By Natario McKenzie

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Opposition Labour spokesman Senator Fred Mitchell has warned of a ripple effect from the Government's spending cuts, arguing that the near two per cent drop in the unemployment rate was proof that the Christie administration had left the country in "good shape to grow and prosper".

Mr Mitchell, in response to the preliminary results of the Department of Statistics' latest Labour Force Survey, said that under the Christie administration, "unemployment was trending downwards, employment was trending upwards. Under the PLP, the deficit was trending downwards, the revenue was up, reforms were underway, the financial services, immigration, health care, tourism and public service sectors were being reformed, and the country was headed in the right direction."

The Labour force survey, conducted between April 24th and April 30th, reports the country's unemployment rate at 9.9 per cent - a 1.7 per cent decrease from the results of October's survey. The decline came as 7,770 people gained employment while there was a decrease of 3,485 unemployed people. According to the survey, the unemployment rate in New Providence was 10.4 per cent; in Grand Bahama it was 12.4 per cent and in Abaco it was 7.8 per cent.

Mr Mitchell argued that the Minnis administration has have cut back spending in the economy and have decided to halt hiring in the public service, at a critical time when the country was poised for growth. "The Government is the largest spender in this economy. When they cut back and fire, the whole country trembles and the private sector follows. Consumer spending is contracted and revenues begin to drop. Investors lose confidence in the economy, when the Government preaches doom and gloom as the FNM is doing."

He added: "The FNM, through its current policies, is damaging the reputation of the country, talking down the economy and threatening investor confidence. It is unable to stop campaigning and start governing."

"The latest employment numbers show that between May 2012 and May 2017 under the PLP administration, 39,505 jobs were added to the national economy with 7,770 added in the last six months of the PLP's term in office. This is the largest jobs expansion by any government administration in any five-year term. Regardless of what is said about the PLP government, those are the objective numbers and the unvarnished facts," said Mr Mitchell.