The Tribune

Editor, The Tribune

The Gold Rush Administration, led by the Rt Hon Prime Minister, Perry Gladstone Christie, MP, PC (PLP-Farm Road), is, finally, getting its directions and priorities right. After initially fumbling the proverbial ball on any number of critical issues, the PLP government is forging ahead with doing the business of the people. Mind you, it is still too late in many cases but Rome, alas, was not built or reconstructed in one day.

As a long time supporter and advocate for the regulation and taxation of the webshop industry, I am elated that legislation has now been promulgated and passed in the House of Assembly to do just that. It is not yet enacted in to law as the same must be debated and passed in the Senate and then sent on to the Governor General for her signature. It must then be gazette before coming into force.

Some have opined that the passage of this vital and far reaching piece of legislation is a pay back to the nebulous and unidentified webshop operators in a very sinister and possibly defamatory way. In a democracy there is absolutely nothing wrong with self interest groups supporting a political party or lobbying it to enact favorable legislation once in governance. Where is the empirical evidence that any payments were made or demanded? Absolutely none.

The webshop industry will have to expand its employment base and monies will be poured into the national coffers. More could have been demanded but over the course of the next few years, once audited financial records are submitted to the Ministry of Finance, the taxation levels will, no doubt, be adjusted to higher levels.

The Minister of Tourism and his governmental colleagues did a masterful job on this long vexing issue and are to be congratulated. The defunct FNM was planning on doing the exact same thing and held lengthy discussions (some of which I attended) with the webshop operators. No less a person than the erstwhile interim Leader of the FNM publicly declared, on at least two separate occasions that he supported the regulation and taxation of this underground economic giant. Yet, flip flopping, as has become his signature style, he voted against passage of this legislation.

The recently promulgation of Stem Cell Regulations also bodes well for the medical and financial advancement of our wonderful country. It took far too long, in my view for these regulations to be drafted and promulgated but at least they are now in place and this industry can now move to the next level.

Again, some mischief makers have suggested that my good friend, Mr Peter Nygard, would have influenced this administration to reward him for his admitted financial backing during the electoral campaign in 2012. What is the big deal if more than one individual or medical facility will, collectively, benefit, along with the people of The Bahamas?

We have got to cease and desist with this petty political mudslinging and cry baby gyrations. It would be very interesting to learn who all would have contributed to all of the political groupings and/or individuals back in 2012 and even before. This is the one reason why campaign finance legislation or at the least an effective Freedom of Information Act is absolutely necessary.

In its collective wisdom and, at the insistence of many, inclusive of myself, the administration has pushed back the proposed date of the so called constitutional amendments. This is a wise and welcomed move as they were all doomed to failure and total rejection by a badly informed and educated Bahamian electorate.

With a better educational campaign and more public debate and input, the amendments may very well pass. I, however, will vote no, across the board, regardless for any number of legal; cultural and personal reasons. At a later stage will detail them.

And so, the Christie led administration is now finding its way forward. Various legislative amendments to laws, such as The Bail Act, have now been passed and should go a long way in combating the ever present scrouge of crime and the fear of crime.

We must also compliment the government and the Genting Group on the opening of the port in Bimini and the arrival of its first cruise ship sized vessel which is fully sanctioned by the USA and other international countries. The economic possibilities for Bimin and Grand Bahama have been greatly enhanced and local entrepreneurs must now seize the opportunities which are within their grasp.

I congratulate the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and his colleagues on a job well done. There is, however, still much more to be done to wipe away the tears from every eye and to deliver hope and help to more Bahamians. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE JR.

Nassau

September 20, 2014