Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney says Housing and Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett has been merely keeping up appearances that he cares about the country’s environment issues while avoiding the real issues on his agenda namely the city dump.

Mr. McCartney said the 2016/2017 Budget Debate was used by the Progressive Liberal Party as a forum to pat themselves on the back.

“We have watched and listened as Members of Parliament on the governing side sing the praises of the leadership of PM Perry Christie and tout any number of insignificant political victories as major accomplishments on its agenda,” McCartney said.

“Sadly this inept PLP administration is not the first government to simply ignore the challenges at the dump. This has been a SIN committed by successive administrations for varying reasons, with perhaps the most common excuse being cost of remediation at the facility. This however is nothing more than another excuse.”

Moreover, he said it has been on more than one occasion that Minister Dorsett has pledged his ministry’s commitment to addressing the long standing issues at the New Providence Landfill but yet still no actionable measures have been taken to protect the quality of life for Bahamians who continue to be impacted by noxious fumes emanating from that facility every day.

“While the government has remained silent on its plans for remediation, the Democratic National Alliance has not. In fact, the DNA is the only party to put together a comprehensive plan of action. A plan which includes an expansion of recycling efforts encouraging less wastage and less garbage creation; a push toward turning the dump site into a true and real landfill as opposed to the environmental hazard we currently have,” he said.

“The DNA also advocates for the introduction of fully functional waste to energy plant at the site which would use the trash and refuse as fuel, resulting in cheaper and clean electricity.”