Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said last night the country has faced numerous challenges in 2015 and encouraged Bahamians to join the party in 2016 and effect change in the country.

"The year 2015 has indeed been a difficult and challenging year for many in our beloved Bahamaland," said Minnis in his new year's address.

"During this year, our economy experienced significant challenges, downgrading of our sovereign rating, rising unemployment, rising cost of living, increasing poverty and closure of several small and medium size businesses. The fate of Baha Mar remains uncertain and we have witnessed an appalling increase in violent crimes and the incidence of murder. We continue to live through and recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Joaquin which ravaged our southern islands a few months ago."

Minnis said there must be a change in the way things are done in 2016.

"We must transform our civil service into one that is customer-service oriented and results-oriented and responsive to the needs of the consuming public," he said. "We must anticipate the drafting and passage of anti-corruption legislation to ensure that politicians and government officials are precluded from using their privileged positions to engage in corruption, cronyism, nepotism and other nefarious practices. We must also pass into law the Freedom of Information Act."

Minnis also challenged more Bahamians to become entrepreneurs and employers, which would create more sustainable Bahamian jobs and grow the middle class.

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