Members of the Opposition reacted to the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) Youth Conclave held on Grand Bahama over the weekend citing the government’s lack of accomplishment on the economy of the island.

Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, the Hon. Kwasi Thompson released a statement on the conclave calling for less speeches and photo ops and more action.  He said, “they spent tens of thousands on a convention while our roads are crumbling, our clinics and schools in East Grand Bahama lack critical upgrades, and our seawalls and docks remain neglected. Grand Bahamians are tired of empty promises.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs and PLP National Chairman, the Hon. Fred Mitchell responded to statements from the opposition saying they have been a complete failure.  On the Grand Bahama economy Mitchell said, “these things take time to get done and they’re complicated and not simple to get unraveled.  So they’re a lot of irons in the fire and they’re gonna bear fruit but there’s been a lot done already to help Grand Bahama restore itself, to support Grand Bahama as an economy, as a community.  Hold on and you will see even more progress.”

Mitchell went on to say, “we cannot allow and will not allow Grand Bahama to fail.  We have to much invested in it.  There are too many valuable  Bahamians citizens there.  The economy is valuable to us and the success of our country.  It is a sine qua non to that success and we’re gonna do all in our power to make sure the people of Grand Bahama survive with their economy in tact.”

Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation and PLP Deputy Leader, the Hon. Chester Cooper also responding to the criticism from the Opposition while on the island.  He said, “the numbers don’t lie.  We’re seeing progress in Grand Bahama.”

The Minister said, “we’re focused on the work we’re doing, $2 billion dollars of real investments, the shipyard, Carnival port well on the way, significant progress being made.”