By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest told The Tribune yesterday that he was not impressed by the government’s legislative agenda this year because there was an overall failure to present bills that matter to Bahamians.

The East Grand Bahama MP said his greatest disappointment in 2015 was the government’s failure to present an adequate mortgage relief plan or move forward with the referendum on gender equality.

“We are certainly not very impressed because this government has failed to address crime, the economy or health and has given a lot of lip service to move on to things that are non-issues,” he said. “None of the things that matter have been brought to the House (of Assembly).

“The gender equality referendum has not been done and we get the feeling that it has taken a back seat. We haven’t looked at Value Added Tax (VAT) either and how it really affected Bahamians and their way of life.”

Mr Turnquest said the government has also dropped the ball relating to issues in the financial services sector.

He said in 2016, it was the party’s hope to see the government bring bills that will affect the way of life for citizens and tackle issues surrounding banking practices.

“I am very disappointed to be honest. When we see what happened with the mortgage relief programme it is clear that it was a half-baked plan. Essentially the government made things worse. The Central Bank has said mortgages declined and looking at what Marco City MP Greg Moss has tabled I fear the plan will further restrict credit to those marginal borrowers.”

Mr Turnquest was referring to a draft bill Mr Moss, who is leader of the newly formed United Democratic Party, tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

Mr Turnquest said the government has not taken the best approach to financial services by examining how the country can incentivise institutions to do the right thing and create scenarios that will provide the kind of relief that consumers need.