From marked increases in Social Service allocations to tax eliminations on food items, to pay raises for public officers and teachers to tax suspensions on fuel imports for the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, the Bahamas government’s 2008/2009 budget is tilted toward providing relief and assistance to low income Bahamians and those continuing to be adversely affected by the rising cost of living in the country.


Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Hubert Ingraham announced the government’s plans to provide relief to Bahamians during the 2008/2009 Budget Communication delivered to parliament Wednesday.


“This budget has been crafted to take into account the international economic turbulence and uncertainty impacting so harshly on our own people,” Ingraham said.

“In particular, this budget embraces my government’s social philosophy, its commitment and its determination to cushion the harshness of the impact of the international turbulence upon our citizens, most particularly low income families who invariably are impacted first and most acutely,” he added.


Along with its budgetary increase to the Department of Social Services in the last fiscal year, the government over a two-year period has increased assistance to the poor by $13 million.


When the government came to office just over a year ago, the allocation for the Department of Social Services was $26.4 million. In the 2007/08 budget, it increased that department’s budget allocation to $31.8 million, an increase of $5.4 million or 20.5%. Some $3 million of the department’s budget was specifically earmarked for poverty alleviation.

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The Free National Move-ment (FNM) won the battle for the "hearts and minds" of the Bahamian people last night, with unofficial results of the 2007 general elections indicating it had defeated the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) by winning 24 of the 41 seats contested.


Grand Bahama re-established itself as FNM country, as it was known prior to the 2002 general election, by giving the FNM five of its six seats. Incumbent Neko Grant beat PLP candidate Constance McDonald in Lucaya; Kenneth Russell beat Dr. Doswell Coakley in High Rock; Vernae Grant beat Caleb Outten in Eight Mile Rock; Kwasi Thompson defeated Ann Percentie-Russell in Pineridge; and Zhivargo Laing beat Pleasant Bridgewater in Marco City.


Obie Wilchcombe, Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini, was the only PLP candidate to win in Grand Bahama, narrowly defeating FNM David Wallace.


With former Prime Minister Perry Christie conceding defeat late Wednesday evening, history was made whereby it is the first time that a governing party was ousted after one five-year term. Prior to that, the FNM was given 10 years and before that, the PLP was given 25 years. It also means that the FNM will now become the new government.


Prime Minister-elect Hubert Ingraham spoke to the nation from FNM headquarters in New Providence last night, thanking the Bahamian people for having the confidence in him to lead.


"My colleagues and I gratefully and humbly accept the mandate of the Bahamian people given to us today, " he said. "I wish to express our thanks to all of those who have so convincingly put their trust in our party and to all who worked so hard in this gruelling campaign.


"I should also like to salute our opponents and say that I look forward to their continued participation in our democratic process."


Ingraham said he was especially grateful to the people of North Abaco for electing him to Parliament for a seventh consecutive term. He also thanked his wife Delores, his children and supporting members of the FNM. He also thanked former Prime Minister Perry Christie for his service to The Bahamas and wished him the very best.


"I would also like to thank the people of The Bahamas who summoned me back to service again," he said. "Apart from some minor incidences, the people of New Providence and throughout our Family Islands have once again demonstrated that they are fully committed and are very proud of the tradition which we have for a peaceful and orderly change."


On Tuesday night, Ingraham said that this election was a "battle for the hearts and minds" of the Bahamian people.


Addressing thousands of supporters at a mass rally held on the grounds of the R. M. Bailey Park Tuesday night, Ingraham said this election was a "battle for the hearts and minds" of the Bahamian people. He added that the Bahamian people have been very disappointed in the PLP over the past five years.


In his brief speech last night, he said no matter our political persuasion, Baha-mians can all be proud and hold their heads high for living in a nation where democracy is cherished and which the rule of law prevails.


"My colleagues and I will reaffirm the commitment we have made during the campaign," he said. "That is to govern within the constitution of our land and with time honoured conventions. We will devote all of our energies to the continued development of our nation in every respect.


"We ask our political opponents and all Bahamians to join us in this endeavour. May God continue to bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas."


He said the FNM will now prepare to hold a celebration event at a place to be announced soon.


For a number of weeks leading up to election day, many Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Free National Party (FNM) supporters attended mass rallies to 'gear' themselves up for the big day.


While they did that, numerous stories were written by The Freeport News and other media houses about public feedback and various predictions on who would win the elections.


Election fever was everywhere as many Bahamians participated in mass motorcades dressed in the colours depicting the party of their choice while others took to the airwaves and the internet to voice their views on what was taking place in the country.


However, this year's general election proves that no one can accurately predict what will take place during such times as the number of persons attending rallies do not truly give an indication of who or what party has the potential to win.


On Tuesday night, Christie stood before thousands of Bahamians on Clifford Park, where accompanied by members of his team, he made a final plea to Bahamians to support the PLP by marking their X next to the hand sign on election day.


Throughout the election campaign, Ingraham and Christie were embroiled in a verbal wrangle in relation to the sale of crown land to foreigners. While Ingraham accused the government on many occasions of selling too much land to foreign investors, Christie often retorted that his government was actually buying land back for Bahamians.


artilce by Freeport News

A former prime minister led his opposition party to victory in the Bahamas on Wednesday, returning to power in elections dominated by questions about the direction of the tourism-driven economy.


Hubert Ingraham's Free National Movement won 23 seats in the 41-seat legislature, while Prime Minister Perry Christie's Progressive Liberal Party claimed the other 18, according to the government-owned Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas.


"The people of the Bahamas have spoken," Ingraham said in a victory speech interrupted several times by cheers from thousands of supporters dressed in the party's signature red shirts. He told them Christie had called him to concede defeat.


Ingraham, who led the Atlantic archipelago nation from 1992 until 2002, seized on scandals involving Christie's Cabinet, including the resignation of the immigration minister over claims he fast-tracked the residency application of the late Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith.


He also warned that the government had gone too far in accommodating a second-home industry and tourist developments, arguing the country of 700 islands should lease rather than sell land to non-Bahamians.


"They simply sign on to just about any outrageous proposal that winds up in the inbox on their desks," Ingraham said at a recent rally. "Once the land is sold, it's gone."


Christie, who was Ingraham's law partner early in their careers, is the only prime minister to serve just one term since the Bahamas won independence from Britain in 1973.


He campaigned for a second 5-year term by highlighting the $20 billion in new foreign investment and resort projects since he took office.


"We've taken the Bahamian economy to new heights of prosperity," he said in a televised address Monday. "The economy is booming as never before. Tourism is vibrant and strong."


Both parties called for new strategies to curb illegal immigration, fight crime by expanding community policing and devote more resources to diplomatic missions overseas.


About half the population of 300,000 was eligible to vote, and islanders formed orderly lines outside schools and other voting places.


Among the governing party's slate was Shane Gibson, the former immigration minister who was accused of showing preferential treatment to Smith.


Ingraham said the Bahamas should consider abolishing the law that allows foreigners to qualify for residency by purchasing a house in the country.


Officials with the Free National Movement, which held only eight seats in the outgoing parliament, said they intend to contest some of the seats that apparently went to the governing party.