Former Minister of Works Neko Grant charged that the Christie administration's policies are not working, and - citing a number of questions that remain on the House of Assembly agenda and have yet to be answered - that the government is engaged in a campaign of "do nothing and the people will forget".

Criticizing the government for spending without apparent impact, Grant argued that the Ingraham administration had borrowed hundreds of millions of dollars "in order to stabilize the economy and provide employment during the global economic downturn, and in fulfillment of our promise to upgrade and enhance infrastructure around the country".

To do so, he said the Free National Movement (FNM) government launched a capital expenditure stimulus program in the amount of $750 million, which he credited with generating thousands of jobs and creating considerable economic activity.

"This has provided the basis for investment and has improved the quality of life for our people," he said.

Citing the hundreds of millions in infrastructural development around the country completed or instituted by the Ingraham administration, Grant said, "The FNM government built a modern Bahamas. I was honored to oversee the most ambitious and comprehensive infrastructure program in the history of the country. The infrastructure touched every island in The Bahamas in one way or another. Millions of dollars were spent on infrastructural development: you can see, feel, and touch," he said.

Grant insisted that the FNM's infrastructure program addressed the neglected and run-down infrastructure of The Bahamas; prepared the country and made it attractive for investors; provided jobs for Bahamians during the recession and continues to improve the visitor experience.

"Most importantly, it improved the quality of life for Bahamians in many ways," he said.

"I dare say that the investments undertaken today would not have taken place had we not put in the infrastructure we did between 2007 - 2012. We made hard decisions."

Lingering questions
Grant also challenged the government on a number of questions lingering on the House Agenda. For instance, he recalled that Minister for Grand Bahama Dr. Michael Darville, in his mid-year budget communication on Wednesday, February 26, 2014, said that the bids for the fire station were out to tender, which prompted him to ask question no. 30 of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works Philip Davis.

The questions were:
1) Will the Minister kindly lay on the Table of the House, the list of the contractors who were invited to bid on the proposed Fire Station for Freeport, Grand Bahama?
2) Will the Minister lay on the table of the House, copies of the documents, detailing time and date - the list of contractors who received the bid documents?
3) Will the Minister provide the House the date of the deadline for the submission of the bids?
4) Will the Minster kindly lay on the table of the House the detailed bids submitted by all contractors?
5) Will the Minister lay on the table of the House the results of the bids detailing the award of the contract for the construction of the said fire station?

"Needless to say, the questions were never answered as they remain on the agenda. After more than a year, a contract was recently executed for some $6.2 million, without the disclosure of the bids submitted by the other contractors, as was the practice under the FNM's watch," he said.

He also raised questions about the arrangement between the government and Renew Bahamas.

"For some time now, Renew Bahamas has been operating the dump site on the Tonique Williams Darling Highway under a contract executed in secrecy by this government," he said. "I refer you to question no. 43 on the agenda paper that was asked of the Minister responsible for the dumpsite, Kenred Dorsett, since last year."

Question 43 reads:
1) Will the Honourable Minister table a copy of the management contract between Renew Bahamas and the Government?
2) Will the Honourable Minister inform this honourable House whether a bidding process was involved?
3) Will the Minister table copies of all contracts awarded for garbage collection throughout New Providence?
4) Will the Minister inform the House as to the number of staff dislodged and where were they redeployed?
5)Will the Honourable Minister inform this House as to the whereabouts of the Ministry's trucks?

"These questions remain unanswered and remain on the agenda. Do nothing and the people will forget," Grant said. "Do nothing and the people will forget."

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