As the end of 2015 approaches, it has become very clear that our beloved Bahamas is in desperate and urgent need of leadership change. The economy is in freefall and unemployment continues to rise. Our streets are not safe and as the murder count continues to increase a "stunned" prime minster consistently reacts with empty promises for remedying the crime problem.
Perry Christie appears out of touch and totally disconnected from reality, while his government appears crippled and out of control. In the midst of these challenging circumstances, the Free National Movement is poised and actively positioning itself to return to government and to usher in the changes necessary to steady the ship of state. No doubt, our country is facing so many issues and problems because we have a government not willing to listen to stakeholders.
The rushed implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) is a glowing example of a prime minister on his own run. Front and backbenchers in this Christie administration have gone on record criticizing the premature rollout of this new program. They have cited a lack of education and lack of information on costs to the Bahamian people as points of rebuke.
Earlier this week, a Cabinet minister resigned just days after making critical comments of NHI and other government shortcomings. A new FNM government will give affordable health care for all Bahamians the kind of strategic attention it deserves. We will continue our march to a proper sustainable, affordable and efficient national health program as begun in the last FNM administration with our emphasis on healthy lifestyles, telemedicine, the prescription drug plan, the Critical Care Block, mini-hospitals and clinics throughout The Bahamas.
Consequently we will continue our facility improvements - e.g., the recent completion of a new Critical Care Block with six new theaters designed to tackle many catastrophic illnesses such as hip and knee replacement, arthroscopic surgery, heart surgery and many others. If not completed by this incompetent government, we will complete and open our mini-hospitals in Abaco and Exuma.
Additionally, an FNM government will construct mini-hospitals in Eleuthera and Long Island, a new maternity and child health wing at PMH, and we will move forward with the introduction of proper cardiac care, improvement of the Accident and Emergency Department, ambulance decentralization, health systems integration, telemedicine and radiology, proper and improved primary care and introduce as previously promised catastrophic insurance, thus immediately tackling the problems faced by many and reducing the need for cook-outs. On all matters, Bahamians will always know what they are getting and the projected cost to support the same.
A new FNM government will ensure that our schools are modernized to meet the needs of our students, and the input and feedback of educators will be given proper consideration. We will also develop comprehensive community programs that will capture the imagination of children and young people, and we will engage the involvement of parents. We will introduce programs that will address the root cause of poverty and crime while providing realistic and sustainable solutions. These revolutionary undertakings will replace the existing and failed community efforts by this government complete with minimal impact and lukewarm, cosmetic results.
As the holidays approach, it is most unsettling that Prime Minister Perry Christie's dance of optimism without specifics, still finds over 2,000 Bahamians jobless at Baha Mar. Additionally, hundreds of local contractors are still awaiting millions of dollars owed to them for work already completed at the mega-resort. Therefore, the holiday season will be bleak for many because of Christie's weak leadership and inability to make good on promises and deliver positive results. He says he believes in Bahamians, but he just can't seem to deliver for them.
A new FNM government will engender more than lip service and played-out campaign talk of job creation and full employment. Instead, we will walk the talk and make diversified entrepreneurship and by extension, Bahamian ownership, a priority. A new FNM government will establish stronger foreign investment policies to ensure that the chaos and stalemate now synonymous with Baha Mar never happens again. A new FNM government will explore and fully engage the talents and skills of Bahamians before foreign consultants are contracted.
Earlier this year, Christie and his government blatantly spent millions of dollars to hype up a carnival festival concept. They spared no expense on carnival but in recent weeks, pre-Junkanoo events and activities were cancelled due to organizing committee's inability to afford the cost of providing security. Under a new FNM government our rich cultural traditions will be adequately funded.
Moreover, sailors and regatta-lovers will not have to suffer the indignity of a government minister informing them that he must justify the value of regattas to secure any increased funding from Prime Minister Perry Christie. This is truly a government out of touch with our rich and world-class cultural heritage.
As we position the FNM to become the next government of The Bahamas, we wish to assure our fellow Bahamians in the Southern Bahamas impacted by Hurricane Joaquin that we are aware of the unacceptable pace of this government's recovery efforts. We will continue to assist as best we can as a party, monitor and press the government to redouble its efforts, void of politics determining who gets what, how much and when.
The FNM has a group of talented shadow ministers and a dedicated team working relentlessly to expose this slack and silent government on national issues. Drawing on all stakeholders, we will seek to find solutions and present a platform for change. Our country continues to drift off course and is spiralling downward at a rapid pace. We pray for the safety and comfort of people throughout The Bahamas at this time, in particular the unemployed and victims of crime. Change is coming.
o Dr. Hubert Minnis is the leader of the Free National Movement and leader of the opposition.
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