By MORGAN ADDERLEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
madderley@tribunemedia.net
WHILE hundreds of protesters took over Bay Street yesterday in protest of a value added tax increase and a new sliding tax for web shops, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told The Tribune his government's fiscal agenda is about creating "a better tomorrow" for the country.
He spoke to this newspaper on the sidelines of a ceremony for the 2018 graduating class of St Augustine's College, his alma mater. Dr Minnis addressed the graduates during the school's commencement exercise.
When asked by The Tribune whether the protest would change his mind about the 60 percent hike of value added tax and the increase in web shop taxes, Dr Minnis would not say.
"My budget is not necessarily about VAT," he said in response. "My budget is more about a better tomorrow for the young people of this country, the future. And that's what we're talking about.
"We're a free, liberated society, freedom of speech. Individuals have their constitutional right to march."
During his remarks at the graduation ceremony, Dr Minnis promised a personal $10,000 donation to the school to help students who are in need of financial assistance.
He added some of his Cabinet ministers would match this donation, thus offering an additional $10,000 to the school.
Dr Minnis graduated from St Augustine's College in 1971 -- which, as he noted, was two years before the Bahamas became an independent nation.
During his address, the prime minister discussed his "modest background", his own financial difficulties as a student, and offered words of encouragement to the graduates.
"I grew up in modest circumstances, as a child in Bain Town," Dr Minnis said. "My mother taught me that just because you come from modest background, it doesn't mean that you can't have big dreams or explore new horizons.
"I remember when she heard I was accepted at SAC, she was overjoyed… But we didn't have money to pay the school fees. So I had to go to work. I learnt early in life that when you dream big, you must also work hard.
"And to pay for my school fees, I sold The (Nassau) Guardian in the morning, The Tribune in the evening. I sold the Bahamian Times, which was the newspaper of the PLP, which promoted…the struggle for Majority Rule.
"No, I am not a PLP," he added, to laughter from the audience.
Dr Minnis added he also worked other odd jobs to support himself through school.
These included working twice a week at a tailor shop, shining shoes on weekends, and pumping gas. However, his earnings were not always enough to cover costs.
"Even today, I recall times I would be sent home because we couldn't pay the school fees. However, my circumstances motivated me to work even harder to graduate from SAC.
"I was determined that I would not allow my circumstances to dictate my destiny."
Later in his speech, Dr Minnis announced his donation.
"It is my honour to announce this morning a personal $10,000 donation to help some of those students who sometimes struggle to pay their school fees.
"This donation is in gratitude to my alma mater, the great (SAC). I wish to dedicate my contribution to those students who are financially challenged, who need a little help so that they can pursue their dreams in life.
"When I mentioned that I was going to offer this donation, some of my other Cabinet colleagues decided to match that donation. So I would like…to announce an additional $10,000 donation offered by my colleagues."
These promises were met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Comments
birdiestrachan 5 years, 10 months ago
Doc your few dollars can not buy integrity, You have lied to the Bahamian People to people to many times. It is all about VAT to the poor Bahamian people. Why haven't you taxed the liquor company in which you own shares as you have taxed web shops. The truth is no one can ever believe anything that comes out of your mouth.
Mr: Frankly Wilson donated millions. to education and he is not killing poor people with taxes. I trust you will pay the money you promised . but who knows. you may change your mind as you say and go west and not east. you can not be trusted for truth. Your record speaks for itself.
TalRussell 5 years, 10 months ago
Ma Media Comrades, prime minister's claim should not go unchallenged that while he was in opposition he had uttered, “Better to lose an election than to lose a country" ........... I'm pretty damn certain that saving this quote by the then opposition leader not exactly known for his verbalization greatness - would not have been overlooked by the Tribune, and if it was said - in what context? I'll believe it but only after I can read from its retrieval deep from inside Tribune's morgue of great quotes by Minnis. Sounds more likes few days ago quote.....I should telephone Loretta for confirmation? Regardless, I will see this one through all ways to reach and examine full context its truthfulness, or may have been lifted from?
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
I would rather Minnis try explain how is it Duane Sands personally awarded a $1.9 million hospital cleaning contract to Barbara Hanna's Magic Touch cleaning company less than 3 months after criminal charges were brought against Frank Smith, the disgraced former chairman of the Public Hospital Authority (PHA)??!!!!
The legal advisor and secretary to the current board of the PHA testified in open court that Sands personally approved the $1.9 million contract without any notification to or input whatsoever from the PHA board. In doing so, Sands failed to adhere to the well established written guidelines and rules for the review and approval of such a large contract. He completely bypassed both the PHA board and cabinet in personally approving the cleaning contract with a company whose owner he knew full well (at the time Sands approved the contract) was alleging to have bribed Frank Smith to secure a cleaning contract. THE GRAVITY OF THIS MISCONDUCT ON THE PART OF SANDS IS SUCH THAT MINNIS AND THE OTHER CABINET MINISTERS SHOULD BE INSISTING ON HIS IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION FROM CABINET. FRANK SMITH IS UNDOUBTEDLY NOW GOING TO BE CLEARED AND WALK FREE BECAUSE OF THE VERY GRAVE MISCONDUCT OF SANDS. IF MINNIS TOLERATES THIS TYPE OF SERIOUS WRONGFUL BEHAVIOUR FROM A FELLOW MINISTER WITH NO CONSEQUENCE WHATSOEVER, THEN HE WILL TOLERATE ANY AND EVERY KIND OF WRONGFUL BEHAVIOUR BY HIMSELF AND ALL OTHER CABINET MINISTERS!!!!
sheeprunner12 5 years, 10 months ago
Doc should encourage ALL of his MPs to do the same for their alma maters .............. that is the best way to get these schools to be recognized and build status and morale in the public schools ....... Kudos to Chester Cooper and Don Saunders who are proud alumni of LN Coakley High in Exuma ............. Yall need to really push for a new school to replace that old scrap yard.
Meanwhile in the other Out Islands ............. Perswell, Howard, Pakeisia, Carlton, Ricky, Adrian, etc are crying for help too ............ SMH
bogart 5 years, 10 months ago
Lets not forget Roc wid Doc message.....dat in his times and circumstances he was able to and had the opportunity ...to work hard...really hard wid a number of jobs....and despite dis...sometimes it wasnt enuff....but he pick heself up ....and move forward to succeed....das da message!!!
sheeprunner12 5 years, 10 months ago
Times have changed, Bogart ............... This is not the 1960s Bahamas ......... Cost of living is up 400% ......... and job opportunities and career outlooks for millennials are totally opposite to the 1960s ....... we have swopped push carts for smartphones ....... blackboards for tablets ........ monks for unionized staff.
SAC is not a good barometer to judge ALL schools by in this country ...... it is a privileged, private, church school with resources and protocols far beyond the scope of the public school that most Bahamians can access.
TalRussell 5 years, 10 months ago
This is much controversial comment by prime minister. Today's younger comrade ones have only heard talk by their parents and grandparents of the days when there were 'three paycheques' for the taking...... the much younger Minnis was more fortunate to have been able stay in school and have three jobs, whilst thousands today's young ones be leaving school with no paycheque prospects in sight. Look at Bay Street today, the glitter has been tarred over that once was used pave downtown.... pots gold been replaced car sized pot holes.The red shirts better hope news Nassau Town's dry rot, does not reach English Queen woman's.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
The parents of these students need private sector jobs now and the students too will need such jobs when they graduate. Someone please tell Minnis that the Bahamian people don't need pitiful charity from him and his fellow cabinet ministers. It's frankly condescending for well off cabinet ministers to throw the occasional bone to the people in this way. Instead, we need for Minnis and his fellow cabinet ministers to their job and create a business environment conducive to private sector job growth. And it's most unfortunate that they failed to do anything towards private sector job growth in the 2019/20 budget - in fact they did the very opposite!
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