By Juan Mccartney ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ juan@nasguard.com:
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham last night apologized to the nation for failing to disclose his finances in accordance with the Public Disclosures Act for the past several years.
"This morning The Nassau Guardian's editorial called for me to apologize to the Bahamian people for my omission," Ingraham said at a rally last night. "I do so now. I offer no excuse. I blame no one for my not having done so. I'm sorry and I will correct this situation forthwith."
Ingraham's apology came as a result of his admission in a Guardian article published two days ago, in which he candidly admitted that he had failed to follow the disclosure.
"I said that I would do so as quickly as possible," said the prime minister. "I said that knowing that one of these disclosure statements has already been prepared for me and I have only to do a final check and sign and submit it. I regret that I have permitted my schedule to distract me from completing this obligation."
The Guardian has published several articles pointing out that outside of the electoral process, public disclosure has become a thing of the past.
Last week, Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants President Reece Chipman had called for greater public disclosure among elected and publicly appointed officials, and also suggested that certified accountants verify the veracity of disclosure statements.
Ingraham claimed his apology was issued in order to demonstrate the difference between the Free National Movement (FNM) and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).
The PM further claimed that the PLP took "neither responsibility nor blame for anything."
During last night's rally, the prime minister also alleged that the PLP has been consistently distorting reality and playing the 'blame game'.
"When under a competent and trustful FNM government, our economy was booming and we had the lowest rate of unemployment ever and the highest household incomes ever - they claimed it was because the U.S. economy was doing well," he said. "When we began experiencing a downturn in our economy two years ago, they claimed it had nothing to do with the recession and high unemployment in the U.S. economy; they claimed it was my fault."
Ingraham also said that in the past few weeks - much like the past two years - the PLP has told the people of Elizabeth that the country's economic woes were all his fault.
"They say we have a high level of unemployment, people's lights have been turned off, many mortgage payments are behind, times are hard for many and many people are hurting. And they say government revenue is down and borrowing is up," he said. "This is true; true for The Bahamas, true for America; true for Europe and true for the Caribbean. But according to them this is my fault and the FNM's fault. We caused the global economic tsunami that has affected all countries in our part of the world. Next thing they'll be blaming me for the weather. But, you notice that now as the world economy is showing signs of improving, I'm not getting the blame for the improvement."
The prime minister said that unlike the PLP, he deals in "facts and reality, not fiction and delusion."
"They claim we're fixing your roads because of the by-election," he said. "You know that road paving began long before we knew there was gonna be a by-election. In fact we are paving and repairing and upgrading roads all over New Providence, including in the following constituencies represented in Parliament by members of the opposition: Bain and Grants Town, Farm Road and Centreville, Fort Charlotte, Fox Hill, Golden Gates, St. Thomas More and St Cecilia. Ain't no by-elections being held in any of them, eh?"
Ingraham claimed the FNM always works in the interest of all people.
"That's why roads are being paved all over Bahamaland," he said.
Mocking the PLP's slogan for its candidate Ryan Pinder, Ingraham said, "This ain't no time for 'Trying Ryan'."
"This is no time for a rookie," he said. "These are hard times. These are difficult times. These are tough times. This is the time for a tested hand, a proven hand, a familiar hand, a trusted hand. This is the time for [FNM candidate] Dr. Duane Sands."
Ingraham said Sands - a heart surgeon - is needed in the House of Assembly.
"We need you to send Duane Sands to the House so he can help your FNM team to create jobs and business opportunities," he said. "We need Duane Sands to help us to pursue the strategies needed to combat crime here in Elizabeth and across the country. We need Duane Sands to help us create an affordable national health insurance program. Duane Sands will not only be a fine representative for Elizabeth, he will also be a key figure on an FNM team that is delivering for you."
The Elizabeth by-election takes place on Tuesday.
February 12, 2010
thenassauguardian
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 Public Disclosures Act bahamas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public Disclosures Act bahamas. Show all posts
Saturday, February 13, 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
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