The government did not get value for money when it awarded a $334,000 contract to a company owned by former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Minister Neville Wisdom for Christmas decorations in Downtown Nassau, Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said yesterday.
"Go get our money back, because the reality is, and I think most people agree, the decorations are hideous, and they are amateurish at best," Turnquest said.
"To think that, that cost $334,000 is absolutely ridiculous.
"So I say go get our money back because it's an embarrassment to us.
"It's an embarrassment to the city as far as I'm concerned."
In a statement released on Monday, the Ministry of Tourism said Florarama of Cable Beach was the lowest of the bidders for this year's decorations.
The other quotes received for the Bay Street, Pompey and Arawak Cay decorations were from Bahamas Fantasies, which submitted a quote of $585,766.75, and Decorations Den, which submitted a quote of $429,360.
The release said, "The decision by Florarama to involve a large number of Junkanoo artisans from the various groups, mixing the colors of the season with the traditional lights, are aimed at creating a unique Bahamian Christmas celebration.
"...As a condition of the contract, decorations used are now the property of the Ministry of Tourism."
Earlier this month, amid widespread criticisms on social media over the quality of the decorations, Wisdom pleaded with "naysayers" to wait until they were completed to pass judgment.
He said it is more important that "hundreds of people from the Junkanoo community" are being given an opportunity for employment.
"Everything that is being used is being done here, the straw work, the thatch," Wisdom said.
"Everything is being produced locally.
"The funds that have been spent were spent in Nassau, even right down to the lighting bought and rented locally.
"We have to appreciate our own, and I think we do a tremendous disservice to our young people before we give them an opportunity to even finish the project.
"We start in such disparaging terms about them.
"If you want to be objective, at least let them finish it. They just started."
Pompey Square features Junkanoo decorations, a nativity scene and a 40-foot Christmas tree.
At the start of Bay Street and the end of Parliament Square, there are signs that read "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons Greetings".
Along Arawak Cay, trees have been decorated with thin, colorful cloth, lights and Junkanoo-style flowers.
Some of the decorations have already been damaged due to strong winds and have become a safety hazard for cars driving along Bay Street.
Turnquest said he believes this is a case of government officials giving contracts to their friends and family.
"From the outside looking in, this is clearly very questionable," he said.
"I think we can do much better than this.
"It's unacceptable. It's a total disregard for where we are, in terms of our national debt and the current deficit, as well as the suffering of the Bahamian people.
"I have constituents who have not been paid for working on the lunch vendor program for months, and nobody can tell them when they are going to get paid.
"We have other Bahamians who are awaiting payments for various services to government.
"It is kind of hard for them to accept that we can find $334,000 to spend on cheap decorations and they themselves are finding it very difficult to pay their bills for services that they have already rendered."

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