DNA High Rock

The DNA Team along with Leader Branville McCartney are currently in Grand Bahama. They are visiting the island to provide some much needed relief to residents. The team will be providing hot meals along with water, non-perishable items and clothing.

DNA Grand Bahama Steak Out happening tomorrow. Please inbox for your tickets. Thanking you in advance for your support.

DNA Steak Out happening Saturday, 30th July. Please inbox for your tickets. Thanking you in advance for your support.

For Immediate Release
May 4, 2016

A New Reality for Grand Bahama Island!

Weeks after the launch of the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival celebrations on Grand Bahama Island, the soca induced delirium associated with the festival has worn off and slowly but surely, Bahamians are snapping back to reality. And what a sad reality it is. Now that the party is over, Grand Bahamians are once again faced with astronomical energy costs and a stagnant economy. A reality where thousands of Bahamians continue to lose their homes; and one without job opportunities for qualified individuals.

With unemployment already at record numbers, even more Bahamians may soon find themselves in the unemployment line. In just over a month, the iconic Grand Lucayan Hotel which has been a staple of the Grand Bahama tourism product will be sold. Back in March, the owners of the 409 acre property announced plans to sell the resort – the third largest in the country – in a sealed bidding process. The news of the sale has brought with it increased uncertainty for the nearly 700 Bahamians currently employed at the resort. For months now, media reports have speculated about the bidding process, the potential buyers and overall plans for the once vibrant property. Sadly, Bahamians have again been left in the dark. The Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Grand Bahama and the Prime Minister himself have been suspiciously quiet about the entire matter.

With the country still reeling from the GDP impact of the prolonged Bahamar debacle, the Bahamas’ tourism product can by no means withstand the fallout of another shuttered hotel property. Now, as the deadline for purchase submissions quickly approaches the Democratic National Alliance demands that the government come clean about matters related to the sale. What involvement, if any, has the government had in the sale and bidding process of the hotel? Are the potential bidders companies of repute? Have Bahamians been given an equal opportunity to participate in the bid process? Will the property close for any period following the sale? And if so, for how long? And most importantly what will become of the jobs for the nearly 700 Bahamians currently employed there?

This radio silence is a far cry from the many promises made by this PLP administration in the run up to the last election; promises of new jobs, a vibrant tourism product, and a transparent government, all of which would be facilitated by the Ministry of Grand Bahama. Since coming to office however, the ministry has done little to facilitate real development for the island.

Instead, it has proven itself a breeding ground for more cronyism, parliamentary appointments and has compounded the issue of government bureaucracy and red tape which has hindered development.

What Grand Bahamians want now, more than empty promises, is real decisive action on the part of the government. A DNA Government can provide just that. Our comprehensive plan to grow Grand Bahama begins with addressing record unemployment. The DNA has long espoused the belief that Bahamians must become owners of the economy. Government policies must move away from creating simple low level jobs but rather, the creation of long term careers; and even more importantly, BUSINESS OWNERS.

Empowering young Bahamians to follow their entrepreneurial dreams will require that we roll out the gold carpet for domestic investors, creating an environment of growth and economic stimulation. Along with addressing the shortfalls in the education system, growing Grand Bahama will also mean finding the balance between a bustling city experience and the Family Island charm which visitors expect when they travel to our shores. It will mean finding a way for tourism and industry to peacefully co-exist. It will require focused attention, and real collaboration with the Grand Bahama Port Authority in order to reverse the effects of years of neglect and mismanagement but it CAN BE DONE!

In the next general election, Grand Bahamians have a real opportunity to change the course and direction of this country; to change our reality. We have an opportunity to hit the reset button and finally demand real, transparent leadership securing first class governance for the nation’s second city.

Branville McCartney
DNA Leader

For Immediate Release
February 21, 2016

Growing Grand Bahama

At a time when the country remains in dire need of a new fiscal direction, the Government of the Bahamas continues to ignore the vast economic potential that exists in and around Grand Bahama Island; allowing it to be stifled. Add to that this administration’s neglect of government buildings and its civil servants and an overall disregard to good governance and Grand Bahama Island continues in limbo. Similarly, the Free National Movement has failed to be an acceptable alternative to the current administration. Over the past several months they have been preoccupied by an ongoing power struggle and unnecessary infighting.

Since the PLP took office in 2012, Grand Bahamians have continued to be plagued by record unemployment, the crippling cost of electricity and an overall lack of opportunity. After years of failing to cultivate a culture of cooperation with the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the government is only now – at the height of the political season – seeking to foster the kind of relationship needed to pull the island out of the economic doldrums.

With just over a year before the next general election, Grand Bahama Island is only now becoming a top priority for this Christie government, particularly as it relates to the possible extension of concessions under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement (HCA). After months of delay, the government appointed taskforce on the issue recently issued a number of recommendations on the way forward. Sadly however, they offered no substantive changes that would benefit anyone other than the wealthy landowners within the city of Freeport who already benefit from those concessions. The recommendations offer no similar concessions to land owners in East and West Grand Bahama, nor does it allow those taxes to perhaps be paid in lieu of Value Added Tax. In that regard, the Christie administration missed an opportunity to level the economic playing field and finally give Bahamian business owners a fighting chance.

The Democratic National Alliance has long touted the idea of empowering Bahamians. This is the only way to truly reverse the trend of high unemployment. In order to comprehensively address unemployment OUR GOVERNMENT and OUR PEOPLE must move away from this idea of creating jobs and work on CREATING LONG TERM CAREERS for Bahamians and even better…BUSINESS OWNERS. By now, we all know that it is small and medium sized business which act as the economic engine of any country and it is the responsibility of a GOOD GOVERNMENT to create the kind of environment which would allow such enterprises to grow and flourish. This will mean rolling out the red carpet to local investors as we do for foreign investors.

By improving the ease of doing business, we stand to increase the number of entrepreneurs among us. Those small business owners can then in tern provide employment opportunities for other Bahamians and hopefully encourage others to take a similar route. Coupled with addressing the shortfalls in the education system the move toward creating employers rather than employees is a surefire way of stimulating the economy.

Encouraging the start of new businesses is not enough. Ensuring that those businesses are able to thrive and grow is equally important. Sadly, here on GBI more than anywhere else in the country, the exorbitant cost of electricity threatens the very viability of small and medium sized businesses. Not long ago the DNA unveiled its national energy reform plan dubbed the Clean Energy Project. The Democratic National Alliance released its plans for energy reform which we are calling the Clean Energy Project. (CEP). That initiative seeks to reduce the cost per kilowatt hour in the Bahamas to the lowest in the region.

It will also allow for the self-generation of electricity for home owners and business owners who will then be able to resell electricity to the grid and, through the use of submarine cables, secure the immediate benefits of a lower energy costs for residents in this country. The project also outlines the DNA’s commitment to the establishment of the industry of renewable energy. PUT SIMPLY: IT’S TIME TO GO GREEN! Through the use of solar, waste and wind technologies, the plan provides for the expansion of the country’s energy generating capacity which will in the long and short term provide generation to cover up to 30% of the country’s overall power consumption needs. As a country, which exists within the hurricane belt, the CEP takes such issues into consideration.

For far too long now, the magic which once made this island a gem within our archipelago has been missing. The years of neglect and mismanagement, has not however, dampened the spirit of residents on this island. Grand Bahamians remain some of the most resilient people I have ever met. YOU deserve a new start, new leadership and a new government committed to restoring the Magic that was once Freeport.

Branville McCartney
DNA Leader

They've talked about it, we will do it. Our people need rescuing NOW! A DNA Government is committed to creating a National Service program.

DNA National Address.mov