Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Charles Maynard has accused the government of victimising contractors and local government workers in Inagua.
According to a statement sent out recently, Mr. Maynard said the party has expressed grave concern about “the naked and shameless” victimisation in which Agriculture Minister Alfred Gray is engaged.
“So shameless is the victimisation that a sitting cabinet minister, the minister of agriculture, fisheries and local government stood up in the honorable House of Assembly and admitted that he and his government did not pay certain contractors in Inagua,” he said.
“The PLP government, led by Prime Minister Perry Christie, has singled out contractors they believe to have been supportive of the FNM and despite the fact that these contractors finished their work, having complied with the scope of their contracts, the government has refused to pay them though the checks were in the administrator’s office to effect such payments.”
Mr. Maynard said two contractors, however, who fell in the same category as those believed to be FNM contractors were paid.
“The Free National Movement cries shame on this government that says it believes in Bahamians. Perhaps it does but only PLP Bahamians,” the chairman said.
Mr. Maynard also said that local government workers have not been paid for the month of May.
“Despite funds being available at the Administrator’s Office to pay these people with families to care for, Minister Gray, the sitting Member of Parliament for Inagua instructed that they not be paid, sending administrator flowers to Inagua to run the office and confiscate all checks and cash,” he said.
“The unpaid workers are incurring late fee charges at the bank on their mortgages and loans cannot meet their other family commitments.”
The FNM chairman said the party is left to wonder which Bahamians the PLP believes in.
“The Free National Movement will continue to be vigilant in watching for occasions when this uncaring PLP government seeks to abuse Bahamians and will relentlessly fight for their rights,” he said.
Calls have been made to Mr. Gray but they were not immediately returned.
