Following claims by Labour Minister Shane Gibson that job creation in The Bahamas is heading in the right direction, Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer disagreed and accused the Christie administration of being out of touch with the needs of Bahamians.

“Mr. Gibson is absolutely incorrect,” Mortimer said.

“Job creation is not heading in the right direction in this country.

“And it will not head in the right direction until they get serious about empowering Bahamians.

“And I don’t mean Bahamians connected to Baha Mar.

“I am talking about ordinary Bahamians, Bahamians who have to sit around the table and make the determination whether or not they are going to eat or have the electricity on.

“That’s the Bahamian I want Mr. Gibson to worry about.”

The results of the Labour Force Survey, released last week, show that overall, the national unemployment rate dropped from 15.7 percent in November 2014 to 12 percent in May 2015, which is the lowest it has been in seven years.The results provide information on the labor force as it existed during the reference period of April 27 to May 3, 2015. The spike in employment this year is largely due to jobs created by the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, officials said. But they were temporary jobs. Carnival took place over three days, from May 7-9. The Bahamas National Festival Commission reported that carnival created 7,208 direct and indirect jobs.

“I’m not surprised,” Gibson said when asked about the report.

“I [have] said in Parliament for a while now that thousands of jobs were being created. But I think that one of the things that some people didn’t want to understand was that you always have many more jobs created than what you see directly impacting the unemployment figures.”

Despite the unemployment decrease, Mortimer said it is not enough.

“We have a government that has lost touch,” he said.

“They are completely clueless, from the top all the way down.

“They are not living in the world that you and I are in because if they did, they would be concerned about how do we find more jobs for Bahamians.

“And that’s not going to be created by giving people couple of dollars more.”

Mortimer was refering to the recent rise in minimum wage. Minimum wage increased from $150 per week to $210 per week.

“It (job creation) will not be created by this whole flawed process of anchor projects, an idea created from a bygone era,” Mortimer said.

“... Old thinking from old politicians will not transform this country regardless of the beautiful ‘Believe in Bahamans’ promise that they made to us.”

He added, “[Baha Mar developer] Sarkis Izmirlian, as good as what he has done with his project, will not save us,” he said.

“The Pointe (Hotel) will not save us.

“Thirty eight politicians sitting in that House of Assembly now will not save us.

“We can only save ourselves.”