While the official opposition the PLP correctly complained about the deficits and debt.
Here's an excerpt from their Charter for Governance 2012.
THE COUNTRY IS FAR WORSE OFF THAN IN 2007
The FNM is leaving the country in a worse economic condition than when it came to office in 2007. Not only is this proven by the down-grading of the country’s credit standard by two international rating agencies (Moody’s and Standard & Poors), but by the candid warning from the International Monetary Fund that:
_ the plans of the FNM are “not sufficient to reverse the rising” 4.25 billion dollar national debt and fiscal deficits to average 4.25 percent of GDP over the next four years;
_ the borrowings associated with the government’s infrastructure program had made the fiscal position more vulnerable, and was set to cause the public debt to GDP ratio to reach 69% by 2016, up from less than 37% when the FNM came to power in 2007.
And only a couple days ago, June 2, 2013 to be precise, Mr. Bradley Roberts, PLP Chairman was waxing eloquent about how the government's budget was to "put a brake on our spiraling out of control debt; will further reduce the budgetary deficit in the upcoming fiscal year and have established the groundwork for our country’s fiscal health and sustained growth and prosperity."
Yet, it's a budget that projects a deficit of about $250 million with additional borrowing pegged at almost $500 million. And guess what, the debt to GDP ratio will reach the levels they predicted under their watch.
So like the Martin Rowson cartoon above shows, someone found the government budget briefcase under one of the deck chairs on the sinking Titanic, one gets the feeling that Mr. Roberts and his party keep issuing press releases of doublespeak in the hope the taxpayer won't notice the figurative ship of state is running along below the waterline and taking on more water than we can handle.
Press releases of "smoke and mirrors" don't change the facts.
The financial condition of the Bahamas has worsened almost every year since Independence as our national deficit increases and as individuals we have taken on far more debt than is financially prudent.. The deficit and individual debt is now an “economic drag” on the economy’s growth as public sector spending is becoming an increased percentage our our GDP.. This unhealthy trend is rather troublesome for our country’s already dim future..
The problem is Bahamians putting “Blind Faith” in Politicians.
and it seems 80% of the population really doesn’t care.
For the most part their problems have become too immediate and pressing.
Perhaps they’ve been fed so much BS they no longer know what to believe.
But like children, when they hold out the candy, we come a runnin’
Oracle may I ask, what else can the average Bahamian do but put faith in those elected to run the country?? Your estimate of eighty percent of the population not really caring is probably true, but the same thing can be said about the United States where political intrigues are designed to divide individual opinion.. This division results in bitterness and hatred where people just don’t give a damn or care anymore.. Individual self-interest and survival donates ones psychological needs for self-preservation.. The ideal of National Interest becomes lost to the fundamental needs for for personal gain at the expense of the interest of the nation as a whole..
Yes our elections are bought with empty promises which will never be kept as they are divorced from any form of economic reality.. When we look at the character of those who are appointed by the political bosses to run for Parliament, we only see political stooges that march in step with their political leadership.. They have no meaningful knowledge of finance, economics, business or for that matter tourism and financial services the sectors that drive our economy.. Far too many are lawyers who are blind to the issues that are destroying our country.. Solutions are piecemeal at best and only end up in failure.. But then as the people say and as Oracle points out, “Who cares, I only getten some for meself”..
Today the voters who do care have no meaningful choice as both of our political parties are just alike.. Both parties seek political domination and control over the people as opposed to caring and protecting the lives and rights of the people.. Both seek increased power by establishing a larger and larger government structure.. Both continue to raise taxes and borrow greater amounts of debt to pay for excessive spending.. Finally, both pass more laws to regulate and control our economic activities at the expense of our God given freedom.. We perhaps can only conclude that most don’t care as today there is little to care about.. Will this emotional depression be followed by an economic depression, only time will tell..