Claim of 7,000 jobs disputed

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday raised concerns over a newly released employment figure that claims that the Christie administration has added 7,000 jobs to the Bahamian work force in its two years in office.

The caption printed on the inside cover page of a magazine created and funded by Bahamas Information Services (BIS) reads: “Almost 7,000 new jobs created as Christie government marks 2nd anniversary in office.”

However, the figure disagrees with additional unemployment statistics printed in the back of the magazine which said the total labour force increased by 1,200 with the number of jobs expanded by 2,600. It resulted in an unemployment decrease of nearly 1,400, the magazine said.

While Department of Statistics officials could not be reached yesterday, BIS Director General Luther Smith, who spearheaded the compilation of the magazine, said 7,000 was an indisputable figure which could be verified by the relevant authorities.

Mr Smith went on to reassure The Tribune that the publication had “absolutely nothing to do with the Progressive Liberal Party” or its party funds. He said BIS created the document, which is one in a series of publications to come, under strict budgetary constraints.

When asked if he could state how much taxpayer money went into the project, Mr Smith said he could not at this time because magazines were still being printed and distributed. Calls were placed to other organisers of the magazine of the costing, but they claimed not to know. A printing industry insider gave the conservative figure of around $70,000 in production costs.

The plan is to print around 50,000 copies and distribute them in the Family Islands as well, Mr Smith said. Labour Minister Shane Gibson said he was not sure of the specifics, but said Mr Smith was more versed on the scope of the project.

Mr Smith said: “This is not a party thing, this is very much a government thing. We decided to put this magazine together because Bahamians should know what the government has accomplished.

“If you look throughout the magazine, there is no reference made to the PLP but to the government. That was deliberate because this has absolutely nothing to do with the PLP or their money. None of their party funds were used and it isn’t even being disseminated through regular party channels. As a matter of fact the party hasn’t even gotten it.”

With that Dr Minnis lambasted the government for using taxpayer funds at a time when finance officials continuously insist that fiscal prudence is needed to sustain the economy.  Dr Minnis said he was doubtful that the government created 7,000 jobs.

“This Christie-led government should be ashamed of themselves for using our tax dollars to fund this obvious PLP propaganda tool. The bigger question here is exactly what did BIS pay to have these books produced?

“It is filled with manufactured accomplishments and lies. I see the book noted 7,000 jobs created. Well I ask, where are those jobs they so boldly printed in the book? Does this include the jobs of victimised persons given to PLP cronies? The government should really be concerned about expanding the middle-class among a list of other things.

“That magazine only packages all the dreams the PLP sold to Bahamians. It’s filled with lies to make it seem as though they delivered on promises,” Dr Minnis said.

Comments

GrassRoot says...

Things get better in the Bahamas, huh?

Posted 23 May 2014, 12:59 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Maybe the numbers are right .................. Government hired 4,000 general service workers at $10,000 per year plus....................... some private sector jobs here and there.

Posted 23 May 2014, 2:37 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

If this is for the edification of the Bahamian people can you also tell us where we fell short? I.e so we can do a better job in the next two years

Posted 23 May 2014, 2:40 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

Poor Dr. Minnins {Doctor N0) here there and every where shooting from the mouth, but making no sense. The reference to the Airplane tragedy, "Democracy is dead" in the Cash incident. foolishness about persons whose contracts were not renewed. and the list goes on. He did promise to bring a court case because contract were not renewed. I trust some one is keeping list of all his blunders.. I believe Front Porch is .. He seems not to want anything to go well for the Bahamas and its people.

Posted 23 May 2014, 6:55 p.m. Suggest removal

Bahamiantruth says...

So concerned about the money spent on this project but in favor for a raise in pay for parliamentarians.... Come on Brother Minnis... How concerned are you really with fiscal prudence?

Posted 23 May 2014, 6:56 p.m. Suggest removal

carlh57 says...

oh, what do I see barreling down the road at us?....oh, wait, another truck load stupidity....running right down the middle of the road....

Posted 23 May 2014, 10:12 p.m. Suggest removal

Publius says...

Why does the Tribune need to seek out the Department of Statistics for comment on jobs when the Department issues its jobs survey twice a year?

Posted 24 May 2014, 12:17 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Exactly...it seems highly irregular for BIS to put out job numbers...this should come from official data from Statistics.

*"When asked if he could state how much taxpayer money went into the project, Mr Smith said he could not at this time because magazines were still being printed and distributed"*

I still do not understand how every single nonsense project initiated by this government gets the same response when it's near completion "*no, we can't tell you how much it costs! but we'll be finished next week*".

I bet you Bahamar can tell you exactly how much money they've spent so far and how much they intend to spend by December this year. And they will do their darnedest to make sure they stick to those figures they won't willy nilly add nice to have features just because they're nice and say *we don't care about the people who's money we're using, we said we're doing this and that's final*

Posted 24 May 2014, 5:30 a.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

They didn't say those "Job's were created for Bahamains".

Dr. Minnis forgot to consider the work permits issued.

Posted 24 May 2014, 11:48 p.m. Suggest removal

proudloudandfnm says...

Wait now!! Our government is printing campaign material for the PLP using BIS?!?!? WTH????

Posted 27 May 2014, 1:17 p.m. Suggest removal

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