Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Dr. Duane Sands yesterday dismissed Prime Minister Philip Davis' Cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday as "an absolute waste of time and nothing at all for us to be optimistic about".

"The prime minister started by trying to take credit for a globally recovering economy and the pent up demand in tourism by refusing to acknowledge that the heavy lifting of his predecessors is really what resulted in the success that he's reaping," said Sands in a recorded message that was shared on social media.

Sands claimed a missed opportunity in the Cabinet changes was leaving Wayne Munroe as minister of national security.

The FNM chairman claimed Munroe has been "ineffective" due to a high crime rate, including murders and sexual assaults.

Sands added, "Education has produced the worst results in history, yet instead of strengthening the team at education, the prime minister decides to weaken the leadership by removing the [minister of state, Zane Lightbourne].

"This was an opportunity to send a new message to education, motivate teachers, administrators and parents to regain hope and enthusiasm for this critical area."

Lightbourne has been reassigned as minister of state for the environment.

The FNM chairman was also critical of the now former Minister of Works and Utilities Alfred Sears, who is the new minister of immigration and national insurance.

"Moving to Sears, who is now responsible for NIB (National Insurance Board), after his disastrous tenure at works, perhaps he's now being set up to fail at NIB and immigration," Sands said.

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Myles LaRoda, who was previously responsible for NIB and broadcasting, no longer has those areas in his portfolio.

Obie Wilchcombe is now minister of social services, information and broadcasting. He was previously minister of social services and urban development.

"What does this mean for Myles LaRoda?" Sands questioned.

"Was he punished for warning the public about truth with his frequent alarm bells in respect to the dangers brewing at NIB? Well, Minister LaRoda is now sitting in the OPM with nothing to do."

When he announced the Cabinet changes, the prime minister said while other ministers will remain in their substantive posts, there are some changes in portfolios.

He said a full list of responsibilities will be published later.

LaRoda presumably still has responsibility for the Disaster Reconstruction Authority.

Sands said Basil McIntosh, MP for MICAL, did not distinguish himself as minister of state for the environment.

He is now minister of state for aviation.

"One struggles to understand what value he will have in his new role," Sands said.

The FNM chairman said the most disappointing moves made by the prime minister were the reassignments of JoBeth Coleby-Davis from her role as minister of transport and housing, to minister of energy and transport, and Keith Bell from his role as minister of labor and immigration, to minister of housing and urban renewal.

Sands pointed out that Coleby-Davis was the legal counsel for Bahamas Petroleum Company, which was unsuccessful in its efforts to find oil in commercial quantities in Bahamian waters.

The prime minister said Coleby will "do the critical work of bringing together and coordinating experts and teams from throughout our government to tackle our energy transition" with a focus on renewable energy.

Coleby-Davis is responsible for Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC).

"BPL is a disaster," Sands said. "So perhaps Prime Minister Davis' plan is to make it even worse."

He added, "Certainly, Bahamians have no reason to believe she, having created chaos everywhere else, will bring relief to BPL."

Though he did not name them, Sands said there are a few "competent" ministers in Davis' Cabinet.

The FNM chairman ended his string of criticisms focusing on Bell, who has been at the center of the FNM's resignation calls over the course of weeks.

Bell stirred controversy over various matters while he was minister of immigration.

His swearing in of a woman and her children as citizens at her husband's funeral in June drew rebuke from multiple quarters.

The revelation that he had ordered the release of a group of Chinese workers found to be working in The Bahamas illegally in January also sparked a firestorm.

Sands chided Davis over his "Gussie Mae" Cabinet and said the Davis administration has no plan to address the real issues facing ordinary Bahamians.

"We have a cost of living crisis, a crime crisis, a health crisis and this little shuffle around reminds us that even after putting lipstick on a pig, it is still a pig," he said.

The post Sands calls reshuffle 'lipstick on a pig' appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post Sands calls reshuffle 'lipstick on a pig' appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

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