FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shanendon Cartwright, M.P. : If A Government Will Not Pay Its Bills, It Cannot Be Trusted To Run The Country
“I am asking a simple question on behalf of every Bahamian who pays a light bill, a rent, and a grocery tab on time. How can this government be trusted to run the country when it will not meet its own obligations to landlords, health providers, or public servants?”
“Over the weekend, Ministry of Works employees in Abaco arrived to find their office locked at Abaco Central Plaza. The landlord took that step after more than a year without payment. According to reporting, the government owes in excess of $150,000 in unpaid rent and renovation costs.”
“Days earlier, the Minister of Health and Wellness confirmed that key National Health Insurance providers have not been paid for services delivered in July and August, the first two months of the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year. This failure has left private labs uncompensated, forcing them to absorb costs that directly affect doctors’ visits, diagnostic testing, and basic patient care for more than 161,000 Bahamians who rely on these essential services.”
“This week also brought a walkout by staff working in public facilities under active renovation. The Bahamas Public Services Union called the conditions ‘unacceptable’ with news reports saying that a staff member was struck by falling debris during office hours. No one, especially government employees, should have to choose between a paycheck and personal safety.”
“Three failures. One week. Together they reveal a larger truth: the PLP is creating two countries. One for themselves, their friends, and those that get special treatment. Another for ordinary Bahamians who are left to struggle with rising prices, unsafe workplaces, and government excuses. The irony is that the same government that delays rent, stalls payments, and ignores safety finds room for private jets, inflated travel budgets, and glossy PR campaigns. Everyday families do not get that luxury. They face higher costs and tighter margins. They do not get to skip their bills. They do not get extensions at the grocery or with the power company.”
“This government has forgotten who they work for. The Free National Movement is working for you, not for the privileged few. Trust is not a slogan; it is proven by actions. It means paying what you owe, protecting the people who serve, and being honest about the state of our country’s finances.”
“After four years, it’s time Bahamians ask themselves: if a government cannot govern itself, how can it be trusted to govern a nation?”