The Tribune

By TANEKA THOMPSON

Tribune News Editor

tmthompson@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis last night called on Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson to do her job and prosecute those members of Parliament who have not disclosed their assets to the Public Disclosure Commission.

On Monday, The Tribune revealed that at least ten MPs, by their own admission, had not filed their annual disclosures by March 1 as required by law. Yesterday, three more MPs admitted they had missed the deadline.

Two FNM MPs, Richard Lightbourn and Andre Rollins, last week revealed to The Tribune that they had not yet filed, however Dr Rollins promised the matter would be dealt with this week, while Mr Lightbourn said it was “being handled.”

“It is rumoured that the attorney general is hoping to be appointed as the chief justice,” Dr Minnis said last night. “Show what you are worth. Do your job. Prosecute those MPs who have not yet disclosed their assets to the Public (Disclosure) Commission. No member of Parliament is above the law. We want one set of laws for all of the Bahamas.”

His comments came at the Golden Gates candidate launch for Michael Foulkes at the Sybil Strachan Primary School.

If elected as the next government, Dr Minnis also said the FNM would introduce the “most aggressive anti-corruption changes ever made in our Bahamas.”

He pledged to appoint an anti-corruption task force within 90 days of coming into office. This task force will assess the public service, review anti-corruption laws and make recommendations, he said.

Dr Minnis also promised to implement an anti-corruption unit to report to an independent director of public prosecutions, with no oversight by the attorney general or political interference.

“We will implement a code of conduct for senior public officials and parliamentarians with sanctions for breaches.

We will make the Public Disclosure Commission independent and update their legislation and powers. Politicians must disclose and obey the law like everyone else.”

He also said, under the FNM, the auditor general will be given the power to report fraudulent activity to the appropriate authorities like the police and the independent director of public prosecution.

“We will make laws to protect whistle blowers in corruption matters,” Dr Minnis added.

He also advocated for the removal of value added tax (VAT) from breadbasket items, healthcare, education and utilities.

Speaking to a crowd of supporters, Dr Minnis also predicted that the constituency would vote FNM in the next election, telling those gathered that current area MP Shane Gibson “is gone.”

“We gon’ vote that baldhead out of town,” Dr Minnis told the crowd, referring to the Bob Marley song “Crazy Baldhead”.

He also urged FNMs to seize the opportunity the party has to get rid of “PLP dishonesty and crookedness.”

“We in the FNM will put an end to the corrupt practices of giving contracts only to our political friends,” Dr Minnis said. “If you are Bahamian and qualified you will have an opportunity. It’s the people’s time.”

After listing various scandals that have plagued the Christie administration, Dr Minnis urged the FNM to move forward together to unseat the Progressive Liberal Party.

“FNMs we cannot lose sight of the urgency of this moment. We cannot lose focus on the real issues we face day in and day out.

“And FNMs, I am still convinced that, if we speak with one voice, if we all move with one purpose and if we follow one vision, no one can defeat us.”