MPs are given chance to explain stipend spending
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
MEMBERS of Parliament called on to account for how they spent a monthly stipend for their constituency offices are being given a chance to explain their expenditures in response to an Auditor General's report on the use of the funds.
According to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, Auditor General Terrance Bastian completed his investigation into the expenditure of the money earlier this year, but the "full" report is not due to be released until October 2010.
"You'll get a full report of the $1,500 a month they give to MPs, how they spent it," he told The Tribune.
"The report is complete in the sense that you audit someone's account, you put forward what the situation is and they have a chance to say 'well you didn't take account of this, that etcetera'. That process is still ongoing, but when we have finished we will make it public and you will see how your MP for North Abaco and others disposed of the $1,500 he gets for operating a constituency office. You can see if he's done it in accountable fashion or not."
The Government revealed in 2009 that it was going to audit the MPs' use of constituency funds, which amount to $18,000 per year to run their constituency offices, for the first time.
The move came in the wake of the "expenses scandal" in the United Kingdom, in which many MPs were found to have misused their allowances from the public purse - ostensibly given for the purposes of covering expenses incurred "during the performance of a Member's parliamentary duties" - and were made to either resign, or pay the money back.
Others British MPs who were accused of abuse or made to pay back funds went on to announce their intention to retire from politics or found themselves "de-selected" as candidates.
Three former MPs, who resigned over the revelation of their alleged "fiddling" of the expenses, are now in the process of being criminally prosecuted for their wrongful expense claims.
While declining to go into specifics on the Bahamas expenses report, Mr Ingraham told The Tribune that "as a general statement, I think it's fair to say that most (of the country's 41 MPs) gave a fair accounting for their expenditures."
"That's a general statement and in those areas where there are questions they are being allowed to put forward the facts to support whatever it is that they may wish to put forward and the Auditor General will then be able to determine whether I'm satisfied or I'm not satisfied, and if the Auditor General is not satisfied then there are consequences for that in terms of (having to pay the money) back and so on," he added.
The audit conducted by the Auditor General covers the expenditure of the allowance since June 2007, when the Ingraham administration returned to office. Last year, MPs on both sides of the political divide said they were in agreement with the scrutiny, which they called "necessary" and a "great thing to do" to increase accountability in public finances.
The $18,000 per MP over the two-year period - 2007 to 2009 - covered by the report adds up to a total of $1,476,000 in public funds.
This is separate from the $100,000 made available for allocation by each of the MPs for constituency enhancement projects in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 budgets (or $8.2 million over two years for all 41 members), as reported on recently by this newspaper.
July 20, 2010
tribune242
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Showing posts with label Bahamas Members of Parliament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bahamas Members of Parliament. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham admits non-disclosure
By JUAN MCCARTNEY ~ Guardian Senior Reporter - juan@nasguard.com:
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham yesterday admitted that like many other members of Parliament, he has not been complying with the Public Disclosures Act for the past several years.
"The last one I did was the day before the election in 2007," said the prime minister in a candid interview with The Nassau Guardian in his office at the Churchill Building yesterday.
Ingraham was responding to questions raised after a Guardian investigation uncovered that published public disclosure among elected and publicly appointed officials has basically become a thing of the past.
"I saw your story and we will give some attention to that," Ingraham said when asked if he was aware of the issue. In fact, Ingraham admitted that, "the Public Disclosures Act is not being adhered to by members of Parliament."
The last disclosures published were done on November 3, 2004. However, that information was only current up to the end of 2000.
On Tuesday, the prime minister said that he has all of his financial statements up to end of last year in order and has only to turn them in.
"I brought all of mine up to date," Ingraham said. "I've prepared all the others for 2007 and 2008. I haven't filed them yet, but I'll file '07, '08 and '09 between now and the end of March and early April."
With an entrance tucked in a corner behind the Office of Government Publications and next to the Royal Bahamas Police Force Drug Enforcement Unit's Marine Division on East Bay Street, it's easy to see how somebody could have difficulty locating the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) if no one explained exactly where it is located.
The secreted location of the PDC might be one reason public officials have trouble turning in their disclosures.
For years, various parliamentarians have claimed that the disclosure laws are more to allow the public a glimpse into their private lives.
However, the law - drafted in 1976 - was created specifically to ensure that elected and publicly appointed officials do not enrich themselves off of the public purse.
As far as how the Ingraham administration will address its own elected and publicly appointed officials' delinquencies, Ingraham said that he was in no position to tell other public officials to disclose their financial information in light of his own transgressions.
"The first thing I must do is bring myself up to date before I have the moral authority to ask others to do so," Ingraham said. "I've done so up to 2007 and I haven't done so since. I don't seek to find any excuse for not having done so. I just haven't done it. But I'll do it."
The penalty for not disclosing the information or providing incorrect information is a $10,000 fine and/or two years in prison.
To be fair, even though the information is ultimately forwarded to Cabinet, the process for public disclosure is that all information is to be submitted to the PDC, then audited by its appointed board, according to sources within the PDC.
Why two administrations have passed and a third has almost reached the halfway mark with no new information having been published since 2004 is a question that has yet to be answered.
When contacted last week, the head of the PDC, Oswald Isaacs, said he wasn't prepared to sit for an interview because he had only recently been appointed to the post.
Isaacs referred The Guardian to the secretary of the commission, who did not return messages left for him.
What was gathered from multiple sources is that the hold up usually occurs in Cabinet. Getting anyone connected to Cabinet to confirm that proved fruitless. Cabinet meetings are considered top secret.
It is also understood that if even one person required to make public disclosure fails to do so, the entire process is held up.
Also, the verification process was said to take quite some time.
But how a government that produces a yearly budget for dozens of government departments outlining thousands of line items in minute detail, cannot compile the financial data of fewer than 100 people on a yearly basis is a question that might never be answered.
February 10, 2010
thenassauguardian
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham yesterday admitted that like many other members of Parliament, he has not been complying with the Public Disclosures Act for the past several years.
"The last one I did was the day before the election in 2007," said the prime minister in a candid interview with The Nassau Guardian in his office at the Churchill Building yesterday.
Ingraham was responding to questions raised after a Guardian investigation uncovered that published public disclosure among elected and publicly appointed officials has basically become a thing of the past.
"I saw your story and we will give some attention to that," Ingraham said when asked if he was aware of the issue. In fact, Ingraham admitted that, "the Public Disclosures Act is not being adhered to by members of Parliament."
The last disclosures published were done on November 3, 2004. However, that information was only current up to the end of 2000.
On Tuesday, the prime minister said that he has all of his financial statements up to end of last year in order and has only to turn them in.
"I brought all of mine up to date," Ingraham said. "I've prepared all the others for 2007 and 2008. I haven't filed them yet, but I'll file '07, '08 and '09 between now and the end of March and early April."
With an entrance tucked in a corner behind the Office of Government Publications and next to the Royal Bahamas Police Force Drug Enforcement Unit's Marine Division on East Bay Street, it's easy to see how somebody could have difficulty locating the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) if no one explained exactly where it is located.
The secreted location of the PDC might be one reason public officials have trouble turning in their disclosures.
For years, various parliamentarians have claimed that the disclosure laws are more to allow the public a glimpse into their private lives.
However, the law - drafted in 1976 - was created specifically to ensure that elected and publicly appointed officials do not enrich themselves off of the public purse.
As far as how the Ingraham administration will address its own elected and publicly appointed officials' delinquencies, Ingraham said that he was in no position to tell other public officials to disclose their financial information in light of his own transgressions.
"The first thing I must do is bring myself up to date before I have the moral authority to ask others to do so," Ingraham said. "I've done so up to 2007 and I haven't done so since. I don't seek to find any excuse for not having done so. I just haven't done it. But I'll do it."
The penalty for not disclosing the information or providing incorrect information is a $10,000 fine and/or two years in prison.
To be fair, even though the information is ultimately forwarded to Cabinet, the process for public disclosure is that all information is to be submitted to the PDC, then audited by its appointed board, according to sources within the PDC.
Why two administrations have passed and a third has almost reached the halfway mark with no new information having been published since 2004 is a question that has yet to be answered.
When contacted last week, the head of the PDC, Oswald Isaacs, said he wasn't prepared to sit for an interview because he had only recently been appointed to the post.
Isaacs referred The Guardian to the secretary of the commission, who did not return messages left for him.
What was gathered from multiple sources is that the hold up usually occurs in Cabinet. Getting anyone connected to Cabinet to confirm that proved fruitless. Cabinet meetings are considered top secret.
It is also understood that if even one person required to make public disclosure fails to do so, the entire process is held up.
Also, the verification process was said to take quite some time.
But how a government that produces a yearly budget for dozens of government departments outlining thousands of line items in minute detail, cannot compile the financial data of fewer than 100 people on a yearly basis is a question that might never be answered.
February 10, 2010
thenassauguardian
Saturday, January 23, 2010
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part III
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
HERE The Tribune presents the third part of its series of reports detailing how MPs say they spent the two $100,000 allocations made available to each of them for discretionary constituency enhancement projects between 2007 and 2009.
All 40 MPs were asked to provide the information, however, fewer than half did so and only one of those was a member of the PLP.
See tomorrow's Tribune for the final part of the report:
Fred Mitchell - PLP - Fox Hill:
In records provided by Mr Mitchell on how he made use of the $200,000 available to him for projects in his constituency, it is disclosed that he has so far utilised $110,416.75 of the total sum.
In a breakdown of the disbursements, it is recorded that $7,800 was paid to P C Engineers to buy ten computers for the L W Young High School.
Separate payments were made to an individual identified as Trevor Pratt of $840 towards the renovation of Gleniston Park; $1,113.75 for the renovation of Foxdale Park; $5,500 to assist with renovations to Eastwood Park, and $420 to assist with renovations to Gleniston Park.
An individual identified as Gary Kerr received $10,275.5 for a number of projects.
This total was made up of payments of $4,378.50 for renovation of Freedom Park; $4,797 for the renovation of Canterbury Park with a further $1,100, also for assistance with the renovation of Canterbury Park.
The record reflects that a number of payments were made to the law firm of Gibson, Rigby and Co from the constituency allowance.
This included $1,280 to assist with renovations to the Fox Hill Parade, another $6,720 for the same purpose, $8,062.50 for renovations to Freedom Park, a further $10,000 for the same purpose, and $18,750 for renovations to Canterbury Park. Gary Kerr was identified as the contractor for this work.
A further $21,100 and $8,000 was disbursed from the allowance to assist the Fox Hill Festival Committee, $2,205 and $8,000 for contract work to be done at the Fox Hill Community Centre, paid to Good Deal Builders and $1,030 was paid to the CWT Sales Agency for supplies for the Sandilands Primary School.
Charles Maynard - FNM - Golden Isles:
Mr Maynard said the $200,000 "went a long way in filling various voids throughout" his constituency. "Golden Isles is an emerging area and there are many amenities left undeveloped," he noted.
As such, the money was utilised to develop "from scratch" three community parks, to fund an after-school computer programme, provide instruments for the creation of a community band managed by the Carmichael Police Division, to aid the development of a picnic area in Coral Heights east and refurbish the Coral Harbour Community Park.
Branville McCartney - FNM - Bamboo Town:
Mr McCartney reported that the $100,000 constituency allowance for the provided in 2007/2008 budget was spent on refurbishing four parks in Bamboo Town: Zion Boulevard Park, Mary Ingraham Park, Seven Hills Park and Southern Heights Park.
In 2008/2009, the MP said the entire allowance has been used to develop a park in Fairview Heights, off St Vincent Road.
Phenton Neymour - FNM - South Beach:
Of the $100,000 allocated in the 2007/2008 budget, Mr Neymour said approximately $98,500 has been spent to date on the rehabilitation of the South Beach Park and several smaller enhancement projects.
Work on the park involved site clearance, including the demolition and removal of derelict concrete works and fencing, the installation of a walking track, a 30 by 30 foot elevated gazebo and sidewalks. A new constituency office sign was also purchased.
$73,990 of the $100,000 made available to Mr Neymour in the 2008/2009 budget has been spent to date, and approximately $26,000 has been allocated but not spent. From these funds, two sets of playground equipment and park benches for the Pastels Gardens Park and South Beach Park were purchased,
A contract for a 20 by 20 foot elevated gazebo for South Beach Park has been awarded but not completed. Plans are in place to contract out associated landscaping of the South Beach and Pastel Gardens Parks. This will occur upon completion of the gazebo and a nearby sidewalk in the South Beach Park, said Mr Neymour.
Mr Neymour added that all works were procured in the government tendering process under the Ministry of Works, unlike many of the projects commissioned by other MPs using the constituency allowance funds.
January 21, 2010
01212010
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - part I
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part II
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part IV
tribune242
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
HERE The Tribune presents the third part of its series of reports detailing how MPs say they spent the two $100,000 allocations made available to each of them for discretionary constituency enhancement projects between 2007 and 2009.
All 40 MPs were asked to provide the information, however, fewer than half did so and only one of those was a member of the PLP.
See tomorrow's Tribune for the final part of the report:
Fred Mitchell - PLP - Fox Hill:
In records provided by Mr Mitchell on how he made use of the $200,000 available to him for projects in his constituency, it is disclosed that he has so far utilised $110,416.75 of the total sum.
In a breakdown of the disbursements, it is recorded that $7,800 was paid to P C Engineers to buy ten computers for the L W Young High School.
Separate payments were made to an individual identified as Trevor Pratt of $840 towards the renovation of Gleniston Park; $1,113.75 for the renovation of Foxdale Park; $5,500 to assist with renovations to Eastwood Park, and $420 to assist with renovations to Gleniston Park.
An individual identified as Gary Kerr received $10,275.5 for a number of projects.
This total was made up of payments of $4,378.50 for renovation of Freedom Park; $4,797 for the renovation of Canterbury Park with a further $1,100, also for assistance with the renovation of Canterbury Park.
The record reflects that a number of payments were made to the law firm of Gibson, Rigby and Co from the constituency allowance.
This included $1,280 to assist with renovations to the Fox Hill Parade, another $6,720 for the same purpose, $8,062.50 for renovations to Freedom Park, a further $10,000 for the same purpose, and $18,750 for renovations to Canterbury Park. Gary Kerr was identified as the contractor for this work.
A further $21,100 and $8,000 was disbursed from the allowance to assist the Fox Hill Festival Committee, $2,205 and $8,000 for contract work to be done at the Fox Hill Community Centre, paid to Good Deal Builders and $1,030 was paid to the CWT Sales Agency for supplies for the Sandilands Primary School.
Charles Maynard - FNM - Golden Isles:
Mr Maynard said the $200,000 "went a long way in filling various voids throughout" his constituency. "Golden Isles is an emerging area and there are many amenities left undeveloped," he noted.
As such, the money was utilised to develop "from scratch" three community parks, to fund an after-school computer programme, provide instruments for the creation of a community band managed by the Carmichael Police Division, to aid the development of a picnic area in Coral Heights east and refurbish the Coral Harbour Community Park.
Branville McCartney - FNM - Bamboo Town:
Mr McCartney reported that the $100,000 constituency allowance for the provided in 2007/2008 budget was spent on refurbishing four parks in Bamboo Town: Zion Boulevard Park, Mary Ingraham Park, Seven Hills Park and Southern Heights Park.
In 2008/2009, the MP said the entire allowance has been used to develop a park in Fairview Heights, off St Vincent Road.
Phenton Neymour - FNM - South Beach:
Of the $100,000 allocated in the 2007/2008 budget, Mr Neymour said approximately $98,500 has been spent to date on the rehabilitation of the South Beach Park and several smaller enhancement projects.
Work on the park involved site clearance, including the demolition and removal of derelict concrete works and fencing, the installation of a walking track, a 30 by 30 foot elevated gazebo and sidewalks. A new constituency office sign was also purchased.
$73,990 of the $100,000 made available to Mr Neymour in the 2008/2009 budget has been spent to date, and approximately $26,000 has been allocated but not spent. From these funds, two sets of playground equipment and park benches for the Pastels Gardens Park and South Beach Park were purchased,
A contract for a 20 by 20 foot elevated gazebo for South Beach Park has been awarded but not completed. Plans are in place to contract out associated landscaping of the South Beach and Pastel Gardens Parks. This will occur upon completion of the gazebo and a nearby sidewalk in the South Beach Park, said Mr Neymour.
Mr Neymour added that all works were procured in the government tendering process under the Ministry of Works, unlike many of the projects commissioned by other MPs using the constituency allowance funds.
January 21, 2010
01212010
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - part I
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part II
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part IV
tribune242
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part IV
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
HERE is the fourth and final part of The Tribune's report on what MPs say they did with the $200,000 allocated for constituency enhancement projects in their constituencies in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 budgets.
A number of MPs forwarded these details after requests were put to them before and after the Christmas holidays. Fewer than half of the MPs responded -- 15 FNMs and one PLP.
Earlier this week, The Tribune reported how Desmond Bannister (Carmichael), Carl Bethel (Seabreeze), Loretta Butler-Turner (Montagu), Larry Cartwright (Long Island and Ragged Island), Sidney Collie (Blue Hills), Earl Deveaux (Marathon), Fred Mitchell (Fox Hill), Hubert Ingraham (North Abaco), Zhivargo Laing (Marco City), Charles Maynard (Golden Isles), Branville McCartney (Bamboo Town) and Phenton Neymour (South Beach) said they utilised the funds in their constituencies. See www.tribune242.com for those details.
Brensil Rolle - FNM - Garden Hills:
Providing a list of the payments made from the constituency allowance in chronological order, Mr Rolle first noted that $19,000 was allocated towards the establishment of two learning centres designed to assist students with basic language, mathematics and science and Spanish language skills, and enable tutoring for homework assignments.
The MP donated funds from the allowance to several junkanoo groups, including $2,000 to the Prodigal Sons and $2,000 to Kingdom Warriors.
A further $6,000 was spent on a constituency clean-up campaign which had appliances, garbage and derelict vehicles removed by local contractors.
Under the Entrepreneurial Creative Straw Vendor Programme, Mr Rolle said two industrial sewing machines were purchased, instructors hired, and 50 people were trained in creative straw production. The funds also covered the purchase of materials for the classes. A total of $4,819.60 was spent on the programme. A subdivision clean-up campaign cleared debris from overgrown lots in the constituency at a cost of $6,050.
For $26,710 a Subdivision Entrance Landscaping Programme was undertaken. Trees were planted at "strategic intersections in the constituency to improve the ambiance at the entrance to subdivisions," Mr Rolle said.
As part of the after-school programme, three payments of $800 were made to the Cousin McPhee Cathedral, and $1,000 was paid to Kizzy McKinney, Pamela Murphy and Vanessa Rolle.
A second session of the Entrepreneurial Creative Straw Vendor Programme was funded by $3,200.
Another $1,000 donation was made to the Prodigal Sons junkanoo group.
The sum of $23,420 was committed to improvements to the public park in Pride Estates by contractor Hubert Styles. This project is awaiting approval by the Ministry of Public Works.
A $1,000 donation was made to the Kingdom Warriors junkanoo group.
A second clean-up campaign was carried out at a cost of $20,010.
And $200 was donated to each of the following seven churches that participated in a Senior Citizens Christmas programme: Cousin McPhee Cathedral, Good Samaritan Church, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Southwest church of God, Independence Church of God, Chapel on the Hill and Bible Truth Ministries.
The sum of $1,500 was allocated to those who catered to senior citizens during the event.
A Ms McQueen was paid $1,000 for her instruction as part of a Straw Craft Certification Programme in collaboration with the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation that trained and certified 30 people. BAIC was paid $700.
The sum of $5,000 was spent on a special education programme for challenged students of Garden Hills. Students followed a special curriculum and received individual tuition during the six-month programme held from January to June 2009.
A further $2,128.50 was spent on the purchase of playground equipment for the Pride Estates Public Park. Donations of $2,000 each were made to the following public schools in the constituency: A F Adderley Jr High, S C McPherson Jr High, C W Sawyer Primary, and S C McPherson Jr High.
Materials and an instructor for a shell craft training programme were purchased for $4,000.
The sum of $19,128.50 was spent to allow 50 members of the constituency to participate in the Ministry of Agriculture's Backyard Farming Programme. $1,060 was allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture for subdivision drainage. Twenty subdivision signs were printed and erected in the constituency for $14,400.
Playground equipment for a public park in the constituency was purchased from Creative Kids for $12,061.50. The placement of three drainage wells in areas that experience serious flooding cost $18,000, paid to M and R Drilling and Well Construction.
Further junkanoo donations of $1,500 each were made to the Kingdom Warriors and the Prodigals Sons. Another clean-up campaign saw $2,320 paid to Old Har Investments.
Tommy Turnquest - FNM - Mount Moriah:
Minister Turnquest said he has committed contracts for the entire sum of $200,000 and essentially all the funds have been spent, or will be spent, on recreational parks in his constituency.
"I purchased materials and supplies (approximately $20,000) for three parks in yellow Elder Gardens; spending $80,000 plus on the big park in Stapledon Gardens and about $35,000 on the smaller parks on Sunderland Road and Spitfire Road. I spent $40,000 on bathroom facilities on the park in Millennium Gardens."
The rules governing how constituency allowance funds are spent do not demand that the contracts to provide the work, goods or services are put out to competitive tender, and Mr Turnquest noted that none of his contracts were.
"The parks in Yellow Elder were done by the prison work group as part of their community work. I provided the supplies and equipment to the prison and they had three quotes and sourced from the lowest quote. The big park in Stapledon Gardens is being done by Enviroscape Ltd. The park on Sunderland Road was developed by Cedrick Smith and the bathrooms on Millennium Park and the park on Spitfire road were constructed by Davis Renovations and Landscaping Company."
Brent Symonette - FNM - St Anne's:
The Deputy Prime Minister did not break down exactly how much of the $200,000 he had allocated to date or who was paid for the work, however he gave a brief description of what the money was used for.
Mr Symonette utilised the funds to construct walking tracks in two parks and provide benches for three parks.
He also undertook the redevelopment of the East End point, the waterfront area opposite the Winton Fort and the waterfront area on Eastern Road and Prince Charles, landscaping pathways, installing planters, a drain and park benches.
Mr Symonette noted that a considerable number of drainage wells were also dug or cleaned throughout the area using the allowance funds.
"All of the work was supervised and signed off on by the Ministry of Works in line with price guidelines which they had established. I am still working on lighting for two parks which might have to be covered by the allowance," he added.
Hubert Minnis - FNM - Killarney:
The MP said the allocation was used towards signage in the community, including "welcome signs" for the entrances of Southwest Ridge, Rockcrusher and the Grove West, and repairing signage to Lake Cunningham. Beautification efforts were also funded, plants and flowers purchased and landscaping carried out around the signs. However, some of these were stolen, the MP said. Other funds were used to install speed bumps in South Westridge and benches at the Rockcrusher basketball court.
January 22, 2010
01222010
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - part I
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part II
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part III
tribune242
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
HERE is the fourth and final part of The Tribune's report on what MPs say they did with the $200,000 allocated for constituency enhancement projects in their constituencies in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 budgets.
A number of MPs forwarded these details after requests were put to them before and after the Christmas holidays. Fewer than half of the MPs responded -- 15 FNMs and one PLP.
Earlier this week, The Tribune reported how Desmond Bannister (Carmichael), Carl Bethel (Seabreeze), Loretta Butler-Turner (Montagu), Larry Cartwright (Long Island and Ragged Island), Sidney Collie (Blue Hills), Earl Deveaux (Marathon), Fred Mitchell (Fox Hill), Hubert Ingraham (North Abaco), Zhivargo Laing (Marco City), Charles Maynard (Golden Isles), Branville McCartney (Bamboo Town) and Phenton Neymour (South Beach) said they utilised the funds in their constituencies. See www.tribune242.com for those details.
Brensil Rolle - FNM - Garden Hills:
Providing a list of the payments made from the constituency allowance in chronological order, Mr Rolle first noted that $19,000 was allocated towards the establishment of two learning centres designed to assist students with basic language, mathematics and science and Spanish language skills, and enable tutoring for homework assignments.
The MP donated funds from the allowance to several junkanoo groups, including $2,000 to the Prodigal Sons and $2,000 to Kingdom Warriors.
A further $6,000 was spent on a constituency clean-up campaign which had appliances, garbage and derelict vehicles removed by local contractors.
Under the Entrepreneurial Creative Straw Vendor Programme, Mr Rolle said two industrial sewing machines were purchased, instructors hired, and 50 people were trained in creative straw production. The funds also covered the purchase of materials for the classes. A total of $4,819.60 was spent on the programme. A subdivision clean-up campaign cleared debris from overgrown lots in the constituency at a cost of $6,050.
For $26,710 a Subdivision Entrance Landscaping Programme was undertaken. Trees were planted at "strategic intersections in the constituency to improve the ambiance at the entrance to subdivisions," Mr Rolle said.
As part of the after-school programme, three payments of $800 were made to the Cousin McPhee Cathedral, and $1,000 was paid to Kizzy McKinney, Pamela Murphy and Vanessa Rolle.
A second session of the Entrepreneurial Creative Straw Vendor Programme was funded by $3,200.
Another $1,000 donation was made to the Prodigal Sons junkanoo group.
The sum of $23,420 was committed to improvements to the public park in Pride Estates by contractor Hubert Styles. This project is awaiting approval by the Ministry of Public Works.
A $1,000 donation was made to the Kingdom Warriors junkanoo group.
A second clean-up campaign was carried out at a cost of $20,010.
And $200 was donated to each of the following seven churches that participated in a Senior Citizens Christmas programme: Cousin McPhee Cathedral, Good Samaritan Church, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Southwest church of God, Independence Church of God, Chapel on the Hill and Bible Truth Ministries.
The sum of $1,500 was allocated to those who catered to senior citizens during the event.
A Ms McQueen was paid $1,000 for her instruction as part of a Straw Craft Certification Programme in collaboration with the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation that trained and certified 30 people. BAIC was paid $700.
The sum of $5,000 was spent on a special education programme for challenged students of Garden Hills. Students followed a special curriculum and received individual tuition during the six-month programme held from January to June 2009.
A further $2,128.50 was spent on the purchase of playground equipment for the Pride Estates Public Park. Donations of $2,000 each were made to the following public schools in the constituency: A F Adderley Jr High, S C McPherson Jr High, C W Sawyer Primary, and S C McPherson Jr High.
Materials and an instructor for a shell craft training programme were purchased for $4,000.
The sum of $19,128.50 was spent to allow 50 members of the constituency to participate in the Ministry of Agriculture's Backyard Farming Programme. $1,060 was allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture for subdivision drainage. Twenty subdivision signs were printed and erected in the constituency for $14,400.
Playground equipment for a public park in the constituency was purchased from Creative Kids for $12,061.50. The placement of three drainage wells in areas that experience serious flooding cost $18,000, paid to M and R Drilling and Well Construction.
Further junkanoo donations of $1,500 each were made to the Kingdom Warriors and the Prodigals Sons. Another clean-up campaign saw $2,320 paid to Old Har Investments.
Tommy Turnquest - FNM - Mount Moriah:
Minister Turnquest said he has committed contracts for the entire sum of $200,000 and essentially all the funds have been spent, or will be spent, on recreational parks in his constituency.
"I purchased materials and supplies (approximately $20,000) for three parks in yellow Elder Gardens; spending $80,000 plus on the big park in Stapledon Gardens and about $35,000 on the smaller parks on Sunderland Road and Spitfire Road. I spent $40,000 on bathroom facilities on the park in Millennium Gardens."
The rules governing how constituency allowance funds are spent do not demand that the contracts to provide the work, goods or services are put out to competitive tender, and Mr Turnquest noted that none of his contracts were.
"The parks in Yellow Elder were done by the prison work group as part of their community work. I provided the supplies and equipment to the prison and they had three quotes and sourced from the lowest quote. The big park in Stapledon Gardens is being done by Enviroscape Ltd. The park on Sunderland Road was developed by Cedrick Smith and the bathrooms on Millennium Park and the park on Spitfire road were constructed by Davis Renovations and Landscaping Company."
Brent Symonette - FNM - St Anne's:
The Deputy Prime Minister did not break down exactly how much of the $200,000 he had allocated to date or who was paid for the work, however he gave a brief description of what the money was used for.
Mr Symonette utilised the funds to construct walking tracks in two parks and provide benches for three parks.
He also undertook the redevelopment of the East End point, the waterfront area opposite the Winton Fort and the waterfront area on Eastern Road and Prince Charles, landscaping pathways, installing planters, a drain and park benches.
Mr Symonette noted that a considerable number of drainage wells were also dug or cleaned throughout the area using the allowance funds.
"All of the work was supervised and signed off on by the Ministry of Works in line with price guidelines which they had established. I am still working on lighting for two parks which might have to be covered by the allowance," he added.
Hubert Minnis - FNM - Killarney:
The MP said the allocation was used towards signage in the community, including "welcome signs" for the entrances of Southwest Ridge, Rockcrusher and the Grove West, and repairing signage to Lake Cunningham. Beautification efforts were also funded, plants and flowers purchased and landscaping carried out around the signs. However, some of these were stolen, the MP said. Other funds were used to install speed bumps in South Westridge and benches at the Rockcrusher basketball court.
January 22, 2010
01222010
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - part I
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part II
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part III
tribune242
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part II
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
HOW did the MPs spend $200,000 made available to each of them for constituency enhancement projects in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 budgets?
Having sought an accounting from all 40 MPs, 16 responded -- 15 FNMs and one PLP.
Here is part two of our report on what they say they spent the money on. See tomorrow's Tribune for part three:
Earl Deveaux - FNM - Marathon:
Mr Deveaux, Minister of the Environment, reported having committed $189,000 of the $200,000 allocation. He did not break down what was spent in each year, but listed the work and services purchased for the constituency as follows:
$15,000 for park benches, $10,000 to pave the entrance to RM Bailey Park, $14,000 for computers, $50,000 for a clean-up of the constituency, $40,000 towards the redevelopment of the RE Cooper and Florence Garden Parks, $40,000 for the CI Gibson High School park and $20,000 for a wall, swings and a basketball court at the Lou Adderley park.
Hubert Ingraham - FNM - North Abaco:
The Prime Minister allocated the entire $200,000 towards funding the construction of a public beach facility at the northern end of Treasure Cay beach.
The facilities include nine cabanas, a main building, restroom facilities, walking paths, parking, electrical, water and telephone connections to central supply and sporting facilities. Mr Ingraham noted that the balance of the funding is being provided by government. Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year.
Zhivargo Laing- FNM - Marco City:
Mr Laing, also Minister of State for Finance, gave a very detailed accounting of what was by far the most diverse range of projects and programmes any MP chose to fund or construct using his or her constituency allowance. In 2007/2008 this involved committing $41,042 to a "Constituency Schools Support Programme."
From this figure, $4,000 went to support the participation of the Jack Hayward Senior High in Junior Junkanoo and $4,000 to support Walter Parker Primary School's participation in Junior Junkanoo. $25,067 was spent on the purchase of computers for area schools. All three local primary schools in Marco City, except Walter Parker Primary, received four desktops, a laptop computer for the administration, a backup battery pack and a printer. Walter Parker did not receive computers because it had recently been donated a number of computers by a local civic group.
The funds also covered the purchase of one computer that was donated to an area church, Sunland Lutheran Church's community centre. Another $2,100 was donated to support the Grand Bahama High Schools attendance at the Hugh Campbell Tournament in March 2008. $4,675 went towards repairs to Walter Parker Primary School's bathroom and $1,200 was directed to assist The Technical and Vocational Department at Jack Hayward High School.
$2,683 was spent on tuition assistance for four to six young ladies to receive training in clerical business courses (typing and computers) for local training programme. A "Marco City Christmas Cleanup Campaign", which conducted clean up campaigns in Winchester Circle, Beaconsfield, Mayfield Park, utilised $20,200 of the allowance for the year and engaged some 15 young men during a six week cleanup period.
Another $14,700 was spent on contracting a coordinator and purchasing equipment necessary to begin establishing a discount card programme for elderly and disabled residents that could be used at various Grand Bahama stores. (Mr Laing noted that the programme is still waiting to be fully launched due to a delay in securing the participation of major food stores, but is proposed to begin in March 2010.)
The MP also donated a total of $14,700 from the allowance to community organisations and events: the Marco City Urban Renewal for Disabled Persons Luncheon, $1,500; the Zion Baptist Church Pantry Programme, $1,000; Freeport Seventh-Day Adventist Community Centre Project, $4,000; Pathfinders Organization, $1,200; Youth Football Programme, $1,500; Youth Basketball Tournament, $1,200; Freeport Seventh-Day Adventist Youth Club, $3,000; Legends Marching Band, $1,000; Reach Out Ministries, $300; Jack Hayward High School Literacy Programme and a donation to Junkanoo Group, $3,000; donation to Classic Dancers Junkanoo Group, infrastructure, $3,965; blowing out of storm drains in area, $1,200; air condition installation in Computer Centre in Constituency Office, $2,756.
$14,400 was allocated to summer youth programmes in the constituency. This went towards the cost of park wardens and summer camp coordinators, sporting activities, crafts and lunch for children in three camps on three parks for four weeks.
Through these projects Mr Laing utilised the $100,000 for the year.
Using the further $100,000 made available the following year - 2008/2009 - the Marco City Backyard Farming Programme was able to be established, among other projects.
$22,585.44 was allocated to assist 120 residents to establish backyard farms. Funds were spent on a coordinator, engaging three farmers to act as advisers to residents, four young Bahamians who assisted residents in ploughing and prepping their farms, purchased seeds, seedlings and soil. Money was also allocated towards assisting area schools with their farms. Under the Elderly and Disabled Persons Roof Repair Programme $28,010.20 was spent to repair the roofs of about 10 elderly people's homes which had been leaking since the hurricanes in 2004. All roofing contracts were approved by the Ministry of Public Works and all contractors were approved by Ministry of Public Works, Mr Laing noted.
$20,000 was spent on a Community Clean Up Campaign which engaged 10 young men over some four to six weeks. A School Assistance Programme saw $5,000 donated to the Walter Parker Primary School Silver Jubilee Celebrations; $3,050 towards the installation of a public address system for Freeport Primary and $1,500 for the Beacon School Junior Junkanoo Programme. Donations totalling $19,655 were made to the Classic Dancers Junkanoo Group ($3,000), the Knights of Columbus Marching Band ($5,055); the Marco City Urban Renewal for Purchase of four computers and printers ($2,000); the Grand Bahama Secondary School Sporting Association for the participation of Grand Bahama schools in the Hugh Campbell Tournament ($3,000).
$500 was given to the Grand Bahama Regatta Association; $500 to the No More Victims of Crime group; $1,000 to the Healing Hands Ministry, $3,000 Central Church of God Home for the Elderly; and $600 towards the participation of two Freeport Primary School students in a track and field event in the United States.
These efforts and donations utilised a total of $99,800.64 from the constituency allowance.
January 20, 2010
01202010
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - part I
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part III
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part IV
tribune242
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
HOW did the MPs spend $200,000 made available to each of them for constituency enhancement projects in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 budgets?
Having sought an accounting from all 40 MPs, 16 responded -- 15 FNMs and one PLP.
Here is part two of our report on what they say they spent the money on. See tomorrow's Tribune for part three:
Earl Deveaux - FNM - Marathon:
Mr Deveaux, Minister of the Environment, reported having committed $189,000 of the $200,000 allocation. He did not break down what was spent in each year, but listed the work and services purchased for the constituency as follows:
$15,000 for park benches, $10,000 to pave the entrance to RM Bailey Park, $14,000 for computers, $50,000 for a clean-up of the constituency, $40,000 towards the redevelopment of the RE Cooper and Florence Garden Parks, $40,000 for the CI Gibson High School park and $20,000 for a wall, swings and a basketball court at the Lou Adderley park.
Hubert Ingraham - FNM - North Abaco:
The Prime Minister allocated the entire $200,000 towards funding the construction of a public beach facility at the northern end of Treasure Cay beach.
The facilities include nine cabanas, a main building, restroom facilities, walking paths, parking, electrical, water and telephone connections to central supply and sporting facilities. Mr Ingraham noted that the balance of the funding is being provided by government. Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year.
Zhivargo Laing- FNM - Marco City:
Mr Laing, also Minister of State for Finance, gave a very detailed accounting of what was by far the most diverse range of projects and programmes any MP chose to fund or construct using his or her constituency allowance. In 2007/2008 this involved committing $41,042 to a "Constituency Schools Support Programme."
From this figure, $4,000 went to support the participation of the Jack Hayward Senior High in Junior Junkanoo and $4,000 to support Walter Parker Primary School's participation in Junior Junkanoo. $25,067 was spent on the purchase of computers for area schools. All three local primary schools in Marco City, except Walter Parker Primary, received four desktops, a laptop computer for the administration, a backup battery pack and a printer. Walter Parker did not receive computers because it had recently been donated a number of computers by a local civic group.
The funds also covered the purchase of one computer that was donated to an area church, Sunland Lutheran Church's community centre. Another $2,100 was donated to support the Grand Bahama High Schools attendance at the Hugh Campbell Tournament in March 2008. $4,675 went towards repairs to Walter Parker Primary School's bathroom and $1,200 was directed to assist The Technical and Vocational Department at Jack Hayward High School.
$2,683 was spent on tuition assistance for four to six young ladies to receive training in clerical business courses (typing and computers) for local training programme. A "Marco City Christmas Cleanup Campaign", which conducted clean up campaigns in Winchester Circle, Beaconsfield, Mayfield Park, utilised $20,200 of the allowance for the year and engaged some 15 young men during a six week cleanup period.
Another $14,700 was spent on contracting a coordinator and purchasing equipment necessary to begin establishing a discount card programme for elderly and disabled residents that could be used at various Grand Bahama stores. (Mr Laing noted that the programme is still waiting to be fully launched due to a delay in securing the participation of major food stores, but is proposed to begin in March 2010.)
The MP also donated a total of $14,700 from the allowance to community organisations and events: the Marco City Urban Renewal for Disabled Persons Luncheon, $1,500; the Zion Baptist Church Pantry Programme, $1,000; Freeport Seventh-Day Adventist Community Centre Project, $4,000; Pathfinders Organization, $1,200; Youth Football Programme, $1,500; Youth Basketball Tournament, $1,200; Freeport Seventh-Day Adventist Youth Club, $3,000; Legends Marching Band, $1,000; Reach Out Ministries, $300; Jack Hayward High School Literacy Programme and a donation to Junkanoo Group, $3,000; donation to Classic Dancers Junkanoo Group, infrastructure, $3,965; blowing out of storm drains in area, $1,200; air condition installation in Computer Centre in Constituency Office, $2,756.
$14,400 was allocated to summer youth programmes in the constituency. This went towards the cost of park wardens and summer camp coordinators, sporting activities, crafts and lunch for children in three camps on three parks for four weeks.
Through these projects Mr Laing utilised the $100,000 for the year.
Using the further $100,000 made available the following year - 2008/2009 - the Marco City Backyard Farming Programme was able to be established, among other projects.
$22,585.44 was allocated to assist 120 residents to establish backyard farms. Funds were spent on a coordinator, engaging three farmers to act as advisers to residents, four young Bahamians who assisted residents in ploughing and prepping their farms, purchased seeds, seedlings and soil. Money was also allocated towards assisting area schools with their farms. Under the Elderly and Disabled Persons Roof Repair Programme $28,010.20 was spent to repair the roofs of about 10 elderly people's homes which had been leaking since the hurricanes in 2004. All roofing contracts were approved by the Ministry of Public Works and all contractors were approved by Ministry of Public Works, Mr Laing noted.
$20,000 was spent on a Community Clean Up Campaign which engaged 10 young men over some four to six weeks. A School Assistance Programme saw $5,000 donated to the Walter Parker Primary School Silver Jubilee Celebrations; $3,050 towards the installation of a public address system for Freeport Primary and $1,500 for the Beacon School Junior Junkanoo Programme. Donations totalling $19,655 were made to the Classic Dancers Junkanoo Group ($3,000), the Knights of Columbus Marching Band ($5,055); the Marco City Urban Renewal for Purchase of four computers and printers ($2,000); the Grand Bahama Secondary School Sporting Association for the participation of Grand Bahama schools in the Hugh Campbell Tournament ($3,000).
$500 was given to the Grand Bahama Regatta Association; $500 to the No More Victims of Crime group; $1,000 to the Healing Hands Ministry, $3,000 Central Church of God Home for the Elderly; and $600 towards the participation of two Freeport Primary School students in a track and field event in the United States.
These efforts and donations utilised a total of $99,800.64 from the constituency allowance.
January 20, 2010
01202010
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - part I
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part III
How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part IV
tribune242
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