Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie yesterday implored voters not to give Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham another term in office without a comprehensive plan to move the country forward.
Christie, who was speaking at the opening of the party's Carmichael constituency office last night, said Ingraham's promise to create a ten-year national development plan if he is re-elected to office is not good enough to meet the challenges the country now faces.
Ingraham said the proposed national development plan will be known as Bahamas Jubilee, and it will coincide with the country's 50th year of independence. He has also outlined a series of other policy initiatives he plans to implement if re-elected.
However, Christie maintains that the PLP's plans to fight crime and create jobs are more comprehensive and detailed.
"He doesn't have a plan for the way forward. The latest is he tells us he's going to create a plan... but only after the election. What do you think about that? Another sign of the contempt he holds you in," said Christie.
He also said the record murder counts that have occurred under the Ingraham administration are indicators that the prime minister does not know how to manage the high level of violent crime in the country.
"Does your prime minister apologize, tell you he's going to do better, ask us to share our expertise and find a national way forward together to address the crisis?" asked Christie. "No, of course not. That's not the Ingraham way. Fifteen out of twenty years he's been prime minister, but every problem is someone else's fault."
The controversial New Providence Road Improvement Project further displayed Ingraham's lack of planning, said Christie.
"Nearly $100 million in cost overruns on a roadworks project overseen by his government - the most over budget in the history of The Bahamas - and he blames me. It's pathetic," said Christie, referencing Ingraham's charge that if the PLP had completed the project during its last term in office, the cost would have been drastically reduced.
"Someone told me it was almost funny that he would try to shift responsibility to me for his government's massive, epic incompetence... presided over by his government. But really, what's funny about $100 million more in national debt, when our country has so many urgent needs? Ingraham wants the power but he won't take the responsibility that comes with it... he's taught us that time and time again."
Christie also took time to heap praise on Dr. Daniel Johnson, his party's candidate for the Carmichael constituency in the upcoming polls.
"Danny is someone who burns bright with ideas and energy to bring real change to The Bahamas," said Christie. "Like his colleagues, he looks around and knows we can do so much better as a nation."

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