In response to the recent Moody's downgrade, Mr. Roberts, PLP Chairman once again repeats his mantra that the former FNM Government mismanaged the economy from 2007 – 2012. In fact he claims the move is "another indictment of failed FNM policies."

He's also quoted as saying, “The government has already stated that in conjunction with its international partners it is taking steps to address the drain on resources due to public sector support of loss making public sector corporations, to increase revenue by revamping our tax structure, to control the growth of public sector employment, to strengthen public sector planning, to accelerate job creating new construction and developments and to maximize job creation through existing and new touristic developments."

Yet, Zhivargo Laing (FNM), former Minister of State for Finance says that, "the Christie administration has been on “an alarming spending spree” with a bloated cabinet, significant numbers of new hires and re-hires, extensive domestic and international travel and liberal contract offerings."

Both men are probably correct to some degree, but it's curious that Mr. Roberts and his colleagues do not appear to have done one of the things he outlines above.

The international agencies successive governments so happily borrow from and those that grade the country, might be able to give the waste Mr. Laing describes a pass when the Bahamas, and by extension the world economies are doing better, but the prolonged world recession since 2007/8 surely makes them all nervous.

The government would certainly love to get their hands on more tax dollars through a change in tax policy. That way, they can continue to be spendthrifts without consideration of the burden being placed on future generations.

So it's up to Mr. Roberts and his colleagues who run things now to craft a credible proposal that Bahamians and international agencies alike can buy into to reign in spending and borrowing instead of hoping to hang their hats on tax reform.

Unless they want the country's credit rating to be eroded further, which damages every Bahamian, they should also consider ways to get the private sector investing again to create wealth, instead of more crafting regulations and raising taxes on property and incomes that make entrepreneurs uneasy.

Most people, employees and employers alike, trade their goods and labour for financial reward, and if the government ignores the nuances of a successful business environment, the local labour market and business community will continue to slide and prosperity eroded even further.

The business community understands how difficult it is to reduce costs in a bad economy, but they have to take the bull by the horns and make the choices necessary to survive where possible, with spending cuts and more. It's time for Mr. Roberts and the PLP to show the country they can sort things out like they promised during the April 2012 election campaign.

Maybe they're finding governing is a little more difficult than political rhetoric at election time? Unfortunately the slogan, "ready on day one" seems but a bad dream today.