Prime Minister of Bahamas Hubert Minnis addresses the 74th session of the United Nations Basic Meeting at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 27, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
NASSAU, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis on Thursday conceded defeat within the common elections on the Atlantic island chain reeling from a surge in COVID-19 circumstances and droop within the tourism-dependent economic system as a result of pandemic.
Minnis referred to as his challenger Philip Davis to congratulate him and his Progressive Liberal Get together (PLP) on successful the ballot.
“I provided him my finest needs as his authorities now faces the continued battle in opposition to COVID-19, and the restoration of our economic system,” Minnis, the chief of the Free Nationwide Motion (FNM) occasion, stated in an announcement.
Minnis had been hoping to develop into the primary prime minister in 24 years to win a second five-year time period.
However Davis’ PLP gained momentum with a marketing campaign targeted on what it termed the federal government’s mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak and the economic system, which has seen unemployment surge to an estimated 20% and the fiscal deficit balloon throughout the pandemic.
“We will proceed to wander aimlessly below the visionless, inept, scandalized Free Nationwide Motion, or we are able to usher in better transparency, equality and prosperity with the PLP,” PLP chief Philip Davis advised voters throughout his eve-of-election marketing campaign rally.
Some 119 new COVID-19 circumstances had been confirmed on Wednesday, taking the energetic quantity to 1,679 within the nation of simply 400,000 folks, whereas the positivity charge has hovered round 25 % for the previous six weeks.
Julian Rolle, chairman of the Public Hospitals Authority, advised Bahamian media it had develop into troublesome to employees healthcare amenities correctly given about 5-10 % of employees was quarantined resulting from publicity to the virus.
Minnis had argued that the PLP can’t be trusted with reviving some of the affluent economies within the Atlantic-Caribbean area the place tourism accounts for round 50 % of output and 60 % of employment.
Beneath his watch, the Bahamas obtained a file 1.8 million guests in 2019 and outgoing Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar stated he was focusing on 1 million air arrivals for 2021.
Davis’ PLP now faces some formidable challenges in workplace resulting from COVID-19 and its persevering with well being and financial impression.
The scattered archipelago stretching from simply off jap Florida to close Cuba can be nonetheless rebuilding after being pummeled in 2019 by Hurricane Dorian, one of many strongest Caribbean hurricanes on file, which killed not less than 74 folks and left many others lacking.
Nationwide debt stood at $10.356 billion at end-June 2021, in accordance with the Bahamian Ministry of Finance, which forecasts a $951 million fiscal deficit for 2021-2022.
Gowon Bowe, chief govt of Constancy Financial institution (Bahamas), a publicly-traded financial institution, advised Reuters: “The truth is that we don’t have a lot wiggle room left. There received’t be a honeymoon for a brand new administration. It’s going to be proper in regards to the enterprise as a result of there’s lots we’ve to proper.”
Reporting by Neil Hartnell in Nassau
Modifying by Sarah Marsh, Alistair Bell and Drazen Jorgic
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
