Nassau, Bahamas – Dr. Minnis, Leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), issued the following statement calling on the PLP Government to release the 2016 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival’s Economic Impact Report:
“‘A couple weeks’! That seems to be this Government’s answer whenever they are called to account for their actions. Well over a month ago, Bahamians were told it would be ‘a couple weeks’ for this Government to deliver this year’s report on the Junkanoo Carnival.”
“We are well beyond ‘a couple weeks’, yet the man in charge of the report – Minister Obie Wilchcombe – now says he doesn’t know why it hasn’t been released. The people want to know who in this PLP Government does know when it will be released publicly as it should be? Their embattled Prime Minister has the power to release the report immediately and table it when the House is in session next week, but will he allow that to happen? And if not, what is this PLP Government hiding this time?”
“The 2015 Junkanoo Carnival was a prime example in how to completely mismanage an event, millions of dollars over budget and short of the promised economic benefits. Sadly it’s what Bahamians have come to expect from this Government. The people have grown tired of the PLP’s empty rhetoric and broken promises. It is time we all know the truth about this year’s Carnival.”
“Their continuing failures–failure to root out corruption, failure to offer concrete solutions to fix the economy, failure to address the growing crime epidemic – are chasing tourists away, crippling our tourism industry. The failure of this Government has resulted in a 7% year-over-year decline in peak winter room revenues. This all added to the economic despair plaguing the country in the wake of the likelihood of a Moody’s downgrade, and the continuing debacle of the Baha Mar saga.”
The people deserve better, they deserve real leadership. Leadership that will deliver transparency and accountability – two things the PLP refuse to do. The Bahamian people deserve a brighter future that they can believe in and the FNM is ready to deliver.”
