By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21, 2021 – As the campaign for the next general election in The Bahamas continues to “heat up,” opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) leader Philip “Brave” Davis today strongly criticized the governing Free National Movement (FNM) for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement released to the media, Mr. Davis said, “One prominent feature of this government’s stumbling response to COVID has been their utter failure to engage in a serious public education effort throughout the crisis.”
The opposition leader suggested that the government owes the following to the Bahamian people:
- The government needs to justify existing Emergency Orders by supplying the relevant data and science behind each restriction. When a government restricts the freedom of the movement of its citizens, the people deserve to know — at a minimum — whether science supports that restriction. The Competent Authority should know that a great many Bahamians doubt that the curfew, for example, is currently motivated by public health concerns. Show Bahamians the science.
- It’s extraordinary that this needs to be repeated again and again one full year into this pandemic, but the government should be running an ongoing public education campaign sharing the latest science and recommendations to reduce the risks of contracting COVID. Scientists have learned a lot; the government needs to keep up and to continually share updated information with the public. Homes, schools, churches and places of business can be made safer. This government seems incapable of thinking beyond economy-destroying lockdowns and the vaccines.
- As long as you’re using the Bahamian people’s money to travel to the Family Islands in the coming weeks, PM, why don’t you make yourself useful? Put aside the self-promotion and promote science and education instead. We are calling on you to hold a public education town hall at each stop, alongside doctors and health officials, to provide Bahamians with full access to information about COVID-19 and about the vaccines. Respect Bahamians enough to provide them with information and data and answer their questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
The statement added: “Our country has performed worse than many of our Caribbean neighbors during this crisis, from Jamaica to Haiti to Barbados to Trinidad and Tobago. According to the World Health Organization, all of these countries, and many more, performed better than our country did in cases and deaths per 100,000 in population.
“In addition, we were 17th in the region to receive vaccines. They arrived in our country after weeks of missed deadlines that passed with no explanation.
“The Prime Minister’s failure to lead a serious public education campaign during the pandemic is consistent with his contempt for the people, which unfortunately is obvious across a range of issues.
“Leadership requires more than posing with a box of vaccines at the airport. We hope he’ll use the resources of the government not for his campaign purposes but instead to give Bahamians the information they need to protect their families and make educated decisions.”
The PLP on Tuesday, March 16, ratified 13 more candidates for the next general election, increasing to 31 the number of candidates the party has already ratified to run for seats in the House of Assembly. As mandated by the Constitution, the next general election in The Bahamas must be held by May 2022, but there is widespread speculation that the Bahamian electorate will go to the polls to elect a new government this year, with some political pundits predicting it could be a early as June.
