By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

NEW LABOUR Force statistics have validated the Christie administration’s job creation claims and confirmed the success of efforts to turn around the economy, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said yesterday.

Mr Roberts praised the government over the reduction in the number of discouraged workers, and addition of more than 8,000 jobs as reported by the Department of Statistics.

He told critics to “eat crow, and to do so liberally” in a press statement released yesterday.

Mr Roberts also called on Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis to apologise to the Prime Minister and Bahamas Information Services (BIS) for his criticisms over the accuracy of previously reported job numbers.

“Dr Minnis reportedly made disparaging and totally inaccurate remarks to the press about the reported job numbers quoted in the second anniversary magazine published by BIS in May of this year on the government’s accomplishments,” the statement read. “Now that the statute authority of the government (Department of Statistics) has reported and supports the job figures published by BIS, Minnis should do the right thing and apologise to both PM Christie and BIS specifically. 

“He should know that it is improper and potentially embarrassing to challenge the official voice of the government without empirical evidence of support and before conducting the requisite due diligence.”

However last night, FNM Shadow minister for Finance Peter Turnquest maintained that the figure was still short of the government’s 10,000 jobs pledge, and that earlier claims still represented an attempt to mislead the public.

Mr Turnquest added that the government had yet to table documents to support its claim that 22,000 jobs were created during the Christie-led administration’s 2002 to 2007 term.

Reports have indicated that the actual figure was around 18,000 jobs.

Released on Friday, the Labour Force Survey revealed a slight increase in the overall number of employed persons and a reduction in the unemployment rate to 14.3 per cent from 15.4.

The number of discouraged workers dropped 60 per cent in Grand Bahama from 1,915 to 760, and 12.4 per cent in New Providence.

Discouraged workers are not considered unemployed as they no longer actively seek work because they feel that there are no jobs available, according to the International Labour Organisation.

However, youth unemployment at 28 per cent among those aged 15 to 24 remained considerably higher when compared to other age categories.

The study was conducted from April 28 to May 4. 

Yesterday, Mr Roberts said the figures represent “meteoric” economic turnaround over the state of the economy when the Christie administration took office in 2012.

The PLP chairman’s statement read: “This is not an opinion but empirical evidence that despite the politically motivated naysaying and the many sermons of gloom and doom, Bahamians across this archipelago have hope and strong confidence in this government’s economic policies as the right formulae to right the Bahamian ship of state.

“Inheriting an economic mess in May 2012 where the economy had bled over 15,000 jobs during the FNM years in government coupled with immeasurable suffering of the Bahamian people where the misery index was off the charts, the addition of over 8,000 jobs to the economy in just two short years is welcomed and encouraging news.”

Mr Roberts also congratulated the government over its new five-year industrial agreement with the Bahamas Public Service Union, which saw an $800 increase to minimum wage for public servants.

“I further congratulate the government for their good work and fiscal prudence that placed government finances in a position to increase the take home wages of thousands of civil servants. This is in stark contrast to the state of the treasury and economy left behind by the FNM government in May 2012 where there were serious and real uncertainties about the government’s ability to meet the public payroll.”

“I also note with pride that the announcement of the consultative process with a view to extending duty free concessions to both east and west Grand Bahama is also welcomed news and a an important component in the recovery strategy for the economy of that island. 

“These concessions will go a long way in encouraging investment, stimulating job growth and creating greater economic prosperity for our brothers and sisters in the north.