By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
A RESOLUTION for the National Insurance Board to purchase the Rodney A. Bain Building was met with considerable opposition by FNM MPs in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Introducing the petition to acquire the structure on the corner of Parliament and Shirley Streets, State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis said the government was seeking approval on a “price to be mutually agreed” between officials at NIB and the Christie administration. When extensive renovations to the building are completed, the judiciary is expected to have full use of the building which will house both a Family Court and a Drug Court where young offenders will be tried for small offences.
However, with no mention during House proceedings of how much taxpayer dollars are to be earmarked for the building’s purchase and then overhaul, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant said the government could not expect for the Opposition to support approval of a “blank cheque”.
“The government,” Mr Grant said, “has brought a questionable resolution to this House. It is unfair for the government to ask members to approve this resolution. I smell a rat. NIB is being used as the government’s piggy bank, another slush fund.”
He questioned whether the Rodney Bain building had been adequately appraised and inspected before the approval was brought to Parliament.
Mr Grant further reminded the government of what he claimed to be its long track record of mismanaging NIB funds to acquire abandoned buildings throughout New Providence. These include a building purchased to expand the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport, which Mr Grant said has been vandalized and robbed of toilets and face basins, the old City Market building on Market Street and the J&L Building on Blake Road.
However, revamping the building according to Minister of Legal Affairs Damian Gomez will allow the Attorney General’s office to further advance the work of the Bahamas’ judicial system which has been described as slow and inefficient.
“We had projected,” he said, “that we would be creating a number of criminal courts and that the start date for that would be September. Unfortunately the practicality of ascertaining available space and making that space ready for court proceedings meant some delay.”
In addition, the government has already advertised for the post of four public defenders for those in need of representation, but cannot afford it. A needs assessment, along with the help of two Canadian consultants, is also expected, Mr Gomez said.
The Rodney A Bain Building once served as the Registrar General’s office and housed the Coroner’s and Magistrate’s courts.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 2 months ago
SO how does this work? Sell it to NIB, then rent if from NIB to use as courts?
The_Oracle 10 years, 2 months ago
yep, but arrears on rent will commence immediately. Revenue from the sale becomes slushy.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 2 months ago
I don't understand how they have the power to invest our pension money in so much real estate after the mortgage collapse just 5yrs ago...that we still haven't climbed out of it. And so much crumbling real estate at that...
Islandgirl 10 years, 2 months ago
And yet they continue to increase the amount one has to pay and delay the age at which one should be paid. Why can't I have the option of proving that I am placing an amount of money equivalent to that required by NIB in a private pension fund so that when I need MY money, or I am ready to retire I can have MY money, or when I die, my children can get ALL MY MONEY? Stop wasting our money man!
hj 10 years, 2 months ago
The great financial minds of our government found new ways to stimulate the economy. Buy run down buildings
realfreethinker 10 years, 2 months ago
I think I have seen it all with this crew we are SCREWED ROYALLY . A blank check with THIS CREW. WE in deep shit
sheeprunner12 10 years, 2 months ago
Well at least thats one less downtown building for vagrants to live in
TheMadHatter 10 years, 2 months ago
The DNA ran a candidate for every single seat in the House. They did not get ONE seat. They only got 8% of the vote. The people LOVE the FNM & PLP.
Why couldn't they get even ONE seat. Are people that pleased with the way the country has been running the past 40 years? 40 years and only 3 prime ministers? 40/5=8 We should/could have had 8 PMs - yet only 3 - that's less than a 50% batting average for democracy.
The people are getting exactly what they asked for. There is no problem here. This is not news. Everyone knew this when they marked their "X" for the same clowns that have been in power the past 40 years - whether FNM or PLP.
Democracy works. The proof is right here in this article. The people ASKED for money to be wasted - and so they are getting it.
BUY the building ???? Govt never heard of a thing called a LEASE ? Can't they just lease it for 5 years with first option to extend another 5 after the first 3 years? Geesh. To quote my favorite tv commercial - "what I payin all you fellas for when I have to come up with all the good ideas ?? What wrong with ya'll !!!!!"
TheMadHatter
sheeprunner12 10 years, 2 months ago
Thats why we need Constitutional Reform
The DNA got 8% of the votes. They should get 8% of the seats.
The Public Accounts Committee should be an independent body .... with an Ombudsman
All Ministers should be made to account before Parliament at the end of each fiscal year - not just stand up and talk BS during the Budget Debate...... a standing Commission presided over by COA Justice, Auditor General, Central Bank and a team of forensic accountants from the private sector.
Can you see how shallow this present Bahamian democratic system is???????????
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID