Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Davis expressed dissatisfaction in the way the government has handled the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian and called on the government to recall parliament before the October 2 return date.

During a special press briefing at the Lynden Pindling Center, the party’s headquarters yesterday, the PLP leader said, “The opposition caucus and its constitutional positions, paid by Bahamian taxpayers, is to assist in the governance of the country.”

After he said that, Mr. Davis felt the opposition was not fully engaged.

“In these extraordinary circumstances, all assets are to be pooled and called upon in a collective and unified effort,” he said.

“The national efforts surrounding Dorian, that we support, come under the umbrella of governance and the opposition has a role to play.

“I wish publicly, in this regard, to call on the government to recall Parliament ahead of its scheduled 2 October 2019 meeting.

“Parliament provides a free forum where the collective voices of its citizenry can be officially heard through their duly elected leaders.”

Mr. Davis added that he is “not satisfied that the PLP was properly or fully engaged in a support role during the preparation and post assessment in restoration phases of this natural and national disaster”.

He noted that by recalling parliament it would be a special sitting with discussions on what has taken place before, during and after Hurricane Dorian.

He also noted that a discussion of what short term and long term plans the government has in rebuilding those islands could take place.

“With all the reports that’s coming to me, with all the experiences that persons, like the five members of parliament from Grand Bahama would have had, don’t you think an appropriate venue for them to be able to come to parliament and speak of the experiences, speak of the experiences that their constituents were having so that the public is made aware,” Mr. Davis said.

“We hear the voices of our people through their representatives.

“It’s not an unheard of event. In our Westminster system, parliaments are recalled particularly in times of natural disaster.”
Nevertheless, Mr. Davis said the party is in mobilization mode, with its Operation Restoration, having, to date, visited Moore’s Island, Treasure Cay, Marsh Harbour, Spring City and Grand Bahama.

“On each trip, we carried a limited, but a variety of supplies including water, generators, canned and dry good food and products,” Mr. Davis said.

“The PLP delivered multiple pallets of supplies on several mailboats to both Grand Bahama and Abaco.

“Further, we organized with the vessel owners to evacuate over 600 persons from Abaco and Grand Bahama.”

The PLP leader acknowledged that restoration won’t be easy and the recovery will not be quick.