By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Prime Minister yesterday promised the private sector there was “a new sheriff in town”, as he recalled how his business ventures had twice been impacted by Bahamian government corruption.
Acknowledging that corrupt practices has cost the Bahamas “hundreds of millions or more” over the decades, Dr Hubert Minnis pledged that “times have changed” as he sought to reassure businessmen they would not lose their livelihoods and profits due to graft.
Addressing the opening of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) fourth National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce, Dr Minnis said investors should not have the cost of doing business increased because government officials were seeking kickbacks in return for issuing licenses and permits.
“Times have changed. A new sheriff is in town,” the Prime Minister said, reiterating the Free National Movement’s (FNM) pledge to stamp out public sector corruption.
Dr Minnis recalled two occasions when he encountered corruption under the Pindling administration. One occurred in 1989, when he attempted to establish his own medical practice but was denied a construction permit on the grounds that it was not in a commercial area - although the buildings on both sides were also medical facilities.
“The excuse was that Centreville was initially a residential area, and had not been re-zoned,” he said. “I was subsequently informed that if I wanted to receive my permit and proceed with construction, I only had to do the right thing. I inquired as to what was the right thing, and the response was I should know.”
Dr Minnis explained how his friend and now-deceased former Police Commissioner, B. K Bonaby, had offered to help him expose the individuals from the Ministry of Works and Town Planning who were attempting to extort him. He decided against doing so at the last minute over fears of victimisation.
“Two days later the individuals came to me and asked if I had made up my mind yet,” the Prime Minister recounted. “I said to them that you can inform your boss that I am younger than him; hopefully I will out live him and, when he dies, I will construct my building. Soon after, they gave me my permit and I constructed my building.”
Dr Minnis recalled another experience in the 1988, when he and four partners had each invested $50,000 in a business venture. “They were told by a then-minister in government that he wanted 10 per cent of our business,” the Prime Minister said.
“My partners came back to me, and said to me that we must offer the minister in the government 10 per cent of our business. I said to them: ‘I don’t have problem if he is paying for the 10 per cent’. They told me he was not paying; that we had to give him 10 per cent in order to obtain our license.
“I told my partners that if they wanted to proceed they could, but I could not proceed on those conditions and we never got the business started. The whole process collapsed.”
Dr Minnis added: “There are many examples like that where businesses in our economy could have grown but, because of corrupt practices, businesses leave our country. That must stop.
“The policy that we have today of transferring corrupt or dishonest individuals to one agency or department to another will stop. Be assured that the only transfer they will receive is from that agency to Fox Hill.”
Mr Minnis told those present that the Government will ensure the Bahamas’ investment incentive regime is more transparent and easily accessible to Bahamian entrepreneurs.
“We will introduce investment incentives for new and existing Bahamian businesses, offering products and services related to key segments of the Bahamian economy such as renewable energy, cultural industries, export sectors, agricultural and fisheries sectors, as well as the manufacturing of authentic Bahamian souvenirs,” said Dr Minnis.
The Government is also planning to focus on improvements in three areas to enhance the Bahamas’ ‘ease of business ranking’, which is currently 121st out of 190 countries. The targeted areas are Business License processing; Immigration permits; and investment approvals.
Comments
John 6 years, 10 months ago
It is difficult enough to do business in this country and when there is a hand out around every corner you turn, many businesses end up going under before they even get up and running. As they say in Economics, "Bad money chases away good money." And in the past there have been elected officials that have passed laws they themselves didn't intend to keep. So mr. Minnis, keep your hands clean and make sure, "It's the people's time, at least for the next five years!" Empower your own people.
BahamasForBahamians 6 years, 10 months ago
Minnis' anti corruption speeches had definitely resonated on the campaign trail and during his first week in office.
Speeches are now ineffective Hubert. The Bahamian people have grown tired of long drawn out speeches many years ago.
If this PM is not prepared to act, and act on the many ambitions he has sold the Bahamian people: he should be prepared to return to private life at the next general election.
birdiestrachan 6 years, 10 months ago
roc with doc will do well to tell the Bahamian people when he will take VAT off electricity water and medical expenses. and the Bains town tax free zones. sell Bah Mar and the list goes on I do not believe any thing doc says he makes up stuff as he goes on and then pretends as if he never said them.
DillyTree 6 years, 10 months ago
Why is Dr. Minnis unwilling to name these people -- even if it is years later? That is part of the problem, as it's the silence and the nod and wink that keeps the corruption going, as no one is willing to name names and expose these corrupt people. His silence only protects the corrupt. If he truly means what he says, he must be the first to speak out and lead by example.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 10 months ago
I agree ........ If you have the stink on these corrupt politicians and senior civil servants, just let Bahamians know ........ It is not like Joe Public is ignorant of who these carpetbaggers and whiffers are
licks2 6 years, 10 months ago
Stop being a ninny. . .those people have rights. . .even the HOA is not off limits when they are putting peoples' name and business out in the public. . .yinna een learn nothing with MP Fitzgerald case aye? I guess you want to goad him into doing something that will prejudice cases and cause them crooks to walk free aye? Good thing this PM don't do mess. . .he knows how to hold his head and stay focus even in the mids of yinna disingenuous comments! Roc on new sheriff. . .get them friends, family and lovers them!
DillyTree 6 years, 10 months ago
If someone came up to me and demanded I pay them a kickback for my business, I'd be damn sure to name them from the tallest rooftop. As for "those people have rights" -- who are you kidding? They lost that right when the committed a crime. This is the problem with this country -- corruption is so ingrained that people seem to have difficultly even understanding what ethics are and what constitutes corruption. Time to put an end to this and name names. And send them to Fox Hill if it's a chargeable crime. Enough is enough, or we'll never be anything more than a backward third world backwater. You choose!
Publius 6 years, 10 months ago
Is Dr. Minnis still renting his building to the government at the taxpayers' expense? That's several millions in taxpayer money and counting since before 2007.
licks2 6 years, 10 months ago
Now I know you don't want to go there. . .ask Bran about the Eddison Key controversy! Get ya list of all family, friends and lovers that have renting contracts with politicians them. . .Now I expect that the government will have to build their own facility before they can remove that contract with a specialist facility. . .with nowhere else to go for the special services! so until that happens. . .where the hell you want them disabled children them to go? So carry ya tail and stop acting like an ignorant person. . .leave that to Tal, Birdie and the DNA crew around here! Yall mussie don't know that the more crap yinna say the less people will listen to yinna in future. . .and we ger need all "honest hands" on deck to be the opposition to this new government. . .because those crooks in the HOA as opposition can't talk for the very reason that they are complicit in the crap as well! So let put aside our PLP and DNA prejudices and speak truth to power. . .or go in one room somewhere and sit small until the next 5 years when it's time fer yinna political crap again! We have a government to support or oppose. . .
Baha10 6 years, 10 months ago
Set the Example for the future Doc and Name the Culprits, irrespective if dead or still alive, otherwise you have severely misled the Bahamians who voted for you. If not, you have either lied on the promise of action or you are too scared yourself to take action for fear of what Others may have on you, neither are good scenarios, so I suggest you start prosecuting before the "the People" turn on you. I am afraid, No Excuses will be accepted, as this is the single biggest issue that has stunted the growth of this Nation, not to mention its Reputation!
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 10 months ago
Minnis is unwittingly making a fool and laughing stock of himself as only he could.
licks2 6 years, 10 months ago
How Bran. . .must I remind you that one of your glaring faults. . .one that got you in trouble since the days of your immigration stunts. . .that's why you are out of the FNM today. . .they reminded you that because of various UN accords which we are signatory your antic are heading for international kickbacks. . .you "picked up ya marbles" a stomped out of the party and thus the DNA! I see why doc did not pay any attention to yall foolish talks. . .want to be first world. . .yet pushing yinna PM to act like Robert Mogarbe. . .chile please!!
Publius 6 years, 10 months ago
These soundbites have quickly become the theater of the absurd. The "sheriff" in our constitution is the Commissioner of Police, and at the end of the day, we can all forget about any information being turned over to him about the real big wigs. A bone might be thrown of a small fry getting arrested and then nothing much happens afterward, but the giants? Safe and sound they will be.
Porcupine 6 years, 10 months ago
"There are no consequences for bad behaviour in The Bahamas"
alfalfa 6 years, 10 months ago
This government has done more to expose corruption, and ensure those responsible will face the requisite consequences, than any other government in our history. BPL is under investigation. Several staff members have been placed on administrative leave, and charges will be levied if they are warranted. Same is happening at NIB. BOB is under the gun and will face forensic audits, with action taken against those who owe, and those who approved those loans. Leslie Miller has already had payment demanded on his outstanding debt. Our law dictates what will happen to him if he does not pay. Pat Mortimer has been told that the 1.2 million written off by Christie, is back on her bill and she has to pay up now, or face eviction and prosecution. Several board members of the Airport Authority have been sent home because of their involvement in her situation. The Minister of Health has exposed numerous crony contracts, and cancelled most of these. Our MP's have been given three weeks to comply with the public disclosures act. The record may not up to every body's expectations, but a lot has been done in their first month in office. More will come. They deserve a chance to carry out their mandate, and if there is a government that has done more, if anything, to deal with corruption, kindly enlighten me as to who that was, and what they did.
alfalfa 6 years, 10 months ago
Works. Not Health.
jackbnimble 6 years, 10 months ago
These headlines are so disturbing but I'd feel better about all this corruption and cronyism talk when I see the first Government official doing the Bank Lane shuffle. Until then in my mind it's just rhetoric.
Jesus, man. Somebody has to be held accountable for all this waste!
banker 6 years, 10 months ago
Preach it brother!!
Minnis -- move yer azz and get these people behind bars !!
licks2 6 years, 10 months ago
So will you tell us how to go about it without violating the rights of those accused? I waitin the Einstein. . .must they just go and pick up those people, take them to the stations, take them on the walk of fame. . .go before the judge and when the judge ask what are they there for ya just say "ya honor". . .jackbnimble said that we just have to hurry up and bring them before you so that it looks like the government is doing something! then find out that they messed-up by not allowing their constitutional rights, proper processes and proper investigative protocol to take place!
Then the crook walks out of the court. . .goes right down the road to Fred Smith's office and sue the hell outta yall. . .and the government have to pay another 5 to 10 million bucks just for following stupidity coming out of jackbnimble!! Act like yinna ready to be the opposition until the time as we will have a credible one in the HOA!!
sealice 6 years, 10 months ago
Authentic Bahamian Souvenirs???? they been selling the chinese crap in the straw market for so long the vendors there (besides the wood carvers) don't know WTF a geunine Bahamian souvenir is!!!!
sheeprunner12 6 years, 10 months ago
Minnis has placed enough explosive information in the public sphere that when he makes his Budget contribution next week, this will be one of the most highly anticipated PM statements in the history of the Bahamian Parliament.
Mark my words ........... All of you who have underestimated DocMinnis over the past year ........... and ALL of you carpetbaggers, whiffers, friends, families, and lovers of the former PLP Cabinet and regime (led by Vomit) ......... will be shitting and shaking in yall boots next week.
Brave and Glenys better come to Parliament dressed in their helmets and Pampers.
I just hope that these Minnis "faux critics" on this Tribune thread are not part of that named crew.
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