’s Branch, a pleasant good afternoon and thank you for inviting me to address your meeting on a topic of my choosing. My topic is: The miserable state of the Bahamian economy since May 2nd 2007.
Before getting in to my address I have some questions for Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and his Jr. Minister Zhivargo “Mr. Mona Vie” Laing:
FNM RETURN TO POWER
Some 716 days has elapsed and within two weeks the Bahamas
will mark without fanfare the 2nd anniversary since the very painful return
of Hubert Ingraham and the FNM to political power with their Bogus Trust
Agenda. Thinking and objective Bahamians will agree that Hubert and his
Gang on assuming office in May 2007 found a very robust economy which
led Hubert Ingraham in his 2007/2008 Budget communication on May 30th 2007
at the conclusion, with his chest pushed out arrogantly uttered the following
words which engendered a loud pounding on the tables by his minions:
As the FNM Manifesto ’07 states:-
"We are bound together by a resolve and a determination
To restore trust to Government; to make life better for all
Bahamians regardless of where they reside in our
Country, regardless of their station in life, regardless of
The level of their formal education and regardless of their
Skin colour or ethnicity.”"We have given our word to the Bahamian people, and this
was not lightly given. Indeed, to quote Shakespeare:-
'Mine honour is my life; both grow in one;
Take honour from me, and my life is done'The 2007/08 Budget is our first financial step along the
chosen path of trust, honour, unity of national purpose and
decision. We gave our word in the Speech from the Throne
and we intend to be true to our word.”
Dr Sawyer and Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
can any of you here this afternoon or anyone who will read my address honestly
and truthfully proclaim that Hubert Ingraham and his FNM Gang have made
life better for all Bahamians since May of 2007. I am of the view that
there may be a few FNM cronies who would have no shame what so ever in
saying yes. The very crystal-clear refrain I hear coming from around the
Bahamas is that Hubert and his FNN Gang have failed miserably in their
solemn commitment to make life better for all Bahamians. Yes many who voted
for Hubert Ingraham are moaning “We Get Swing” and “We Get Swing Big Time”
The promised Trust Agenda turned out to be a Massive Mistrust; led by a man whose personal income is secured for the rest of his life? Not a financial care in the world. Yet he played Russian roulette with the lives of Bahamians. Hubert Ingraham and the FNM word which he boasted was not lightly given. Hubert tied his solemn word given to Bahamians to Shakespeare quotation in proclaiming “Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; take one from me, and my life is done. Indeed the FNM by their catastrophic policies and actions have taken the Bahamas backwards and have not presented the Bahamian people with a plan how they intend to get the Bahamian economy out of the tail spin we are currently in. All I see them doing is shucking and jiving the Bahamian people. I am satisfied that they are clueless.
The record the FNM Government failures speaks for its self, Hubert and his FNM Gang has gloomily failed in his solemn word of commitment given on May 30th 2007. Hubert tied his performance to his honour which he said was he life. The honour is now gone and he is now compelled to do what should logically follow, to resign and be gone without further delay. Hubert with his eyes wide open dug his own grave; he must now be entombed into political obscurity.
TOURISM NO1 INDUSTRY
A few Sundays back I had the privilege of addressing
the Progressive Young Liberals and outlined a number of the failures of
the Ingraham administration starting with our no 1 industry Tourism which
has resulted in the loss of thousands of hotel jobs.
I invited Young Liberals to cast their minds back and recall what Hubert Ingraham did on returning to power with our no 1 industry? To my shock and dismay, Hubert Ingraham in his wisdom or lack thereof appointed the MP for Lucaya, Neko Grant as Minister of Tourism who turned out in the short time he held the portfolio to be the worst Minister of Tourism in the history of the Bahamas beating out the previous holder Mr. Hip to Hop Brent “The King of Hand in the Cookie Jar” Symonette. Neko Grant sat on his rear end and allowed Hubert to cut back on critical promotional and advertising expenditures, leaving the Bahamas exposed in the highly competitive Tourism Market. Some say Hubert placed Neko in dingy without a paddle.
Since the FNM return to power Tourism has gone down the tube and it started before the recession. Whilst the important Stop over tourist arrivals in the Bahamas in 2008 declined by contrast Jamaica Stop over arrivals showed an increase of 4.5%. From January 1st to March 15, 2009 Jamaica has welcomed 464,589 stop over visitors compared to 453,533 for the same period last year. The first 15 days of March realized a 12.2% increase over the similar period last year. Jamaica accredited its growth in tourism to the aggressive advertising campaign backed by the stimulus package which was awarded the sector at the beginning of the winter season. It is interesting to note that some 70% of Jamaica’s tourist comes from the USA, Canada being no 2 with Europe & the UK bringing up the rear.
Any right thinking Bahamian during these recessionary times must ask the simple question, if Jamaica which is further away from the USA and Canada can achieve growth in stop over arrivals, why is that the Bahamas is not able to do the same? Former Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchombe warned Neko Grant and the FNM Government that they were on the wrong course. Hubert Ingraham decision to reduce expenditure of tourism advertising has caused the significant drop in Stop over visitors to our shores resulting in thousands of hard working Bahamians to be without jobs around the Bahamas. Hubert Ingraham and his FNM Gang’s poor management of the no 1 industry has brought unnecessary pain and suffering to our people.
BAHAMAS ELECTRICITY CORPORATION
Thousands continue to suffer the humiliation and shame
of living in the dark because they are unable to pay their electricity
bills. Children are unable to completed homework assignments. Thousands
are unable to iron the children uniforms for school and Sunday clothing
to attend church. It was the heartlessness of the Phenton Neymour, Earl
Deveaux and Hubert Ingraham who out of the blue changed a long standing
BEC policy to a new policy which required payment in full for all arrears
on disconnection.
This wicked, evil, cruel, cold hearted, callous and heartless bunch has caused and continues to cause a great deal of embarrassment, shame and hurt to thousands of families and the little darlings. Mass disconnections reached a new plateau under the FNM and continue every day by BEC throughout the Bahamas despite the bogus promise of Phenton “Turn your lights off” Neymour. Never before in the history of BEC has the huge levels of disconnection happened. The FNM Trust Agenda promise to enlighten the people, but has instead plunged thousands families to live in darkness, hopelessness and despair.
FOREIGN INVESTORS
Ladies and Gentlemen, I also told Young Liberals that
I am satisfied that Hubert Ingraham and FNM Gang by their selfish dim-witted
actions chased away major foreign investors and has allowed our vital no
1 Industry to badly suffer by failing to take advantage of the Bahamas
close proximity to the US mainland and has now turned thousands of proud
hard working Bahamians into recipients of funds from the National Insurance
Board. Never did I heard a word of regret or apology to the Bahamian People
from Hubert Ingraham and his sorry bunch for the Government failure in
allowing the major decline in tourism, instead Hubert and his Cabinet one
by one have without shame threw the blame on the recession. Our Bahamian
brothers and sisters in the main are a proud people with a long history
of working for their keep. Hubert Ingraham and his FNM Government policies
are turning more of our people into becoming wards of the state and I get
the clear impression that the FNM Gang do not give a dam. This is sick
and simply unforgivable.
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURES
A very serious fall out with the loss of jobs is ones
inability to make mortgage payments and the resulting strong exposure to
losing one’s prized possession his or her home. Imagine the agony and pain
large numbers of Bahamians are experiencing with foreclosure been dangled
over their heads every day. The gusto of foreclosures began with the Government
owned Bahamas Mortgage Corporation; imagine the message that sent to the
private owned Banks and Mortgage Institutions. Clearly only a heartless
Leader would have given such instructions to sell the homes from under
poor Bahamians, who in the main have large families. There is a very old
Bahamian saying that loose goat does not know have tied goat feel. Only
a leader whose bread is buttered for the rest of his life would have done
such a dreadful thing.
I am not surprise in the least that Kenneth “Mr. Palm Sunday Cadillac” Russell has not been able to carry our repairs to some 100 low homes after almost two years. My God how long does it take to build a band new low cost house? And Kenneth Russell unashamedly told Parliament that the repairs are still not completed. It should be clear to all that Kenneth Russell cannot cut the mustard, for good order sake Hubert please put another man or woman in that job.
All the big talk by Kenneth Russell about how the FNM was going to lower the building cost of low income housing; there has been no evidence of Kenneth Russell deliverance of that. Russell by his own admission told Parliament last week that in the main the Ministry of Housing is continuing to build houses in the PLP created Subdivisions. With large numbers losing jobs on a daily basis as MP Brave Davies asked who will qualify to purchase these houses?.
Dr Sawyer Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to share with you an example of one sister whom I believe is a civil servant who like thousands of our brothers and sisters are on a Virtual Road to Slavery:
My contact just recently shared with me a pay slip from a teacher who happens to be single mother of three or four. Her gross pay is $2,079.17 per month. She has authorized a salary deduction to Commonwealth Bank at $1,097.76 per month. Thus, about 53% of her monthly salary goes to pay a debt for which there is the proverbial “nothing to show for it” with an interest rate of 18%.
She has other deductions which total $916.05 per month. In addition to the usual deductions for National Insurance, she is paying monthly debts to The Teachers Union, Imperial Life and Master Technician.
Thus, she is taking home the grand sum of $165.36 per month before rent, electricity, other utilities, grocery, personal grooming and the requirements to live a reasonable life. Clearly, she is likely to be under great stress as she is supposedly teaching. I bring this boldly to your attention because I am advised that it is not an isolated case. In fact, the use of salary deduction for consumer loans is really the modern-day route to the equivalent of virtual slavery.
How can this good lady or the thousands of other Bahamians who through the inducement of guaranteed automatic payroll deductions by Banks, Furniture Suppliers etc at in most cases unusual high interest rates ever hope to own their own home??
The record will show that in 1993/1994 I brought to the attention of Parliament, the enslavement of our people by Banks and Insurance Companies on consumer loans and Credit Cards abuses. Here we are some 15 years later, and the levels of Profits from a number of Banks continue to grow on the sweat and tears of poor Bahamians. Will the PLP Women’s Branch join in the struggle to remove our misguided brothers and sister from the virtual slavery road they are on?
BIG LIE ABOUT PLP GOVERNMENT PROJECTS
After sitting on their backsides to stop and review contracts/works
that I as Minister of Works & Utilities in detail told the Parliament
and the Bahamian People would carry out during the debate of the
Throne Speech in 2006. The FNM headed by Hubert Ingraham, have over
and repeatedly lied to the Bahamian people about the projects they found
ongoing, saying they were rushed and were not properly considered. The
reality is that the FNM wasted million of scarce dollars because of their
dumb witted stop and review policy. The details of these I will be included
in a future address.
Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd
One year ago, this past Friday the 17th April 2008,
at about 8:45 PM, after an all day Board Meeting, Julian Francis, FNM appointed
BTC's Executive Chairman invited the then President Leon Williams
into his office and asked for his letter of resignation after some 40 years
of distinguish service to the company.
According to Leon Williams the only explanation advanced
by Julian Francis was “I could not take the Company to the next level".
That was the sum total explanation given for Mr. William’s dismissal. That
is how Hubert Ingraham heartless Government operates. I believe the Bahamian
public would wish to know what has happen in the financial life of BTC
since the undignified departure of Leon William.
My sources tell me that:
One is obliged to ask, if the 2008 dismal Net Profit
results, are an example of the Zhivargo Laing and the Executive Chairman
taking BTC to the next level? This is a clear example of what happens,
when a Government irresponsibly sanctions an Executive Chairman micro managing
and by one who has zero experience in the Telecommunications Sector.
Mr. Francis has again projected that BTC will be privatized this time by June 2009, even before a single bid has been received. His forecast is bogus unless the Bidding process is only for show; meaning that a deal has been reached with some company. I am satisfied that the Executive Chairman is suffering from the proverbial foot in the mouth disease.
BOLDNESS & WICKNESS OF HUBERT INGRAHAM
Hubert Ingraham recently told Parliament that a part
a $200 million Loan arranged by the Government will in part be put towards
funding downtown revitalization …potentially including the purchase of
a significant amount of property along the area’s waterfront. Ingraham
told Parliament that his Government is proposing to enter into negotiations
with a view to purchasing the Kelly’s (dock) property and premises located
on East Street and Woodes Rodger’s Wharf, as well as a dilapidated building
on Bay Street which the company also owns. The Tribune quotes Hubert Ingraham
“We the Government expects that the owner will either cause his property
to be develop or consider selling it to the Government or the Government
will consider what is in the public interest”.
By his own words and actions Hubert Ingraham is a barefaced and treacherous man who unashamedly and brazenly tells that Bahamian People that he has two standards when it comes to acquiring property in the public’s interest. For those who are big contributors to the FNM he is gleefully happy to sit down and negotiated a deal, for others the notice to acquire appears in the newspaper and Hubert has been known to dictate the price he would pay, the courts be dammed.
Further Hubert Ingraham before he sits down to negotiate with the powerful Kelly family made arrangements for the monies in advance. On the other hand, struggling Bahamians have been waiting for many years for payment of their properties; which were acquired by the Government. If my memory serves me correctly, the Government owes over $60 million dollars for land publicly acquired many years ago. This is but one of many double standards that Hubert Ingraham has shoved down the throats of Bahamians. Lord knows this is right. How can anyone try to justify the rich and powerful been given preference over struggling Bahamians? It obscene and must be roundly condemned.
CONCLUSION
Ladies and Gentlemen, resentment against the Government
is growing daily as more and more of our people are waking up to
the pungent odor of hopelessness that is engulfing our land and now realize
that in the main it is as a result of actions and decisions taken by Hubert
Ingraham and his Gang that has cause the quality of life to decline substantially
in our Bahamaland. They have awaken to the fact that Hubert promised the
masses relief with the reduction of customs duties on a few items but turned
around in a clandestine manner by lowering the boom of increases if taxes
on imported goods across the board. Many say it was a massive case of wicked
deception.
The financial state of affairs of the treasury is deteriorating on a daily basis. The Government is unable to pay for the production of portable water under the terms of the contract putting at serious risk the reputation of the Bahamas. Contractors are not being paid on time seriously delaying completion of building and projects. Small contractors and temporary workers in the cleanup campaign are not being paid on time. Just visit Roads and Parks and have a listen for yourselves.
As a clear sign of desperation, I am advised that the Hubert Ingraham has compelled the National Insurance Board to pay the Public Treasury $25 Million for the Building immediately west of the Ministry of Works Building John F Kennedy Drive. This is the same building Hubert has allowed to sit unoccupied, has refused to honour payment due the Contractor and whilst rent is being paid for Government Offices in rented spaces. I have said over and repeatedly that Hubert Inghram is a very spiteful man. If you wish further confirmation ask former senior police officers, ask customs officers, and ask the people of Grand Bahama who have reached a level of desperation unprecedented in my lifetime.
In 2008 Bahamas Telecommunications Ltd paid the Public Treasury $25 Million in Dividends. When the PLP in his 2006/2007 Budget made provision for the same level of dividend, Hubert scoffed at the PLP and said he would never do that. The old people always say never say ever.
The FNM in 2007 campaigned heavily on the slogan PROVEN LEADERSHIP. Clearly what has transpired since May 2007 confirms that the return of Hubert Ingraham as the heralded proven leader has been exceptionally excruciating for all Bahamians, especially the poor who have become poorer and weaker, the middle class who are under siege and the rich whose life styles are seriously threatened. We must show Hubert and the Gang the door and pray that the door is not damage on their way out. God Bless The Progressive Liberal Party.