The Tribune

IN GOING through some of our old files, we have come across a statement in the House of Assembly revealing that the then PLP government had allowed international fashion designer Peter Nygard thousands of dollars in tax exemptions on imported goods, presumably to build his Lyford Cay home.

Mr Ingraham, who by then was prime minister, told the House that the exemptions came after Mr Nygard had contributed $45,000 to the PLP.

Also, said Mr Ingraham, Mr Nygard had written a letter to the PLP around the time of one of the elections complaining that he had “done so much for you all and you have taken a lot of time to give me what you promised me”.

“I will do anything in my power to make sure you all win, but I have already given you all $45,000 you know, don‘t forget.”

Prime Minister Ingraham then commented to House members: “This is a white man, the same kind of people the leader of the PLP say black people should boycott.”

The “leader” referred to here was not Mr Christie, but rather the late Sir Lynden Pindling, who by then was sitting on the Opposition bench after losing the 1992 election to Mr Ingraham. The reference was to a remark Sir Lynden had made in a speech at the 38th PLP convention.

And so the indebtedness of the PLP to Mr Nygard obviously goes back a very long time and was the subject of a House debate during the early years of the first Ingraham administration.

As we were writing this and wondering why the offices of Elcott Coleby, deputy director of Bahamas Information Services, were used to send the press release about new evidence from Peter Nygard’s lawyers at public expense, we received an article about the type of prime minister we wish we could have in The Bahamas at this very moment.

The article was about Tanzania’s new president, John Magufuli, who was sworn into office on November 5, 2015 — only four months ago — and what he has accomplished in less than a month.

The comment in the article said that Mr Magufuli has shown a clear commitment to “walk the talk, but not to talk and talk and talk and talk, more like we do here.” This remark could have been made about The Bahamas, especially about this PLP government, which is noted for broken promises.

Remember Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis’ statement that if elected the PLP government would create 10,000 jobs within its first year? Since then — starting with the Baha Mar tragedy — there have been nothing but layoffs. Even on today’s front page our readers will see the headline: “30 jobs lost in Atlantis shake-up.”

It was this very loss of jobs that cost the PLP the election in 1992 after ruling for 25 years.

In an interview shortly after his defeat in 1992, Sir Lynden had to ruefully admit that his party had lost touch with the people. He said he did not realise that the economic conditions were such that it would cost him an election.

But to get back to Tanzania and its new prime minister — in Tanzania they call it the “Rwandanisation of Tanzania”. And here is his list of accomplishments.

• Soon after his election, Magufuli declared there would be no celebration of Independence Day on December 9 because it would be “shameful” to spend huge sums of money on the celebrations when people were dying of cholera. Instead, the day has been set aside as a national day of cleanliness, and the money will go toward street-cleaning services. He has said everybody should pick up their tools and clean their backyards.

• After his first official visit to the Muhimbili Hospital, and seeing the horrible state it was in, he ordered over 200 million shillings marked for “parliament parties” be used to pay for beds for people lying on the floor and sharing beds.

A few days later, 300 beds were delivered. He dismissed the governing board and got a new team in place, and within days the broken MRI was fixed. He also pared down his inauguration party from $100,000 to $7,000 and sent the extra money to the hospital.

• Three days into his term, Magufuli announced a ban on all foreign travel by government officials. They have been instructed to instead make regular visits to rural areas to learn and help solve problems facing everyday Tanzanians. All tasks that required officials to travel abroad would instead be done by high commissioners and ambassadors who are already in place. (Our Minister of Foreign Affairs should take note).

• He has restricted all first – and business class travel to government officials, except the president, vice¬president and prime minister.

• There will be no more workshops and seminars in expensive hotels when there are so many ministry board rooms available.

• He suspended the Tanzania Revenue Authority’s chief and other officials pending investigations after a visit by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to the port of Dar es Salaam found 350 containers listed in its books were missing.

•. When he had to travel 600km to Dodoma, from Dar, to officially open parliament last week, he didn’t order a private jet – instead, he chose to drive.

• At the National Assembly in Dodoma last week, he clearly sent out the message that it will not be business as usual under his leadership.

• He promised to cut public spending, fight corruption and enhance accountability in public service. He said it is time for Tanzanians to walk the talk.

• Magufuli reportedly told parliamentary leaders that the people of Tanzania want him to solve their problems and not make speeches.

What a refreshing story. If only it could shame our leaders into self reform, it would give this country some hope.