The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas pretends to be a first world nation but in reality we are third world if not less when it comes down to political accountability and transparency. We talk and sometimes walk a big talk but we are almost a nation of comedians. Here is why.

The Emergency Powers Act and the Regulations thereunder were promulgated by the current FNM administration last year March and they have been extended and expanded at will by the Most Competent Authority, et al. Who in fact is the Most Competent Authority and is it a constitutional position? What ever happened to the proposed law suit to challenge the enabling legislation?

A literal interpretation of the relevant Act and Regulations thereunder makes it clear that within six weeks after the expiration of an Order made under the same that the Most Competent Authority and/or the Minister of Finance shall lay on the table of the House of Assembly a detailed forensic audit of procurements and payments incurred for the duration of a particular Order. The law is clear and unambiguous. A first year law student should be able to comprehend and understand this.

The learned eagles and arm chair politicians within the FNM administration and party opine otherwise. They say, boldly, if bogusly, that there is no legal requirements that such an audit and report be made. This is the same learned AG who declared that he did not recall certain very vocal campaign promises which were made by him and his party on the campaign trail. The fabled and gathering dust Freedom of Information Act was passed eons ago, but is still being tweaked by successive governments.

I predict that the Freedom of Information Act will never become the law of the land anytime in the near future. In fact, it will die on the vine as will items like Campaign Finance Reform and, of course, Term Limitations and the Bill to enact the recall of dead beat parliamentary representatives. In The Bahamas we talk a good talk, but seldom do our leaders, across the board, walk the same.

It does not matter to me as a trained lawyer if the opinion of the learned AG, et al is correct. What matters is the appearance of accountability and transparency in public life. Why has a forensic audit not been done and laid on the table? Is there something amiss? Is it possible that contracts may not have been issued following best practices? Were taxpayers’ funded contracts dished out to the chosen few or the unqualified? We have an inherent ‘right to know’. It is after all, our monies.

One has to now look over one’s shoulders when opining on matters of public policy because the powers that be are sensitive in the extreme and could use the coercive powers of the state to intimidate or silence dissenters. We are entering a dangerous season for democracy and fair play. The COVID is being used as an excuse for what appears to be a massive power grab and draconian realignment of the status quo. Legal threats have already been publicly made against Dion Smith and Brave.

Any politically savvy administration, especially as we have now entered yet another electoral cycle, should be more than able ready and willing to publicly demonstrate prompt accountability and transparency. What puzzles me is the great reluctance to account for public funds. We all recall how dismissive and smug the learned AG was when asked, repeatedly, about the exact costs for the hiring of several Queen’s Counsel from the UK to assist with the bogus criminal prosecution or were it the abject persecution of Messrs Shayne Gibson and Frank Smith? The case against the Hon Kenred Dorsette is in legal limbo and may not be coming to trial anytime before the scheduled general elections.

I would hope that a new and fresh administration will come to see Bahamians as people and not mere clogs in the political wheel. The majority of Bahamians have been left behind for generations. The time is now for a radical shift in the way the people’s business is conducted.

A PLP government will have to be ever mindful of the party’s original mantra: “To wipe away the tears from every eye; to cloth and feed the poor and to encourage all of you to lift up your heads to the rising Sun….” Brave and the New Deal PLP will have their work cut out for them. The current regime appears to be clueless or heartless. It is a given in most circles that it might lack, big time, compassion. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE Jr

Nassau,

February 3, 2021.