Economic woes affect Bahamas

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said the global economic slowdown is significantly affecting the country\'s tourism-dependent economy.



According to Mr. Ingraham there has been a drop in tourism arrivals.



He said the major hotels and resorts of New Providence and Paradise Island have been experiencing their lowest occupancy rates in years.



He said advance bookings show no sign of an upturn.



Mr. Ingraham is proposing that government spending be increased through borrowing as a way to cushion the impact of the economic crisis.



He is also calling for the enhancement of assistance programmes to poor families, increased aid for the unemployed and aggressive promotion of tourism in the tropical islands.