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.