By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
TWO weeks after the March 1 deadline, Public Disclosure Commission chairman Bishop Victor Cooper said officials are still waiting for some parliamentarians to complete their filings.
The chairman told The Tribune on March 2 that about ten percent of members of Parliament did not meet the March 1 deadline.
When contacted yesterday for an update, he said: “Basically, the count is the same and so we’re just waiting for the rest of them to complete their (filings).”
Asked the reason why these MPs still haven’t disclosed, he said: “Again, there are various excuses, I suspect, or reasons that they may have and so we just write and do our part of the job that they’re required to do in asking them to get it in.
“Their responsibility (is) to do it and it’s our responsibility to report to the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said his public disclosures would be filed on March 2 if the documents had not been turned over on the deadline.
Yesterday, Bishop Cooper confirmed Mr Davis did disclose, but did not specify which date this took place.
Asked if Mr Davis filed on the deadline, the chairman indicated: “He disclosed when he indicated to you that he would.”
Asked if Mr Davis filed on March 2, Bishop Cooper answered: “I don’t get into the specificity of that. We write to them and let them, we remind them ‘you gotta disclose’ and then if they haven’t, some people write for extensions. They have their reasons for that.
“Our responsibility is to write to the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition, advising them what is happening, and we’re in the process of doing that now.”
Bishop Cooper had previously indicated that 90 percent of parliamentarians had filed by the deadline.
Last year, Bishop Cooper reportedly told The Nassau Guardian that some first-time MPs were not aware that there was a legal requirement for them to file financial disclosures under the Public Disclosures Act.
The chairman was blunt when asked if he found it unacceptable this time around.
“It is unacceptable because people are expected to follow the rules and nobody’s above the rules,” he said yesterday.
Comments
stillwaters 1 year, 1 month ago
Yep....he couldn't be blunt while Brave had not yet disclosed, but now......he can be blunt.
Sickened 1 year, 1 month ago
Why so much secrecy around this? Whoever has not disclosed needs to be removed from any decision making until such time as they have disclosed. All late disclosures should also be investigated thoroughly in order to put their names above suspicion.
stillwaters 1 year, 1 month ago
It's the secrecy that births distrust..in quite a number of government issues. Why can't they just tell Bahamians the truth and disclose names when there's corruption.....stop shielding each other's crimes.
TalRussell 1 year, 1 month ago
I rise on behalf of a concerned popoulaces', --- To correct the Public Disclosure Commission Chairman, Comrade Bishop Victor Cooper --- Who incorrectly stated his misbelief that. --- "It is unacceptable because popoulaces' are expected to follow the rules and nobody’s above the rules” --- To the corrected version,.being that. --- "“It is unacceptable because ALL popoulaces' 'must follow the law' and 'nobody’s above the law.” --- Yes?
bahamianson 1 year, 1 month ago
Put them in jail. As soon as a civilian becomes an MP , he/she becomes a God breaking the law on a daily bases. Try calling the police on a party making noise 2 am in the morning with politicians in attendance. The policemen will hang up on you or tell you they don't know where the house is. This place is corrupt to the core. The best thing is to get a position in government, then you are above the law.
TalRussell 1 year, 1 month ago
Comrades, what you need to know is 'nothing prevents a 'citizen arrest. --- When making a 'citizen's arrest of a sitting House-elected MP, or a politically appointed crown member or red chamber senator. --- 'The arrested handcuffed individual' must be delivered to a policeman's without delay. --- Politically powerful individuals 'are not exempt from sitting in 'a courtroom prisoner box.--- Yes?
hrysippus 1 year, 1 month ago
hah hah hah /haiti here we come....
DWW 1 year, 1 month ago
if I had disclosed but then they don't call the names of those who did not - it then casts a cloud on my name because they did not state who did and who didn't. clouding all to protect a select 2 or 3. Name and shame should be the order of they day but hey, is the Bahamas a real place?
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