bahamiangoddess
06-13-08, - 04:46 PM
June 13th, 2008
PM Promises New Hospital
By Quincy Parker
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham wraps up debate in the House of Assembly on the 2008/2009 budget Thursday evening. (Photo/Torrell Glinton)
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has pledged that with the proceeds of the privatization of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), the government would build a new hospital among other national priorities.
The prime minister was ending debate on the 2008/2009 budget on Thursday evening, which members of parliament were working late into the evening to pass.
The prime minister tore into the Official Opposition’s Parliamentary caucus for its almost unanimous opposition and denigration of the government’s new budget, charging that despite the approbation of even PLP supporters, the PLP MPs continue to oppose the budget.
"They soldier on in delusion," Mr. Ingraham charged.
In addition to the new hospital, the proceeds of the sale of BTC will also pay for the construction of the new judicial complex, Mr. Ingraham said.
Housing
Mr. Ingraham also tackled the PLP’s continued attacks on his government for not having built any houses.
"Yeah, we have not built any houses yet," he acknowledged, "and at some point in time, the public is going to have the opportunity to judge us on our record, and our record will not be over a 12-month period."
He pointed out that the public would be able to judge how serious his government was about empowering Bahamians as far as housing and land for housing at affordable prices.
"The number of houses built during the 90s while we were in office shows that even though we didn’t have a very aggressive housing programme, the number of houses built by Bahamians were more than (those) built when you (the PLP) had a very targeted housing programme," Mr. Ingraham explained.
"And they were built by individual Bahamians who were working. They were able to go to the bank, get a mortgage, and build their own home."
"So we don’t begrudge your ineffective, poorly targeted and poorly executed housing programme. We don’t begrudge the fact that your programme targeted friends of the government and benefited the mega-rich," he continued. "We do want to advise you that the number of Bahamians who will have individual owned lots and or homes as a result of the FNM’s policy – you could take this to the bank, because this is cashable – will far exceed what you did while we are in office this time."
Education
The prime minister attacked the PLP’s assertion that his government doesn’t have a spending plan.
He blasted the PLP for not building a single new school over the course of its five-year term, and then deciding to build eight all at once just before the election.
Mr. Ingraham reiterated a pledge made by Education Minister Carl Bethel during his budget address.
"The FNM government – since we came to office – has provided the College of The Bahamas with $1 million to give financial assistance to Bahamian students who they determined were in need, and they determined that 783 Bahamians needed financial assistance and they gave it out of our million dollars given to them," he said.
Mr. Ingraham reiterated a campaign promise.
"We promise that all those persons in the Southern Bahamas, from depressed communities, who qualify to enter the College of The Bahamas would be able to do so, and the government would pay," he pledged. "They’ll go there free."
"We promise that every Bahamian child who is able to obtain five BGCSE of grade "C" and above – inclusive of Maths and English – will enter the College of The Bahamas and we’ll pay for them to go."
Outlining some of the specific scholarships his government intends to give, Mr. Ingraham crowed that his government would this year spend the largest amount of money on scholarships ever spent by a Bahamian government – $30.5 million.
Mr. Ingraham also touted his government’s increase in the allocation to the College of The Bahamas, which he said was the largest single increase ever given to the college – the government increased the allocation to COB by 34 percent in 2007/2008 over the previous fiscal year, boosting the allocation to more than $7 million.
"In addition to that, we have honoured our commitment to the college in respect of the payment of $1 million annually for the library, a commitment that the PLP never did quite make – they were always in the $600,000-plus area. The deal was $1 million a year," he said. "So said, not done!"
PM Promises New Hospital
By Quincy Parker
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham wraps up debate in the House of Assembly on the 2008/2009 budget Thursday evening. (Photo/Torrell Glinton)
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has pledged that with the proceeds of the privatization of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), the government would build a new hospital among other national priorities.
The prime minister was ending debate on the 2008/2009 budget on Thursday evening, which members of parliament were working late into the evening to pass.
The prime minister tore into the Official Opposition’s Parliamentary caucus for its almost unanimous opposition and denigration of the government’s new budget, charging that despite the approbation of even PLP supporters, the PLP MPs continue to oppose the budget.
"They soldier on in delusion," Mr. Ingraham charged.
In addition to the new hospital, the proceeds of the sale of BTC will also pay for the construction of the new judicial complex, Mr. Ingraham said.
Housing
Mr. Ingraham also tackled the PLP’s continued attacks on his government for not having built any houses.
"Yeah, we have not built any houses yet," he acknowledged, "and at some point in time, the public is going to have the opportunity to judge us on our record, and our record will not be over a 12-month period."
He pointed out that the public would be able to judge how serious his government was about empowering Bahamians as far as housing and land for housing at affordable prices.
"The number of houses built during the 90s while we were in office shows that even though we didn’t have a very aggressive housing programme, the number of houses built by Bahamians were more than (those) built when you (the PLP) had a very targeted housing programme," Mr. Ingraham explained.
"And they were built by individual Bahamians who were working. They were able to go to the bank, get a mortgage, and build their own home."
"So we don’t begrudge your ineffective, poorly targeted and poorly executed housing programme. We don’t begrudge the fact that your programme targeted friends of the government and benefited the mega-rich," he continued. "We do want to advise you that the number of Bahamians who will have individual owned lots and or homes as a result of the FNM’s policy – you could take this to the bank, because this is cashable – will far exceed what you did while we are in office this time."
Education
The prime minister attacked the PLP’s assertion that his government doesn’t have a spending plan.
He blasted the PLP for not building a single new school over the course of its five-year term, and then deciding to build eight all at once just before the election.
Mr. Ingraham reiterated a pledge made by Education Minister Carl Bethel during his budget address.
"The FNM government – since we came to office – has provided the College of The Bahamas with $1 million to give financial assistance to Bahamian students who they determined were in need, and they determined that 783 Bahamians needed financial assistance and they gave it out of our million dollars given to them," he said.
Mr. Ingraham reiterated a campaign promise.
"We promise that all those persons in the Southern Bahamas, from depressed communities, who qualify to enter the College of The Bahamas would be able to do so, and the government would pay," he pledged. "They’ll go there free."
"We promise that every Bahamian child who is able to obtain five BGCSE of grade "C" and above – inclusive of Maths and English – will enter the College of The Bahamas and we’ll pay for them to go."
Outlining some of the specific scholarships his government intends to give, Mr. Ingraham crowed that his government would this year spend the largest amount of money on scholarships ever spent by a Bahamian government – $30.5 million.
Mr. Ingraham also touted his government’s increase in the allocation to the College of The Bahamas, which he said was the largest single increase ever given to the college – the government increased the allocation to COB by 34 percent in 2007/2008 over the previous fiscal year, boosting the allocation to more than $7 million.
"In addition to that, we have honoured our commitment to the college in respect of the payment of $1 million annually for the library, a commitment that the PLP never did quite make – they were always in the $600,000-plus area. The deal was $1 million a year," he said. "So said, not done!"