Posted By: Watching On: 1/30/2012

Title: Using Government Funds and paying bribes

During the eighties and nineties the PLP utilised more government funds and equipment for political campaigns than any time in recent Bahamian history. It was the PLP that used the one Radio Station for their sole use. During the years when they were in opposition and the UBP monopolised the radio, it was them the PLP who complained bitterly how wrong it was but soon after they assumed the government they continued to do what the UBP had done. In all the years they held the government, they never even considered freeing up the airwaves by allowing Bahamians of a different persuasion to own a Radio Station.
Just ask any PLP or any other person for that fact who used the Government's vehicles, passed out Government Funds as though it was their own, allowed workers to perform Party chores while being paid by our Civil Service and numerous other acts that should not have been undertaken.
Somebody mentioned the period when the Brazilians were employed here in the Bahamas while building the airport or the three or four big boxes they prefer to call an airport when there was a limit on the amount of Bahamians that could have been employed on that project. Perhaps the books on that fiasco should be re-opened if only just as a comparison with what is happening with our new airport today. It would also be a good thing if we could compare what was done with the opposition's last term with the present government's term, and just to start the ball rolling I will try and list what has been accomplished over the past five years as follows:
Initiated unemployment payments, Prescription payments by NI, Build the National Stadium, Initiate a major Road Project, Initiate major Utilities overhaul, Build a new Shipping Terminal, Initiate modernising of the City of Nassau, Build and open Public Schools, Construct Library at COB, Upgrade Traffic Lights throughout NP, Upgrade Fresh Water system throughout NP, Construct and open a National Craft Market,Initiate major upgrade on the Princess Margaret Hospital, Construct and renovate major improvements at the Rand Memorial in Freeport GB, Numerous other Government projects in GB, Commence construction on Airport and shipping port, and bridges in Abaco, Improve Fresh water project in Eleuthera, Construct mini Hospital in Inagua and numerous other projects in other Family Islands at cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Posted By: Erasmus folly On: 1/30/2012

Title: Truth

The PLP has been the worst party for the modern Bahamas. After they achieved Majority Rule, they should have been disbanded. Everything they did, since Majority Rule was achieved, has been to the enrichment of themselves and their henchman. Drug running, fast money and ignorance and a lack of work ethic are their lasting legacy in the Bahamas. Bahamians evolve now! We need a viable opposition, but the PLP simply aren't it. The FNM have been good stewards, but a democracy with only one party as a serious option doesn't last long. Hopefully, the DNA's entrance shakes up the process and forces our opposition parties to evolve into something serious, not the pack of jokers it currently is.

Posted By: GB Voter On: 1/30/2012

Title: Boy they slick

This sound like what the FNM did in Marco City and Eight Mile Rock last election.
Ask Senator Forbes Smith her role in all of it. She can tell you. The Discovery trip on election day and the money for voters card. The FNM really believe they slick..WOW!!!

Posted By: Rita On: 1/29/2012

Title: The lesser of two evils

Our elections really are about the lesser of two evils. The money these fellas spend on rallies, rum, t-shirts is astonishing. FNM and PLP are equally to blame. Our elections for the last 20 years were not on issues. Its one big party season with concerts, float parades and grille outs. Disgusting. No real issues are discussed only stupid stump speeches and one liners that appear to be the chant for the election period. Its truly sickening in this place.

Posted By: Concerned Bahamian On: 1/29/2012

Title: It takes one to know one

The FNM does and has been doing the same for years, Elizabeh Bye election was a prime example where they bought votes. PLP, FNM all the same. Vote them out!!!

Posted By: Danny On: 1/29/2012

Title: Really Mr. Banister

The difference here is Mr. Banister and the FNM are using tax payers money to buy votes. Ask Mr. Banister why large sums of money are need to run for political office. However, when you use the public purse i think something is wrong with that. Please, Mr. Banister do not use officers from the MOW and MOE to carry the money bag.

Posted By: generalcrazy On: 1/29/2012

Title: @ Broken Bahamas

Wow I actually agree with you on every single thing you said, but ofcourse they are facts so its hard for the FNM and PLP etc minions to deny, but ofcoursse they will still defend defend defend as thats all they CAN do knowing how both parties are just totally WUTLESS ... :-D

Posted By: Broken Bahamas On: 1/29/2012

Title: @ Bribery by another name

If you will take the plp $ and vote red, you are the fool!!!! Another 5 yrs of this?! You fool!!!

Posted By: Broken Bahamas On: 1/29/2012

Title: @ Take it

Couldn't agree with you more. Take their money and don't even think about voting! That's all they coming to us for; to get in with the big money. As someone once aptly put it as as they get in "it's friends, family, and lovers; screw everyone else!"

Posted By: Broken Bahamas On: 1/29/2012

Title: Nassau is a cesspit and I can't wait to leave

I'm so tired of these monkeys in Parliament doin nothing but acting like a bunch of dumb children in school. Stop wasting our time and money man!!!! Stop playing around!!! Y'all both do it; DNA will start doing it soon so why the hell is this something to bring up?! Bribes?! That's all you guys personally do all day is take them. You eat, come talk nonsense in HOA, take lunch, pebbly see a mistress, and look for "deals." Please. I never hear such foolishness about a BAHAMIAN being a goody two shoes and tattle taling on the person that tried to bribe them....get serious man! People in this dump are in the dumps! Loved ones being slaughtered, no jobs, homes being broken into everyday, children becoming dumber and ruder each day, lawless driving on the streets, bus drivers driving like maniacs, the streets as bumpy as a mountain; poor people cars being damaged by your roads, and you talkin about bribes when you should be debating a solution to the multitude of problems in this damn place!!!!!

Posted By: Capt. Butler Andros On: 1/28/2012

Title:

I agree.

Posted By: Sheilahg On: 1/28/2012

Title:

Both the FNM and PLP buy votes - so where's th breaking newshere?

Posted By: The original Ken On: 1/28/2012

Title: If you know you're guilty

If you know you're doing somethng wrong the prudent and absolutely criminal thing to dois accuse your opponent of doin it before he has a chance to do it to you!!! Thisis the kind of criminal thinking which pervades our political arena.

Posted By: oledirtybastid On: 1/27/2012

Title: @ Alpheus

Most Bahamian youth today are no good lying stealing rude individuals with no respect for authority, themselves, or anyone else.

Posted By: Carmichael On: 1/27/2012

Title: Desmond Bannister

Desmond Bannister needs to sit his tired behind down. He knows JUST why he isnt running in Carmichael. He knows that 'we aint on his run,' this man was virtually non-existant for the past 5yrs. he held one lil funday on the park a yr or two ago and that was it. Several times I personally have tried to contact him and it was like trying to reach Barak Obama....I have yet to get a call back or answer to my emails. Other members of my area have likwise voiced concern about the lack of availabilty on his behalf. How DARE he not have time for his constituents....US....the people that put his behind there!!!! I hope the people of Andros roll him right out!!!!! These persons is forget that we were the ones who they had to come BEGGING to put there behinds where they are!

Posted By: TAKE it!!! On: 1/27/2012

Title: Common SEnse!!!

WHat they need to do is come and knock on my door! I will GALDLY take their money and STILL do as I please. WHY not take their money cuz after election you wont be able to get nothing, not even a call out of them!!!! I'll dig their eye out their head this election season cuz pots-election it's a 5yr wait to see any of them again.

Posted By: Alpheus On: 1/27/2012

Title: @ Ole Hen Respect is earned

Respect is a two way street. Age has nothing to do with common sense or wisdom. There many elderly people who have held some strange views. So don't get it twisted. Do unto others as you wold have them do unto you. Voicing and opinion is not disrespectful and the idea that age demands respect is total rubbish. So feel as morally superior as you want. The fact remains that some of you ole hens won't move out of the way and remove the albatross that you've placed around the neck of this country's youth. Debt, illegal immigration, mix up families where the kids don't know who they Pa or Ma is. These things didn't start with us the youth you know. Older Bahamians love to play blameless is in our nation's ills. You are just as much or even more to blame for the problems that we face in this country. So don't get offended. Like V says, "you need only look in the mirror and see who is responsible." Respect is earned my friend, its not a right because of age.

Posted By: Bribery...by any other name. On: 1/27/2012

Title: West end...

PLP in West End....$100 bill folded betwen the PLP t shirts that were given out...Sign up for assistance in EMR just before the election and people were given $100 or $200 dollars..When questioned the MP said that since when has it been wrong to give monetary help to the constituents!!
I ga take the money and vote RED...ya fool...

Posted By: Humorous On: 1/27/2012

Title: Buying votes

At one time or the other all political parties have been accused of buying votes, but if someone can prove it then that is a different matter. Mr. Bannister has said that he has proof that certain person paid money for people's vote and most likely it will be known before the contest is finished.

Posted By: Ol Hen On: 1/27/2012

Title: Respect

Some young people today do not respect themselves or anybody else, that is a major problem in this country... Age should be respected not mocked... hope you are as fortunate as this ol"hen!!!

Posted By: Vote As you Please On: 1/27/2012

Title: Take The Money

It is about time that these politicians start paying for the voters time. We always get bad end of the stick.
Bribery is a crime...take the money and vote as you please.
Wish it had been me.
Why would I tell another politician

Posted By: Paul On: 1/27/2012

Title: Really now?

Is this really the Top Story? How long has thing been happening in the country? Get it together Tribune!!

Posted By: Alpheus On: 1/27/2012

Title: Ole Hens

Yall old hens always bringing up some old stories. I wasn't born when Pindling was around so sorry your crap doesn't change my mind one way or the other. What does matter is what is happening in this country now. The older community keeps going on about Pindling this and that or who did what. The man is dead long time and he still that much of a bother to yall. For crying out loud please move on. No one will get my vote this go round. Both major parties are full of clowns. We better start living in the now and stop this crap about what happened in elections years ago. If there is cheating today deal with it today. Stop talking about the sour grapes you had over elections lost years before many of us who will be voting in this election were around to witness.

Posted By: James On: 1/27/2012

Title: Reminder for Tal

Tal says "This is yet another pre election planted story to distract from a PM that has turned his back on his own people – including denying qualified Bahamians jobs in favor of foreigners.". Let me remind her of what the PLP did: "the 1990 demonstration to protest the employment of common labourers — truck drivers for example — from Brazil on government’s $55 million Nassau International Airport expansion was particularly interesting. The ratio of foreigners to Bahamians was 70 per cent on that construction site with government having to pay a large penalty if the number of Bahamians went over the agreed 139 or 30 per cent of the total work force. This prompted the carrying of placards that read: “It’s Better in the Bahamas for Brazilians!”
At one point during the contract there were more than 340 Brazilians at the construction site, bringing the Brazilian count to 71 per cent compared to the 139 Bahamians that the company had agreed to use during this period.
The Pindling government had agreed that for every five Bahamians hired by the Brazilian company over the agreed 139 Bahamian workers, the government would have to pay $88,000 or $17,000 for each worker.
In the House on April 30, 1990, then Opposition Leader Hubert Ingraham revealed that the Pindling government had also agreed to pay all of the Brazilian company’s Customs and stamp duties, work permit fees for their workers, and building fees on mechanical and electrical permits. In addition government was to pay all public utility fees — connections and the like — except for the actual electrical consumption.
The FNM found it preposterous that government would be penalised if more than 139 Bahamians were hired at the airport. “It is incredible that the Government has agreed to pay extra monies for Bahamians to work in their own country,” said the FNM." http://bahamaspress.com/2011/02/28/brensil-rolle-now-misleads-parliament/
At one point during the contract there were more than 340 Brazilians at the construction site, bringing the Brazilian count to 71 per cent compared to the 139 Bahamians that the company had agreed to use during this period.
The Pindling government had agreed that for every five Bahamians hired by the Brazilian company over the agreed 139 Bahamian workers, the government would have to pay $88,000 or $17,000 for each worker.
In the House on April 30, 1990, then Opposition Leader Hubert Ingraham revealed that the Pindling government had also agreed to pay all of the Brazilian company’s Customs and stamp duties, work permit fees for their workers, and building fees on mechanical and electrical permits. In addition government was to pay all public utility fees — connections and the like — except for the actual electrical consumption.
The FNM found it preposterous that government would be penalised if more than 139 Bahamians were hired at the airport. “It is incredible that the Government has agreed to pay extra monies for Bahamians to work in their own country,” said the FNM." http://bahamaspress.com/2011/02/28/brensil-rolle-now-misleads-parliament/" />

Posted By: Ehlers On: 1/27/2012

Title: Silly season begins

You can always tell when its political season in the Bahamas. Each side continues to play this game with the Bahamian people. Mr. Bannister really needs to be careful with this because both sides are known for buying votes. I'm really turned off from voting. Just the standards of people is appalling to me. Mr. Bannister has really changed since he's entered parliament. I knew him before he entered the halls and he was a fair guy with some sense. But I honestly can't take him or many of the other politicians seriously and I mean on both sides of the aisle. They seem to lose their sense and decency for 5 years of power. Bannister knows the claims won't hold up without evidence and knows that the statements would have to be withdrawn. He used his presence in parliament to gain cheap political points and gain media attention prior to the election. I'm sick of the FNM and the PLP playing these stupid games and if Bran had more sense he would have done it right and put up a good fight. With the jokers he has in tow, this election is bound to be a spectacle. I can hear it now Theo Chchomagolus 3 votes, 3 votes. Polling division number 1, no votes no votes. I can't wait to sit back and have a few beers and laugh at these morons scrap over roughly 4,000 votes each and then form a lack luster government, as usual.

Posted By: Tal Russell On: 1/27/2012

Title:

Look both the PLP have paid to bribe voters - so let's not play tootsie with this one. Besides the FNM, with or without bribes, is already riddled with corruption - how else can they excuse away such bad and twisted decisions on crime, immigration and spending the people’s money?
This is yet another pre election planted story to distract from a PM that has turned his back on his own people – including denying qualified Bahamians jobs in favor of foreigners.
Since we're on the subject of bribes? Wow! What a generous to Bahamians this PM has turned out to be - or is he kind to his own?
When it's time to help the locals he divvy up a mere $530,000 between 72 recipients - my bet with strong FNM - yet he as the people's PM and minister of finance took the peoples $11 million savings from their National Insurance account and he divvy it directly to the bank account of his foreign friends to make bloody Beer.
No, Mr. PM this General Election is not going to be about some fantasy 2.8 growth projection but by one hard fought in your darn face one at that - fought in you're darn face one - and it will be all about how you for 15 long years have turned your backs on your own Bahamian people.
Mr. PM isn't it a bit late into your newest five year term out of 15 to expect Bahamians to believe that you every really cared a darn hoots about helping Bahamians to find family sustaining paying jobs or to help fledgling Bahamian
Entrepreneur, the young or old, to have any hope in hell of getting their dreams off the ground?
Mr. PM the version you gave to the media that lead up to the sudden resignation of Brent is a bold face lie. How long do you think you can stop the truth from coming out pertaining to the tongue lashing reminder that Carl Bethel gave to Brent – that he had better not ever forget from whence he came to rise to Deputy Prime Minister?

Posted By: Citizen for change On: 1/27/2012

Title: Put up or shut up!

Did Mr. Bannister inform the Attorney General and theCommissioner of Police? These allegations are not a joke for political points, it is serious. If he is unable to provide proof , he should be disciplined and if he has information otherwise, he should be questioned and charged to produce it.

Posted By: A wise person On: 1/27/2012

Title: Its a Bahamain ting

Why would Mr. Bannister waste the Bahamain tax payers time bringing up old news this is something that came around from the ole days so who could change that the very essence of our society is politicised and the government dem like K. B says have usually given jobs that run slack , because they are rewards for voters ,and are therefore the way the cookie have crumbled for decades.

Posted By: E. Green On: 1/27/2012

Title: Wake up!!

Well, this has been going on since I was a little girl.....I remember the votes being bought by all sort of means.... money, jobs, new cutlass, sack of flour.. rum.....today the stakes are higher, so let's not pretend this is something new, if it is true, both sides are guilty of this in some way...it's a game, who has the most money wins the election!!all this talk about people and love of country is hogwash!!!
It's what "I" can get out of it.... period.... just look around you.. go over the hill..
the filth is embarrassing...broken down homes, old cars parked nillywilly....shacks all over the place...broken water pumps...puddles around such places, even on east Bay Street near Malcolm Park... it is shameful....Nassau is FILTHY!! It needs a good cleaning in more ways than one!!

Posted By: Real Person On: 1/27/2012

Title: Where are the real bribes

I believe the real bribes are those that are paid to the big boys in return for campaign financing. Im sure they dont consider it a bribe but the activity is just as unethical, but thats life....thats how it is sometimes....money talks and money buys favor....In truth i dont think you can change that. If it offends the laws then we can call it criminal...but inevitably the burden of proof in such instances is high and therefore an accuser should provide evidence ....if said outside of such priviledged hallow grounds ...the accusation is tantamount to defamation and really would be considered frivilous and vexatious....now if that is how a court of law would interpet such accusations in the public arena...then why should we as voters read anything more into it than a frivilous and vexatious claim....in other words they just the claims of an angry person...I wonder why the Honorable gentleman may be angry...perhaps because people saying stuff to defame him...which would explain why we have little substance in Bahamian Politics .....all this mud slinging and off all places in the House where they really should be debating matters affecting people.....but its election time so i guess we can forget anything remotely positively affecting the future of this country being tabled in the House....They have offically mentally signed of, puched out , put their blinders on, TGIF'd the Bahamian people.....smh....vote them all out one time.....

Posted By: No Bribes or favor On: 1/27/2012

Title: offered or taken

Whether PLP or FNM, Whether Money, Jobs or contracts are promised,
BOTH parties do this and worse!
By hook or by Crook at election time Bahamians by the thousands sell their souls for baubles and trinkets, offered by the political machines of corruption.

Posted By: iuua av On: 1/27/2012

Title: What now?

yeah Tal Russell....what you ga say now?! ya party full of losers who undoublty would never win an election fair and square! come make this money and post some foolishness here bout ya beloved PLP. pfft!

Posted By: Michael J. Brown On: 1/27/2012

Title: Money for votes

I am surprised that Minister Bannister would even waste Parliaments time with such allegations.The Bahamian political has always been corrupt and both parties engage in underhanded acts. Whether it is public works for selected areas or, contracts for cronies, or jobs before elections, all are corrupt.Corruption forms the bedrock of Bahamian society and a threat to democracy. But, it will never go away because we don't see anything wrong with it!

Posted By: TK On: 1/27/2012

Title:

Some old tricks are hard to give up from the stinking wind. I also suspect they pay a bitter woman to post their propaganda lies here. Let me tell you something, you ain't fooling nobody!