Rick Lowe
A terrible economy.
A public debt that is reaching a tipping point.
Crime seems out of control.
Rising unemployment.
An educational system that is failing our children.
What else?
So the time seems right for a change of government.
It's a perfect opportunity for the PLP to show the country that they are capable of turning this boat around.
But what do we hear from them?
The ideas offered up to help grow the economy and get government spending and borrowing under control are simply underwhelming.
Things like; Stafford Sands picture shouldn't go on the $10 bill, stopping the deal on the new public/private port and the FNM are doing badly. Or people are hurting and government policy does not empower Bahamians. We even get comments like the Prime Minister is past his time.
Even your not so humble blogger can coin cute phrases about government policies and even the politicians themselves, but these times require leadership, not simply moaning.
Mr. Christie and the rest of the PLP troupe need to stand in Parliament and the Senate every time they have the floor and not only criticise the FNM, but offer public policy ideas to show the country they have the capacity to lead it out of this mess.
How about some details on how you will fix education, stop crime, grow the economy, reduce government debt and spending?
The status quo is obviously not the answer but from what I read and hear, I'm not sure the PLP are any more
competent, than the FNM.
Shouldn't they give us a reason to vote for the
PLP, rather than against the FNM?
At this point I will vote for anyone who can show some competence, and govern by rule of law.
Neither party has the fortitude to get us back to the rule of law, there is still too much profit/appeal for them in rule of personality.
Not only would they have to espouse some plan to correct deficiencies, but also follow through.
Political promises have always been empty, completely oxymoronic, but perhaps they cannot espouse what they do not have.
As for revoking the Arawak Cay project if re-elected,
Childlike at best.
If that is all they can do,
we can plan for nothing.
Agreed. Rick, FNM’s are frustrated and don’t have the desire to get out and vote. The election would be up in the air for the PLP to take, but unfortunately they would rather waste time talking about the $10 bill and cancelling the Arawak Port deal, then to come up with real solutions that would attrack the swing / undecided voter. But like the FNM they do not have the political will to deal with some of the problems.
Notice also how the recession has become the catch all guilty party for everyone to blame, neglecting the fact that we were in dismal shape to begin with.
The PLP seem oblivious however, still blaming everything on Ingraham.
neither is the right way to go but, geez, the recession was icing on the cake (of our own making) the straw that broke, the fly in the ointment, etc etc.
Imagine if we had been paying attention to the enormous responsibility that goes with self governance, instead of just the pomp and pagantry.
Betcha they wish they had some of the frittered money from days past now…….
Nah, probably not.
I agree entirely Chris.
Eventually though the piper has to be paid, and in bad economic times like this the incumbent usually pays with a loss of power.
You bet successive governments helped make it worse with their profligate spending and borrowing and moving toward a more socialist state.
We see the results of these policies as the drama unfolds in Greece, Portugal, Italy and Spain.
But so what we’re told, our debt to GDP is lower than most, if not all of our neighbours, so we can provide the socialised medicine and other “benefits” that we deserve.
As Dr. Machan points out in tomorrows Lessons in Freedom column “Getting stuff from the government is always enthusiastically pursued while refilling its coffers is not–who really volunteers to pay taxes, let alone more than one must fork over? That is just what the tragedy of the commons amounts to, get as much out as you can, and put as little back as possible.”
Referring to the Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin of course.
I’m sure future generations will curse this one.
I would encourage you to read my contributions – you will see the positions I take on economic expansion, small business development and there will be further positions in the budget communications.
Send them on please Ryan. I would love to see the specifics of what the PLP is advocating.
So far I have only read vague expressions like “empowering Bahamians” and the like that the political class is known for.
As I said, symbolism over substance.
You think its bad now with the FNM, it will only get worse, much worse with the PLP.The PLP’s history shows that they are far more incompetent than the FNM, far more.If the FNM would just do the right thing & take charge of certain things, like crime etc.Maybe then the common sense thinking people would make an effort to vote.If the FNM does not, then Ingrahm wants the PLP to win, plain & simple.
Canesfins I wish you well, but that system tends to eat ideaologists, no matter how capable.
There is always hope.
Red turns to Yellow, not good for a Bahamian fellow…
Yellow turns to Red, we all are dead…
All of my contributions are uploaded on http://www.ryanpinder.com I have some specifics I will be addressing in my budget communication. Rick and Chris – thanks for the kind comments, I won’t be eaten. We should get together and talk policy sometime.
Thanks Ryan:
I visited your site but I cannot download the speeches, or don’t see where.
Can I get a pdf of them please?
First of all, to all of you who think that none of the 2 major parties is able to properly govern this country, you all should offer yourselves rather than sitting back and complaining!!
Not only offer yourselves as candidates to become MPs but also to head these parties! Atleast the members of these parties had the nerve to offer themselves. Either you all offer yourselves or remain a part of the problem!! Unlike you all, I believe that our leaders have the ability to lead.. I just prefer Christie’s leadership style over Ingraham’s.. Obviously you all thought that you could trust Ingraham’s leadership abilities but now you all want to complain…. You get what you voted for..
Now, as far as the Opposition offering ideas, suggestions etc to this govt, you must be don’t watch or listen to the parliamentary channel aye??
The PLP often does that but all they get from this government is, “Yall had 5 years, If the people wanted yall ideas, yall woulda still been on this side”….
But don’t worry, the PLP will be back on that side shortly to bring sanity back to this country!! The FNM always say that they don’t need the PLP’s help so they will dig their own political graves!!
Fred Mitchell ran on about the $10 and Sir Stafford. I don’t remember seeing a release from the chairman of the PLP… I don’t care what happens with this issue but I thought that he should have never been put on the money in the first place and after he was put there, I thought that he should have been left there… Since then he has been removed and now he has returned.. I say leave him there!!
Government should be continuous but both govts had reversed decisions made by the previous one so I don’t expect that to change any time soon because even the NDP will do the same if they become the govt..
But Rick, what about Ingraham saying that his government did not know that about the problems that the people in GB are facing from the GB Power Company????
I’m sorry that the people in GB are having issues with their power, but is that really government’s concern?
Regretfully far too many of us see the purpose of government quite differently than I do.
Thanks Objective Thought.
I worked for the FNM in elections from 1982 to 1997 and worked with Pierre Dupuch in 2002 and served on the Council of the FNM for 5 years, so I’m not embarrassed to speak my mind.
Successive governments have created the mess we have making people believe government can solve all our problems.
Why not tell us what the PLP are offering up to solve the problems of the day?
Maybe we need to understand what the “ability to lead” is.
Oh they can lead us cheering them on at a rally, but where have the PLP and FNM led us with education, the national debt, crime etc?
The big difference between Christie and Ingraham is you know where Ingraham stands and he will do something. Like it or not.
With Christie you’re never sure where he stands and as for doing anything, well…
Rick..Why do the people of GB have MPs if they don’t need anyone in govt to speak for them????
The people are complaining that their appliances are being destroyed and they are being ignored by the GB Power Company so what should they do??
Should they take matters into their own hands or ask their MPs to help them???
The PM just said on Wednesday in the HOA that his govt was the one who caused the people of West End to have their electricity reduced because they were paying higher prices for electricity than everyone in the Bahamas back then…. That’s what govts do… That’s what MPs and govts are elected for and that is ‘to make life better for their constituents’…
I would reall like to hear what you think govts are supposed to do especially elected MPs!!!
Hi again OT:
Outside of ensuring the Courts and Police function as they should, there is little else government should be doing.
Can you tell me what action Mr. Ingraham took to have the people in West End, GB pay less?
Was it by making you pay more?
I would suggest we would be a whole lot better if two or three power companies were allowed to operate and government did what the Constitution mandates.
Interesting comments about Freeport and West end…….
West end Power and Light was a private utility, generating its own power.
Then, west end shut down it’s plant, buying “bulk” from Freeport power.
This had the result of taking Freeport power outside the port area, but reducing the utility rates for west end to that of other out islands, partially due to economies of scale, partly because Freeport consumers were now subsidizing west end on behalf of the Government.
The next step, was for Freeport power to elecrify east end G.B. to fulfill an election promise, 1992.
In or about 1993 Freeport Power became Grand Bahama Power, acquiring West end Power and light, fully extending themselves outside the Port Authority area east and west as part of the deal struck with Ingraham.
At this point, their increased subscriber base inflated the percieved value as a utility paving the way for Ingraham to allow the divestment/sale of G.B. power to Foreign entities, starting with Southern Electric, then merged with Mirant, acquired by Marebuni, Etc Etc
An interesting question is
How did Lady Henrietta become a shareholder?
Icd Utilities?
It started as a Port Authority responsibility, an essential service along side the water supply.
This has also been extended east and west.
It too has been removed from Port Authority Ownership/responsibility.
As to offering for Public service/election,
Our sloth and averice is endemic, requiring generations to correct. We should start now, yes,
and if there were 40 odd Bahamians with whom to ally, beyond reproach, honest beyond question, you would have my attention.
Name them.
Sorry forgot one thing:
Grand Bahama need only have two M.P.’s , one easdt and one West.
Technically, Freeport is private property, under the sole responsibility of the Port Authority.
Not that they have proven to be that competent but, again, part of the collusion between Political and Port has created this reality where no one seems to be in charge, but leaving them free to pillage.
We will not realize what we have lost until it is gone, and it is sliding fast, greased by political idiosy.
Like how you tied that WW II phrase into this local discussion. Neat :0)
Thanks C. Lowe because I was about to tell Rick that he has a closer relationship with HI and he should ask him how he did it… I hadn’t the slightest idea because back in 1992 which was my first time voting, I did not follow politics at all… I only became interested in politics back in 2000 or so….
I voted and that was the extent to which I went with politics…
Thanks Chris:
You make my point quite well.
Freeport now subsidizes electricity to make the rates lower in other areas.
People do not understand that a government cannot give you anything it doesn’t take from you or someone else first.
It’s that simple.
TANSTAAFL
I just read youe piece in this morning “guardian”. Could it be a fact that the PLP does not have anything to offer the Bahamian People or the Bahamas for the matter, pure and simple. It is apparent that they are just waiting for the bottom to fall out everything and they stand with their fingers pointing, what is their plan, what do they offer. They were in power four years ago. The greatest challenge I feel the PLP have is leadership, who is leading the Party, honestly it is difficult to identify the leader. Mr. Christie, Mr. Davis, Mr. Roberts…once a leader emerges than they can develope a real workable plan to the put forward for the people consideration. These are some uncertain times, we dont need uncertain leadership.
Is it the one bad deed that undermines the angels?
Every time I see someone with some potential, it ain’t long before they put their foot in their mouth. One looks like he is forever locked in a rabid snarl, a few look vapid, none seem competent enough to run a household, never mind a country.
Bad philosophy, incorrect correlation of facts, racism, finger pointing, I mean will this be the jesture that marks the end of the country?
With dying breath will the finger of one be pointed at the other fellow?
It is almost comical, save the seriousness of the situation.
We as citizens do not even realize the fall out from these clowns, the fall out that we live surrounded by.
As we really that clueless as to our own potential as citizens supposedly living in a country with a Constitution?
You might be spot on Candace.
Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Who would you think would be the next Prime Minister of the Bahamas? The Hon. Perry Christie or Hon. Hubvert Ingraham. Who?
I don’t have a clue.
If the race was a choice between Ingraham and Christie I would have to go with Ingraham.
However, I disagree with so many of their policies I’m not sure I’m going to vote next time anyway.