The Progressive Liberal Party is in "good shape" to lead the country, but the public must keep in mind that the party has a five-year period to complete its agenda, Prime Minister Perry Christie said Sunday.
A special guest on Island FM's Parliament Street, talk show, hosted by station chief Charles Carter, and Jerome Sawyer, Mr Christie fielded questions on a variety of topics, including: The state of the economy, unemployment, appointment of multiple commissions, the selection of board chairmen, disability, the environment, and Junkanoo bleacher rentals.
Elaborating on the "good shape" of the economy, he said that the International Monetary Fund, after recently completing a review of the Bahamas' economy, praised the government for its fiscal prudence.
"Clearly, it was our obligation, given what we met. We had to borrow immediately, $125 million to pay debts. We were faced with a deficit of $186 million and so therefore, as the Minister of Finance, I tried with my partner, James Smith, to exercise all of the fiscal restraint that we possibly could," he said.
Mr. Christie said that following last May's election victory, it was a challenge for the PLP to resist the temptation of new governments to employ more individuals and satisfy other expectations. The party had to firstly "think Bahamian" and think about the state of the country's economy, he said.
He described as very "superficial" the majority of comments made concerning the appointments of various commissions.
When the PLP took office they found many problems, he said, including cruise ships threatening to leave The Bahamas, because of an unsatisfactory docking area and lack of proper bollards to protect vessels.
"So when people talk about whether or not I am effective or ineffective, and I look at what the real problems of the country are, I am wondering what is happening to their heads. The reason why Tommy Turnquest (FNM leader) did not win, was because I promised the people of The Bahamas a greater insight into the workings of the government," he said.
After May 2, last year, he said, the Bahamas Electricity Corporation and cruise ships were owed a substantial sum of money. "People are asking me what am I doing? Well I'm doing all of these things, plus keeping the economy going," he reiterated.
Apart from ensuring that a sound economic approach is being followed, Mr Christie said, the government is doing what is required "to transform our country socially," and "everything is going according to plan."
Bahamians must also recognize that the nation is competing with other countries, and no-one can condone any "level of slackness or inaction," that would make the country less competitive, he said.
"We must pull together and we must be frank with each other in our understanding of how our competitors are moving so far ahead in some areas," he said.
Mr Christie said the PLP is committed to transforming all areas of enterprise, particularly within the public sector, as unless this is done, the government would continue to be plagued with serious inefficiency.
"There also needs to be a better political system where we access expertise in our country in a more efficient way. This is why I have chosen to appoint commissions," he said.
Mr Christie said that he is optimistic, that in the days ahead, those Bahamians who do not believe that the party is capable of managing the affairs of the country, will see that it is heading in the right direction and can manage "quite efficiently."
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
