Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson defended the government's legislative agenda despite the fact that the Christie administration will miss many of its self imposed deadlines for the year.
Gibson said Prime Minister Perry Christie is being unfairly criticized in the public and media.
When asked about a recent National Review article about the government's lack of legislative focus, Gibson accused The Nassau Guardian of having a "search and destroy" agenda.
"All I'm saying is our agenda is not other people's agenda," Gibson said.
"We have an agenda. We also take into consideration the views of other people from non-governmental organizations (NGO) and public servants.
"When we take those views into consideration, people say we don't have an agenda. We have an agenda.
"We are satisfied and guess what, the public will know and the public will decide."
Christie had previously said the government would implement value-added tax (VAT) on July 1, however State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis said this week the implementation date will be delayed.
The government has said repeatedly that its failure to bring the VAT bill to Parliament had to do with the fact that it is listening to the concerns of the business community on the proposed tax.
On another matter, the government has faced criticisms for pledging to hold a constitutional referendum by June, but failing to bring any bills in this regard.
Last month, Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney said the government might have to delay the planned referendum for the third time.
The government has also postponed debate on the gaming bill, which was tabled last year -- though Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe recently said he hopes the bill will be passed by July.
Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells has also said that he is concerned about the delay in the establishment of a select committee to investigate the 2011 sale of a majority stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC).
Wells foreshadowed the committee nearly three months ago.
When asked about Wells' concern, Gibson said: "Governments have priorities.
"Those priorities sometimes change because of situations that may occur in the interim."
Delays
The delays were recently the focus of a National Review article entitled, "Unfocused agenda".
"Can you give me one instance when they applaud us for anything we did?" asked Gibson when asked about the numerous delays.
"It is clear what the agenda is. The agenda is to see how you can search and destroy.
"That's the obvious agenda."
He continued, "It's our agenda.
"What would arrogate an individual the ability to tell me I'm wrong when I'm elected by the people? What gives you that right to say I'm wrong when I know what my agenda is?
"You don't know what my agenda is. You don't understand my agenda. The first thing you should do is try and understand my agenda, then you would be balanced in your critique of what you perceive my position is."
Free National Movement Deputy Chairman Dr. Duane Sands has also criticized the government over the delay of the Princess Margaret Hospital Critical Care Block, which was scheduled to open last year.
Good work
Gibson said the government is doing good work and added that "no government does everything wrong".
He pointed to the recent resumption of Bahamasair to Mayaguana, the opening of the Memories Resort on Grand Bahama and the economic stimulus on Bimini as a result of the Resorts World Bimini project as high points of the current administration.
He said the government's deadlines are not "set in stone", adding that it is better to err on the side of caution than rush through such important items.
However, the government has been heavily criticized by the opposition over the delays.
FNM Senator Carl Bethel has charged that the Christie administration is suffering from a "chronic lack of legislative focus" and called on the government to "get its act together".
FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis also likened the Christie administration to the lost Malaysian airline -- though he's been roundly criticized for the analogy.
That flight went missing during a trip to China and over 200 people are suspected to be dead.

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