Ingraham Blasts “Land Giveaways”
By Candia Dames -
Nassau, Bahamas:
Accusing the PLP government of having a record of "fantasy, twisted half truths, exaggerations and distortions", FNM leader Hubert Ingraham last night sought to set the record straight.
Mr. Ingraham said he was telling the "incontrovertible facts".
He said despite what the Christie Administration asserts, the PLP has not attracted $20 billion in investments.
"That ain’t so," declared Mr. Ingraham as he addressed a convention centre at the Radisson Cable Beach Resort where the FNM’s candidates for the upcoming election were formally introduced.
The FNM leader claimed, "Direct foreign investment under the PLP is $2.5 billion of which $1 billion represents land sales to foreigners.
"When we talked about investment you could see it going into the ground, but [the prime minister] has no guarantee at all that the chickens he is so gleefully counting today will hatch in 15 to 20 years or ever."
On Tuesday night, Prime Minister Perry Christie at a similar event held by his party at the same location said despite the "distortions" of the FNM, the government has not been giving away land, but has actually been systematically adding to the national land inventory by buying land back.
Last night, the FNM leader said the Ginn development in Grand Bahama, the I-Group project in Mayaguana and the Baha Mar project at Cable Beach together cannot account for the first billion dollars in the ground.
"Talking it don’t make it so," Mr. Ingraham said, "and eggs don’t hatch before they are laid."
He claimed, "Mr. Christie is worried that the public is catching up with serious long-term consequences of his government’s new model of development. This is the model which features the sale of land to foreigners to develop for sale to other foreigners, so now he’s trying to obfuscate. But it is too late."
Mr. Ingraham said the "giveaway" of Bahamian land to foreigners is a prime issue in the upcoming election.
But he said there are other issues, like illegal immigration.
"Your FNM knows that you are concerned with the unchecked growth in the number of foreign nationals engaged legally and illegally in the economy, especially in the construction and service industries, while qualified and suitably trained Bahamians remain unemployed or under-employed," Mr. Ingraham said.
"And we know that you are worried over the large number of undocumented people residing in and around some of our neighbourhoods, often in substandard housing."
He said that is why the FNM would ensure the enforcement of immigration laws without fear or favour.
Mr. Ingraham said an FNM government would also provide for the timely processing of applications for expatriate skilled labour or technical expertise required in the economy, but not available in the country.
He also vowed that the FNM would act to systematically reduce substandard housing in New Providence and in the Family Islands, and will require that all new construction comply with the Town Planning Act.
Mr. Ingraham also said the FNM will ensure regular and routine arrests, detention and repatriation of illegal immigrants found in the Bahamas.
He added that the FNM would articulate and implement a medium to long-term immigration policy providing for a timely expeditious application process and the regularization of the status of long-time residents.
"Your FNM also hears your concern with the reckless development strategy being pursued by this government," Mr. Ingraham said.
"They are making it increasingly difficult for Bahamians to acquire and retain ownership of prime residential and commercial property.
"That is why when we are returned to office your FNM will act to protect our citizens’ access to land…"
He added that the FNM will preserve vistas to the sea and to protect access to the beach and shoreline.
Touching on the issue of crime, Mr. Ingraham said, "We in the FNM hear the voices of the countless Bahamians calling for relief from the persistence of house breaking and auto theft in our neighbourhoods, the escalation of violent crimes, the number of individuals charged with serious crimes who remain on bail and at large in the community, and the unacceptable levels of violence and other anti-social behaviour in our schools."
He said the FNM will launch a number of initiatives to address crime, including implement programmes designed to remediate social problems of addiction, domestic violence and recidivism and to promote non-violent resolution of conflicts."
The FNM leader said voters will have to choose between a renewed trust versus a broken trust.
Mr. Ingraham noted, "We are the only national party offering a full slate of candidates – one for each constituency – 41 in all.
"This team and this leader intend to govern for the benefit of the Bahamian people and not for personal enrichment. This time will be satisfied with what is provided for them by law, and what is their otherwise legitimate income."
30 March 2007
