Now that one year has passed since the hotly contested May 2007 General Election, many Bahamians are expressing how they feel about the performance of the present Free National Movement government thus far. While the opinion of each person is important, it must be considered that one year is too short a time for most things to be accomplished, especially work that involves the proper governance of a sovereign nation.

As some praise the marvellous efforts of a committed FNM government, others have gone so far as to give the leaders an 'F' for failure in carrying out their duties. In a country that is built on democracy and the freedom of speech, these different views are considered proper and define the way of life that so many of our forefathers have strived for, but at the same time each Bahamian must be aware that anything good with lasting or wholesome effects will take time and must not be rushed. It is so ironic now that the same individuals who are expecting so much out of the present FNM government are the same who said the PLP government should not be rushed for making serious decisions. The truth is what any Bahamian government is capable of, cannot be measured in one year. This is so because the goals which any particular administration hopes to achieve – when considering the impact it will have on the lives of the Bahamian people – have to be done

in order and in decency, never quick without input and its consequences known.

According to the FNM's Trust agenda, their main goals are to strengthen the Bahamian economy, promote increased Bahamian ownership and wealth, and create new and high quality jobs for all Bahamians. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that such mammoth tasks will never be accomplished overnight, thus only time will tell how much the present government would have scored. Some FNM supporters are confident that such goals will be attained in the next four years, some say it may take more than five years as The Bahamas still has much to achieve since becoming an independent nation. Indeed, although this nation is 35 years old, the present state of the financial affairs of the country show it will take many years to come before some of those goals can be reached.

Whether we applaud or criticize the work of the present government, what they have done thus far to improve the standard of living in the country can be seen in many areas. Since coming to office, the FNM government has approved over $9 billion in touristic and business development projects throughout The Bahamas, including over $1 billion in investments for Grand Bahama. The over $1 billion in approved developments for Grand Bahama includes the $900 million investment for the purchase of the BORCO facility in Freeport. The buyers will pay $40 million up front to the government in stamp tax on the sale of the facility. According to information revealed on the FNM website, approval for this feat was done in less than 10 months, compared to the five year period in which the PLP approved what it claimed was $29 billion in foreign direct investment for the country.

In his speech to FNM supporters attending a special thanksgiving service on Sunday in observance of the party's anniversary since its victory last May, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said an economic downturn, maybe even a recession, is in progress in the United States - the world's largest economy and our largest trading partner and primary tourist market. He said because globalization has made us a village, all indications are that economies in Europe and Asia will not escape some adverse impacts.

"The price of oil and hence the cost of everything else is rising dramatically. The prospect of worldwide food shortages is looming. Here at home, increased food and utility prices are eating into the incomes of Bahamian families across the income spectrum but with most serious consequences for the poor. In the months and years ahead, we will continue to implement plans and programs meant to increase and improve opportunities for Bahamians everywhere providing guidance and support where it is needed most. "

Again, only time will tell how effective those programs which the prime minister speaks of will work to the betterment of all Bahamians.