The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard yesterday questioned the decision to appoint Sea Breeze MP Hope Strachan as minister of financial services.

Mr Pintard said given the difficulties the sector faces after having experienced downsizing and the lay-offs of numerous employees recently, he would have expected the ministry to be put under the profile of a minister who currently deals with economic issues.

“I know, having worked with Hope Strachan in the Senate, that she’s a very committed Bahamian,” he said. “What expertise she has I am uncertain of, but I do believe that she’s a very committed person.

“Given the financial state of the country at this time, however, I would have thought that the prime minister would have looked at one of the sitting Cabinet ministers presently managing one area of the portfolio and seek to have that minister work in that area.

“In the Cabinet, you have no less than (four) ministers focused on economic development and financial matters: the prime minister; Michael Halkitis, who is the minister of state for finance; Khaalis Rolle, whose focus is on investments; and the foreign affairs minister who increasingly in his pronouncements seems to be focused on establishing economic opportunities.

“Given the state of the economy and PLP being unable to produce what they said they would, Khaalis Rolle could have given attention to investments and address issues facing the financial services sector, for instance.”

As for the appointment of Mount Mariah MP Arnold Forbes to minister of state for works and development, Mr Pintard said he hopes Mr Forbes will show the courage necessary to engage in actions that are entirely legal and ethical.

“With respect to promotion to the Ministry of Works, I certainly believe that portfolio is challenging enough to warrant a second senior person,” he said. “I thought a parliamentary secretary (PS) would’ve sufficed and thought a PS would be promoted, so it remains to be seen what purpose it was appointing a state minister for works.”

Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells held the post of parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works before he was fired last year for signing a $600m letter of intent with a waste-to-energy company reportedly without government approval.

“But given decisions by the current minister, I’m concerned about what impact another senior person would have on the ministry. For example, the Ministry of Works, with full knowledge that three judicial reviews are under way with regard to Simms Point, prohibiting further developments by the owner, the minister has proceeded to issue permits and work is now ongoing. It is my hope that the new minister of state would have the courage of conviction to abide by the law and to not permit himself to carry out acts that are either unethical or illegal.”

Mr Pinder also reiterated the FNM’s disappointment in Elizabeth MP Ryan Pinder for his decision to resign as minister of financial services.

“We, like many Bahamians, remain disappointed in the resignation of Mr Pinder who went through two gruelling elections in order to secure his place in Parliament to represent the Bahamian people and to indicate he was willing to serve at the highest level to ensure the development of the country.

“It is rather curious that someone who went through those gruelling elections and sought to sit around the table where he could have influence would, midway in a five-year term, leave the Cabinet of the Bahamas. Clearly it shows that his personal interests trumps the interests of the Bahamian people.”