The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

During the waning years of the last PLP administration, the constant cry from the Bahamian people was, “Where has the VAT money gone?”

Instead of sticking with the simple truth, the administration embarked on a campaign of deception trying to suggest that the VAT money was used for all sorts of projects which anyone knew was nonsense. It was even suggested that the Government purchased the Defense Force vessels with VAT money, when anyone who followed the proceedings in Parliament knew that the Government borrowed the money for that purpose.

The simple truth is that the VAT money goes into that bottomless pit called the Consolidated Fund, out of which all Government expenses are paid. It is not possible to identify one solitary dollar of the Consolidated Fund as being derived from VAT. The truth could have, or indeed should have, put an end to the debate, but by the Administration’s failure to face the truth, the cry persists even to this day of where has the VAT money gone? Just examine the annual budget and you will see how the Consolidated Fund was spent.

A more pertinent question then and now, however, should be, “Where has the BAMSI money gone?” When the PLP Administration announced their plan to create BAMSI with the goal of making the country self-sufficient in food, they spoke initially of spending $10 million, which gradually mushroomed into $50 million and ultimately escalated to $100 million. Then Prime Minister Christie announced if former Prime Minister, Ingraham could spend $100 million on roads, he could spend $100 million on making the country self-sufficient in food.

Anyone looking at the physical structures comprising BAMSI and the extent of the farming, would find it difficult to believe that anything like $100 million was spent on the project and if they did, then clearly the country got ripped off. In the circumstances, anyone would be excused for questioning where the BAMSI money went. I was coming to the view that surely the Government could not have spent that amount of money until I recently heard the Chairman of the PLP boasting of the PLP Government’s achievements at BAMSI and their expenditure of $100 million on the project, so I would readily join the chorus of those asking, “Where did the BAMSI money go?” It surely wasn’t left in Andros.

The BAMSI project is further tainted with the debacle surrounding the BAMSI fire.

The PLP Administration never provided an explanation as to the circumstances whereby Mr. Hanna, a campaign general for the present Leader of the Opposition, was able to receive funding for the construction of a building on the site notwithstanding that a precondition of his contract, was that he had insurance in place, and this was not complied with. Clearly there was a huge oversight and without a full disclosure, one is entitled to think that a high-ranking Government official authorised the project notwithstanding the failure to provide insurance cover. In addition, Mr. Hanna gave an assurance that he would cover the loss and the present Leader of the Opposition expressed every confidence that he would abide by his commitment. I would suggest with some degree of confidence that is it unlikely that Mr. Hanna has paid one red cent to date and assuming this to be the case one must ask whether we have arrived at the point in our development that an individual can be responsible for the loss of $5 million to the country and nothing is done in an effort to recover the money? If that is the present state of affairs then it is easy to understand why the country finds itself in the financial state that it is in today !

Members of the public need not exercise their minds questioning where the VAT money went. As mentioned they only need to look at the annual budget and follow the money in the Consolidated Fund. On the other hand, the BAMSI money was extracted from the Consolidated Fund and if, as the PLP boast $100 million was spent, kindly explain to the Bahamian people how the money was spent.

I would suggest that it is incumbent upon the present Government to find out for the Bahamian people how much money was expended on BAMSI and what it was used for.

Show me the money! Show me where did the BAMSI money was spent?

RICHARD LIGHTBOURN

Nassau,

September 19, 2018.