FNM Leader: “It Was All Smoke And Mirrors”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In a scathing review of the Davis administration’s Mid-year Budget Report, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard is accusing the government of mismanaging the country’s finances.

Pintard says the government’s spending is out of control, and Bahamians are not seeing any relief from the high cost of living. He also questions where hundreds of millions of dollars have gone.

Michael Pintard – leader, Free National Movement
“This budget in terms of content was weak, the prime minister is going backwards. Each year the luster is wearing off, the PR machinery is doing less and less to help them.”

Pintard did not hold back in his response to Prime Minister Philip Davis’ mid-year budget statement, calling it a “smoke and mirrors” presentation that fails to address the real economic challenges Bahamians face.

Michael Pintard – leader, Free National Movement
“Failed to provide relief for the cost of living. Failed to provide a pathway for sustainable economic growth and development and failure to show how they have governed in a fiscally responsible manner and how they have been transparent with what they do with your money.”

Pintard argues that while the government continues to spend excessively, Bahamians are not seeing tangible benefits.

Michael Pintard – leader, Free National Movement
“His strategies are not targeting the 90 percent of Bahamians who have less than $1,000 in the bank. And this is the critical group that he has to focus more on.”

Shadow Minister for Finance Kwasi Thompson also has his own questions about the steep increase in capital expenditure.

Kwasi Thompson – shadow minister of finance, Free National Movement
“Capital expenditure only increased by $82 million. But recurrent expenditure increased by $192 million. What was the cause or what was the reason for the increase of the $192 million?”

While not impressed with Davis’ communication, he said the five percent VAT reduction on unprepared food items is a step in the right direction. However, Pintard says it’s not enough.

Michael Pintard – leader, Free National Movement
“We embrace that on behalf of the Bahamian people. But they haven’t gone far enough. Remember, this is the same prime minister who said that we are not about the status quo. But they are still tinkering around the edges. And they are tinkering around the edges because the pressure is on this administration to deliver and they have failed up to this point.”