| IMMEDIATE STEPS THE BNP WOULD TAKE IN THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT IS LIKELY TO LAST AT LEAST FOUR TO SEVEN YEARS. |
ADDRESS THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS: We have already seen that the National earnings has fallen since the onset of the worldwide recession, and we must assume that it will continue. We must not continue to borrow and borrow hundreds of millions of dollars as the resulting devaluation and crushing tax burden will reduce the Bahamas to the condition of Haiti and Jamaica. We must adjust our national spending Now if we are to survive as a viable nation! It is essential that we reduce the operational cost of government, find a reliable means of providing more of our food, and conserve foreign exchange for essential items such as fuel and medicines. At the current rate our greatest problem will soon be the limits on the country’s ability to pay for imported food. There is an answer to this critical problem: We must greatly improve the internal economy between New Providence and the other islands of the Bahamas in an effort to stabilize our economy, improve our food productivity, and provide an avenue whereby there will be a real thrust to move some of our people from overcrowded New Providence to the much more spacious Family Islands. DEBT SERVICING 1. LIMIT ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE THAT CAN BE RELEASED FROM CENTRAL BANK TO THE COMMERCIAL BANKS. 2. LIMIT ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE THAT CAN BE PURCHASED FOR NON- ESSENTIAL ITEMS. 3. IMMEDIATE RENEGOTIATION OF OUR CURRENT NATIONAL DEBT FOR MORE GRADUAL REPAYMENT TERMS WITH BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS LENDER , IN ORDER TO BE BETTER ABLE TO MEET THE PAYMENTS FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. FOOD PRODUCTION 1. DOUBLING IN SIZE OF MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND IN ALLOCATION TO THESE TWO MINISTRIES SO THAT LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION CAN BE IMMEDIATELY STIMULATED. This should be done at the same time as a reduction in size of other ministries as set out below. 2. IMMEDIATE PROVISION OF MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT TRACTOR TO OPEN UP ADDITIONAL LANDS FOR CURRENT FAMILY ISLAND FARMERS TO INCREASE THEIR ACREAGE UNDER AGRICULTURE REDUCTION IN GOVERNMENT RECURRENT EXPENDITURE. 1. IMMEDIATE REQUEST FROM ALL MINISTRIES FOR AN AUSTERITY BUDGET FOR THAT MINISTRY, IN WHICH ONLY ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL AND NEEDS ARE BUDGETED FOR. 2. The immediate reduction in the number of ministries, and ministers. Pay cut for all Members of Parliament. Let them lead the effort to cut costs. Combination of ministries and downsizing of the administrative machinery in the effort to save costs. Ministries such as health and social services can be combined, works and labor, is another such example. An end to all the non-essential ministers of state and junior ministries. We do not have money for these extras. 3. IN LIGHT OF THE URGENT NEED TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT'S PAYROLL ALL CIVIL SERVANTS WOULD BE ASKED TO TAKE A VOLUNTARY AND TEMPORARY CUT IN PAY. TO FACILITATE THIS THERE MUST BE IMMEDIATE NEGOTIATION WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE UNION IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT AN ALTERATION IN CURRENT WORK PROTOCOLS FOR CIVIL SERVICE. TALKS WOULD BE CENTERED ON REDUCTION OF PAY, REDUCTION OF WORK WEEK IN AN ATTEMPT TO MINIMISE THE FIRING OF WORKERS IN THE SERVICE. Once there is significant economic recovery this reduction would be ended with a return to pre reduction salaries. EMPLOYMENT RELATED AREAS 1. NO NEW WORK PERMITS ARE TO BE ISSUED TO NON-BAHAMIANS WORKING IN THE BAHAMAS. Review of all current work permits to non-nationals with notice that at the end of the current permit there will be no renewal. REDUCTION IN DRAIN ON SOCIAL SERVICES 1. Increased deployment of the defence force to our INAGUA BASE to effectively stop the entry of any more illegal immigrants. Seek the assistance of the US coast guard in this exercise. In this way there will be no further addition to the already heavy drain on our social services by illegal immigrants. 2. RENEWAL OF NATIONAL FITNESS CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE THE COST OF CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS HYPERTENSION, HEART DISEASE, DIABETES AND STRESS RELATED ILLNESSES ON THE MEDICAL SYSTEM. CIVIL SERVANT DEBT RELIEF 1. Government should require COMMERCIAL BANKS to reduce the currently high mortgage rates in particular those of mortgages of civil servants affected by the temporary pay cut. These reduced mortgage rates should remain in effect until the ending of the recession. PRICE CONTROL MEASURES AND POLICING 1. Immediate price control on all bread basket items, with rigorous inspection of stores to ensure compliance with the prices set. The public must be able to obtain essential foodstuff at affordable prices without any price gouging and illegal overcharging. 2. The immediate creation of government stores of essential foods to be kept for distribution in the event that the economic downturn is prolonged, and large numbers of persons are without food. Under the control of the enlarged ministry of Agriculture. There should be created a new department of food distribution to oversee this process. 3. Government should defray the cost of the transfer of agricultural and fisheries products from the family islands to New Providence and between the islands themselves in an effort to improve the internal economy. 4. An immediate review of the cost to the consumer of all essential services such as electricity, water, telephone, with a view of reducing the cost in keeping with the changes to salaries described above. MEASURES to combat UNEMPLOYMENT 1. Government to use all its influence to see to it that hotel management use work day reduction rather than firing or laying off any employee. 2. The immediate institution of a comprehensive national youth service of two years duration for all school leavers. this will not only relieve the pressure for non-existent employment, it will improve the education of students through continuing education program. it will also reduce the pressure to commit crime inherent in idleness. it can be combined with the agriculture and fisheries training programs. AGRICULTURAL STATIONS 1. Immediate creation of an internal work project using family island government lands put to farming use on specific agricultural stations. Unemployed adults from non-agro islands such as New Providence would be transported and housed on these work projects to man the new agricultural projects. Training on these stations can be a part of the national youth service program. 2. The institution of a national food cannery so that surplus agricultural products can be preserved for export. 3. . Greater steps to ensure that suitable high yield species of livestock are introduced into our islands. We need increase in local production of poultry, sheep and goat, and cattle. We must expand the internal market. FISHERIES PROGRAM 1. The creation of a national fishing academy and the start of a national fishing fleet using the expertise of current Bahamian fisherman to train suitable Bahamian in the art of fishing profitably yet in a sustainable manner in Bahamian waters. 2. The creation of a national fish cannery for any surplus fish so that these can be used for export. 3. Commence immediate discussion on mutual co-operation with countries expert in fish farming. We need conch and fish farms to be established in short order in the Bahamas. CANCELLATION OF REGIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS 1. The immediate end of all non-essential contribution of the Bahamas to regional entities such as the Caribbean court of justice, the Petrocaribe secretariat, and any other donation of our money to outside entities that are of little or no use to us. 2. A rigorous review of all international and regional treaties whereby the Bahamas is required to pay annual funds for services, or membership. This includes the millions of dollars we are paying to outside educational establishments when we can continue the services just as well without paying these entities money that we need for more essential concerns. |
| BAHAMIAN NATIONAL PARTY PLAN IN THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS |
| IT MUST BE ASSUMED THAT OUR NATIONAL EARNINGS PER YEAR WE WILL FALL BY AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT. THIS MEANS THAT WE MUST FIND A WAY TO CUT OPERATIONAL COSTS OF GOVERNMENT, RESTRICTING SPENDING ONLY TO ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND THE SERVICING OF THE NATIONAL DEBT. WE MUST IMMEDIATELY BEGIN A NATIONWIDE DRIVE TO SUBSTITUTE BAHAMIAN GROWN FOODS FOR IMPORTED FOODS, SINCE WITH LESS AMERICAN DOLLARS COMING IN WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM OUTSIDE. |