The FNM Legacy
In 1992 the Free National Movement became the Government of the Bahamas. The ensuing ten years - 1992 to 2002 - was a remarkable period in The Bahamas. Following almost a decade lost to fighting drug corruption; declining investment and spiraling unemployment, the election of the Free National Movement under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Ingraham in 1992 ushered in a decade of recovery and growth.
Mr. Ingraham brought previously unknown levels of transparency and accountability to governance in The Bahamas. Private radio broadcasts were introduced bringing an end to government monopoly of the airwaves and the first serious effort at public sector reform was undertaken, the introduction of elected local government in the Family Islands being the hallmark of the initiative.
Clearly enunciated and publicized national investment policies helped to restore investor confidence. As a result, record levels of direct foreign investment entered the country, Freeport became the international transshipment port foreseen by its founders; the hotel and tourism sector was rejuvenated, the financial services sector was strengthened, the construction sector grew and unemployment was reduced to single digits as some 40,000 new and additional jobs were created.
Expansion in the government operated health and education infrastructure improved access to these services for the wider population including residents in the Family Island.
And, a sustained programme of legal review and reform strengthened the legislative framework for the financial services sector; modernized inheritance laws; abolished the dower and brought Bahamian labour law into conformity with international convention.
The FNM – A Record of Trust, A History of Achievement
Summary of Highlights – 1992-2002
The record and history of the Free National Movement is one of trust and achievement, especially during its time leading the Government from 1992-2002. Some of the party’s most important accomplishments during that period include:
- Deepening democracy and building trust by introducing private radio (thus ending government monopoly), offering annual reports to the people on the state of the country, instituting television and radio coverage of the House of Assembly, and introducing elected local government to the Family Islands.
- Reforming the public sector by introducing computers and information technology to public service, excluding MPs from becoming Chairmen of Public Corporations, streamlining the business license application process, streamlining vehicle registration process, introducing photo drivers licences valid for up to three years and devolving the Nassau International Airport and the 3 public hospitals to management by Public Authorities.
- Creating a strong economy by cutting the growth of public debt in half, reducing inflation from 5.5% to 1.2%, and adopted policies that revitalized the tourism sector, strengthened the financial services sector, fostered linkages between tourism and the agricultural, fisheries and light industry sectors resulting in the creation of 40,000 new jobs and lowered the unemployment rate from 14.5% to single digits. And, increased Bahamian ownership in the economy through implementation of its Crown Land policy, support for increased Bahamian ownership of small tourist resorts, and increased access by Bahamians to ownership in profitable enterprises like Cable Bahamas, Bank of Bahamas and Grand Bahama Power.
- Modernizing the criminal justice system by increasing the number of Supreme Court Justices to 11, establishing a Supreme Court in Grand Bahama, creating the position of Director of Public Prosecutions, instituting full time Coroner’s and Environmental courts, commencing upgrade of the H.M. Prison at Fox Hill.
- Strengthening public safety by computerizing police records, improving police training and pay, providing police more vehicles and state of the art communications, commencing the civilianization exercise to relieve trained police from desk duties, and enacting tougher laws against criminals.
- Managing immigration by upgrading the Department of Immigration’s offices, building an Immigration Detention Centre, significantly reducing residency/citizenship application backlogs, granting citizenship or permanent residency to hundreds of foreign born children and spouses of Bahamian women, enhancing patrol capacity of Royal Bahamas Defence Force to combat poaching, the drug transit traffic and the traffic of illegal immigrants, and concluding a Bahamas-Haiti Accord to deal with Haitian immigrants.
- Improving our children’s education by constructing 12 new schools – 7 primary schools, 4 high schools and one special needs school, - expanding the number of general classrooms, specialists rooms and offices at 20 others, enhancing curriculum development and teacher training, investing $10 million in school computers and creating a teaching career path.
- Enhancing our healthcare system by building nine modern poly clinics and upgrading the Family Islands’ community health clinics, introducing free pre and post natal care, instituting free anti-viral treatment for pregnant HIV/AIDS positive women, and constructing state-of-the-art specialized units for burn victims and infant intensive care.
- Protecting our citizens by increasing assistance and benefits to widows and orphans, expanding the school lunch programme for children and expanding benefits to low-income families, and establishing a 40-hour work week, equal pay for equal work, a minimum wage and protection against unfair dismissals.
- Established The Bahamas Investment Authority - a one-stop-shop for international investment; enunciated and published a National Investment Policy and introduced transparency to the application and approval process.
