The current administration is past the midway point of its term and approaching three years in office. The proverbial clock is ticking, and time is running out for the New Day government. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister (PM) continues to perpetuate his infamous pattern of flip-flopping and deflection in his responses to national issues. Davis is quite adept at generating headlines for the wrong reasons whenever he speaks off script.
In one of those unflattering moments, the PM was quoted as saying that marital rape was not in the PLP’s Blueprint for Change (Blueprint). However, it didn’t end there; Davis suggested that the 35% of registered voters who voted for the PLP during the 2021 general election (a voting minority) did so because of the content of the party’s manifesto. This assertion begs the question as to whether the PM really believes the words that he utters. Does the PM think that the Blueprint persuaded any voter to cast their vote for the PLP? Then, there was the repetition of the comment that people are mesmerized or surprised by his government’s performance.
Bahamians vote out governments
All astute politicians, political observers, and engaged citizens know that Bahamians have been voting out governments rather than voting them in since 2002. In essence, it is obvious even to the casual Bahamian that the electorate is more motivated to get rid of an incumbent than they are inspired to support a political party based on its manifesto. Certainly, a veteran politician like the current PM understands this dynamic.
Against this backdrop, we can only assume that Davis’ commentary was designed to convince himself that the PLP base voted for the PLP after reviewing and critically assessing the Blueprint. This is also bearing in mind that this document was officially released just a couple of weeks before the 2021 general elections. It is good to know that the continuous repetition of an untruth or fiction does not alter the facts. The PM knows better than his utterance regarding his administration’s performance and the role of the Blueprint in the 2021 elections. Let’s take a brief look at how much this document has guided and not guided the government’s actions.
Promises and lies of the first 100 days
The PLP pledged to review BPL’s operations to reduce the cost of electricity, maintain a reliable supply, and enter into contractual arrangements that would put BPL on a solid financial footing and reduce the cost of living and doing business within the first 100 days. Bahamians have experienced record highs in electricity costs, an unreliable power supply, and an exceptionally high cost of living since the PLP assumed office in 2021.
“We will pass anti-corruption legislation within our first 100 days in office”. This was the promise made by the PLP in the Blueprint that should guide its agenda. Bahamians would have asked why the Freedom of Information (FOIA), Whistleblower, Integrity Commission and Fiscal Responsibility legislation have not been implemented or prioritized. However, the PLP Chairman, Hon. Fred Mitchell shed light on the Party’s view of this matter when he noted that the PLP opposes the idea of good governance legislation like FOIA and others mentioned above, which in Mr. Mitchell’s and the Davis administration’s view are just public relations exercise. In the final analysis, the government’s first 100 days are either not in the human time period, or the current administration cannot count.
Deception of Tax Reduction
The PLP’s economic reform proposal included the reduction of VAT from 12% to 10%, additional VAT relief and transformation of the tax system into a more equitable and progressive one. What the Blueprint didn’t warn Bahamians about was the PLP’s hidden plan to impose 10% VAT on breadbasket items, which attracted 0% tax during the last FNM administration. This has placed an unfair burden on the vulnerable and low-income families struggling to make ends meet. The Davis administration has cashed in on this increase in VAT. During the mid-year budget communication, the PM boasted that VAT collections increased by a whopping $101.4 million compared to the period before VAT was imposed on breadbasket items.
Our tax system remains inequitable and regressive, contrary to the promise made in the Blueprint. The burden of taxation continues to be borne by those who can least afford it, and the decimation of the middle class continues. The imposition of taxes on essential goods and services such as medications and healthcare, in general, portrays a government that is insensitive to the plight of the masses.
Cost of Living
The PLP acknowledged in its Blueprint that “the cost of living is well beyond the means of middle and low income Bahamians” and promised to phase in a livable wage. However, the Bahamian people waited for two years for the PM to recognize the cost of living crisis. Despite their admission in the 2021 manifesto, nothing tangible has been done to ease the burden of the cost of living on the masses and political rhetoric continues.
On this premise alone, the government should shy away from referring to its Blueprint as a guiding light for its actions or inactions since 2021. The high cost of food, essential services, electricity, fuel and doing business is an indictment on the current administration. The pain and suffering should be visible to a government that is not out of touch or simply tone deaf to the cries of the people.
Omissions from Blueprint
The PM has opened Pandora’s Box with his suggestion that his administration is only guided by the PLP’s Blueprint. Bahamians want to know whether the astronomical increase in the OPM’s travel budget was foreshadowed in his party’s manifesto. The same question applies to the imminent increase in the NIB contribution rate, unreasonable boat registration fee increase, and non-compliance with Fiscal Responsibility, Disclosure, and Procurement legislation.
The Blueprint omits the planned systematic disbanding or crippling of the Fiscal Responsibility Council, use of the treasury to fund Progressive Liberal Party activities, the secretive deals relating to BPL and questionable contracts for the relocation of government agencies. In fairness to the PLP, their manifesto noted that they will implement the National Development Plan (NDP); completing, relaunching and legislating the NDP on or before their second anniversary in office. What the PLP didn’t tell us is that they didn’t intend to fulfill this promise as it is almost their third anniversary in office.
Bahamians are mesmerized
Almost three years in, many PLP promises remain a dream. Where is the strategic plan for each family island? What happened to the promise of decentralizing decision-making and putting power in the hands of communities? Does the Davis administration still intend to create a local government regime in New Providence? To give credit where it is due, there is one thing that the PM is right about: Bahamians (not his so-called detractors) are mesmerized by the performance of his administration.
The Bahamian people are mesmerized by the disregard for the enacted laws on public procurement, indifference towards good governance legislation, the secrecy surrounding settlements funded by taxpayers, the BPL saga, the NIB mix-up, the globetrotting adventures of the PM, the gigantic increase in the OPM travel budget, the missing legal files for PLP supporters, the cost overruns for CARIFTA, lack of accounting for events and foreign trips on the people’s dime, the immigration fiasco and flip-flopping of the Davis administration just to mention a few. We are indeed mesmerized that so many shenanigans could have happened in less than three years under the current administration.
Written by: Arinthia Komolafe
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