The PLP has finally published their Charter 2012, less than two weeks ahead of the elections. Many of the so-called initiatives resurrect old and broken promises which last time ended in scandalous and corruption-tinted outcomes, or are simply borrowed from other parties, such as the FNM.
“The PLP is hoping that Bahamians have short memories. The PLP Charter is just page after page of more empty promises from the same leaderless party, bankrupt of ethics and bereft of solutions for anything other than their own interests,” said FNM spokesperson the Hon. Tommy Turnquest.
“Last time, the PLP promised a new Straw Market, a new Princess Margaret Hospital, a new terminal at LPIA and a new national stadium but didn’t deliver any of it. The FNM came into office and delivered all of it,” Turnquest stated.
Turnquest continued, “But the PLP Government did deliver for themselves. The Korean fishing boat scandals, kickbacks, corruption in the Ministry of Housing under Shane Gibson, the secretive Blue Water Deal, the Chinese visa scandal and the list just goes on and on.”
“The last time the PLP held office, they promised an ethical, transparent government, in which any minister found to be violating their self proclaimed code of ethics would be dismissed and disallowed to ever stand for election again. Yet ten years after running the most scandalous government in the history of an independent Bahamas the PLP is running the same scandal-tarnished former ministers,” said Turnquest.
But there were some bright spots in the PLP Charter—the parts they borrowed from the FNM Manifesto or programmes already being implemented by the FNM government.
Among several others:
- The PLP Charter says they will focus on niche tourism markets and Historical Heritage and Tourism–The FNM already announced the launch of the Heritage Tourism Initiative.
- The PLP also promises to establish a Bahamian Arts Council–The FNM already presented its plans to create a National Arts Council.
- The PLP pledges to create a Junkanoo season to promote Junkanoo culture– The FNM has already established the Junkanoo Expo for this very purpose.
Minister Turnquest concluded saying, “They say that imitation is the strongest form of flattery. Lets just say there were portions of their Charter we found flattering.”
