For years now, we have witnessed the decline of debate in the House of Assembly, particularly with regard to the budget.
Next week, debate will begin in the House on the mid-year budget, which is supposed to be an account of financial and executive progress for the first six months of the fiscal year.
It also serves as an opportunity for members of Parliament to examine the ways in which their constituents have been impacted by government policies.
Given that every MP on the government side is either in the executive or holds a separate post in government, there should be no shortage of information to divulge.
In his delivery of the Mid-Year Budget Communication, Prime Minister Philip Davis painted a picture of a roaring economy due to his guidance with an administration firing on all cylinders.
In the area of finance, what is needed are more thorough explanations of expenditure rationale, debt management and the growing deficit in the face of a surplus projected in two years, as promised by the minister of economic affairs.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper should provide updates on the Grand Lucayan sale as we continue to pour money into it long after he prematurely heralded its sale.
If there is no buyer on the table, as there appears not to be, he must explain the exit strategy for unburdening the taxpayers of this property the former administration misguidedly purchased.
Critical to the sale of the Grand Lucayan is the redevelopment of Grand Bahama International Airport and the return of US Pre-clearance to Grand Bahama.
A deal has reportedly been struck but work did not commence early in this quarter as Cooper promised.
An update on the remaining airports that have been stalled throughout the archipelago is also needed.
A gleaming new port in Downtown Nassau will soon open.
It will pour record numbers of tourists out into a city in disrepair and disorder.
Cooper has claimed there is a plan to implement new management for downtown, though one has yet to materialize.
Minister of Public Works Alfred Sears must also help the nation to understand what is occurring at Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and clarify the murkiness surrounding the fuel charge, the arrears it claims are owed in fuel and the result of BPL's glide path strategy.
He must also explain the poor state of most roads in the capital and why work has slowed to a crawl on the Village Road Improvement Project after the initial layer of pavement was laid.
And perhaps between Minister for the Environment Vaughn Miller and McKell Bonaby, the MP for Mount Moriah, who chairs the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority, there can be an explanation as to why the majority of New Providence looks unkempt.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology Glenys Hanna-Martin has been a standout in the current Cabinet.
She has applied her unflagging energy to dealing with the education system as she rushes against the clock to try and rescue thousands of students severely impacted by learning loss due to the pandemic.
She recently updated the House on the commendable steps taken to address the issue and has appointed a committee to put in place recommendations dealing with teacher morale.
However, we wish to hear broader details regarding education in the country.
On the campaign trail, the Progressive Liberal Party promised a new hospital on New Providence and Grand Bahama and to address the legacy challenges at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Michael Darville said last summer that the money for the construction of a new hospital was located and ground would be broken "very soon".
That has not happened, though he recently said studies of the chosen site were still being reviewed.
He also said last month that the government is seeking funding for a new hospital on New Providence.
Again, a broader picture of the state of healthcare in the country is needed.
We note that we only spoke to several key portfolios, but there is no reason to think any other portfolio or role should receive less thought and explanation.
We urge MPs, particularly those new to Parliament, to do their homework, resist the urge to fawn over senior ministers, and ground their presentations in facts and reality.
Hopefully, this will lead to a productive budget debate.
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