May 22, 2012
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Disclosures filed by some MPs as others decline response
AS the deadline for filing financial declarations as required by the Public Disclosure Act, a number of Members of Parliament confirmed they had filed on time – although several others declined to say or did not respond.
Marijuana legislation to be tabled ‘hopefully in January’ says Pinder
ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder said he hopes marijuana legislation will be tabled in the House of Assembly in January.
House passes bills that look to improve the judicial system
THE House of Assembly passed a group of bills to improve the judicial system.
Govt tables bill to enhance independence of judiciary
THE Davis administration tabled legislation in the House of Assembly yesterday to enhance the independence of the judiciary.
Parliament blunder on BPL regulatory ‘void’
Regulators are scrambling to fill a “void” created by Parliament in electricity sector supervision which has potentially left Bahamians at the mercy of appliance-destroying voltage and frequency fluctuations without recourse.
ALICIA WALLACE: Poor communication between politicians and the public
GIVEN the gutting of the media, one would think that the current government administration would be competent in the area of communications.
Six months and still no answers on disclosures
SIX months after the deadline for financial disclosures by parliamentarians had passed, Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard said he is “not surprised” that the list of those who failed to disclose has still not been revealed.
Downtown Management Authority Bill to be presented when Parliament resumes
TOURISM Minister Chester Cooper said yesterday a Bill will be brought to Parliament for the Downtown Management Authority.
INSIGHT: Surprise prorogation of Parliament without explanation will lead to speculation and gossip
THE unexpected announcement of the prorogation of Parliament has set tongues wagging.
What the Davis administration has accomplished, and what is still left to be completed
NEARLY 100 bills were passed during the Parliamentary session that ended on Saturday, fulfilling some of the promises the Davis administration made in the 2021 Speech from the Throne.
Criminal charges against MPs once rare, more common now
WHEN North Abaco MP Kirk Cornish was charged in the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, it marked the first time in the modern Bahamas that two sitting parliamentarians faced serious criminal charges.
Past speakers of the House of Assembly back Parliamentary Service Bill
A BILL to make Parliament more independent has the backing of past speakers of the House of Assembly.
Some Parliamentarians have STILL not disclosed
SOME elected officials have still not complied with financial disclosure requirements in 2023, according to Public Disclosure Commission Chairman Bishop Victor Cooper.
Human Rights Committee resolution passed in HOA
ELECTED officials passed a resolution in the House of Assembly yesterday to establish a Human Rights Committee to monitor and protect the enforcement of human rights in The Bahamas.
Some MPs have not yet disclosed
TWO weeks after the March 1 deadline, Public Disclosure Commission chairman Bishop Victor Cooper said officials are still waiting for some parliamentarians to complete their filings.
PM DISCLOSING - BUT ONE IN TEN MPS DON’T: Unclear whether Davis missed the March 1 deadline
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said his public disclosures would be filed yesterday if the documents had not been turned over on the deadline, which was Wednesday.
Public disclosure ‘filing needs to be modernised’ Deputy PM says
SOME Cabinet ministers are calling for the modernisation of the public disclosure filing process as the deadline for parliamentarians to do so has passed.
‘One or two’ want disclosure extension
“ONE or two” parliamentarians have requested extra time to disclose their assets and liabilities, according to chairman of the Public Disclosure Commission Bishop Victor Cooper yesterday.
MPs answer on whether they had FTX investments
SEVERAL members of Parliament yesterday said they had no FTX investments, while one confirmed receiving a donation from the collapsed crypto exchange firm.
DIVIDED RESPONSE OVER RAPE LAWS: One pastor calls Bill ‘demonic’ in day of consultation
A DRAFT amendment to the Sexual Offences Act that seeks to criminalise marital rape and re-define what consent is, among other terms, was met with mixed reactions from religious leaders yesterday - with one pastor calling it “the most wickedest and demonic bill” in the country’s history.
Govt to rewrite, not amend Procurement Act
ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder has revealed the Davis administration’s plan to rewrite the Public Procurement Act as opposed to amending portions of it to allow for greater transparency and ease of administration.
PM plans to table Procurement Act amendments ‘very early’
THE Prime Minister has said his administration is hoping to table amendments to the Public Procurement Act in Parliament “very early” after it convenes following the summer recess.
INSIGHT: Where is the transparency that we were promised?
THERE are few things more frustrating in politics than promises that are never delivered.
Tributes at passing of ex-Speaker Symonette
FORMER House of Assembly Speaker and government minister Vernon J Symonette, CMG, has died.
Deputy Speaker threatens to remove Opposition leader
DEPUTY House Speaker Sylvanus Petty threatened to have opposition leader Michael Pintard removed from the House of Assembly last night after the Marco City MP took exception to remarks made by North Abaco MP Kirk Cornish.
‘No count’ on late disclosures
THERE has been a considerable increase in the number of officials who have filed their financial records, according to Public Disclosure Commission chairman Bishop Victor Cooper.
‘NO WAY’ TO PAY BILLS WITHOUT NEW TAXES: Reformer says Budget is most important in history of The Bahamas
A governance reformer yesterday said he was “confident” some tax increases will be unveiled in tomorrow’s Budget, which he branded as the “most important” in Bahamian history to-date.
PM unveils plans for $900m crackdown on large tax delinquents
The Prime Minister yesterday unveiled plans to crackdown on delinquent taxpayers owing a collective $900m by creating a unit to focus on the Government’s major revenue generators.
Mid-year budget to miss deadline after House suspension
THE mid-year budget review - required by law to be tabled in Parliament by the last Wednesday in February each year — will not be tabled on time due to a “mutually agreed suspension” of the House of Assembly.
FRONT PORCH: Building a more functional democracy
Government-operated schools around the world, including in The Bahamas, tend to require certification and training for teachers from primary to high school. Such training seeks to ensure teachers are better prepared with learning methods to educate young people. Subject area competency is also required.
Amendment to VAT legislation tabled in House
GOVERNMENT tabled an amendment to the value added tax legislation in the House of Assembly yesterday, outlining the planned rate change to 10 percent from the current 12 percent.
ALICIA WALLACE: If we want more women in politics it needs more than lip service to make it happen
INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day was on Monday and, of course, it came with radio talk show slots, panel discussions, presentations and purple attire. It is an annual day to celebrate the progress women have made and to take action toward the changes that still need to happen.
Aviation bills are passed in Parliament
THE House of Assembly passed a compendium of aviation bills yesterday, one of which seeks to set up the necessary infrastructure so that the country can monetise its airspace.
Aragonite bill goes to committee
PARLIAMENTARIANS voted yesterday to move a bill that would repeal the Ocean Industries Incorporated (Aragonite Mining Encouragement) Act to a Select Committee on Natural Resources, effectively ensuring that the Bill will not be debated in the House of Assembly during a second reading.
Deputy backs Speaker in dispute over facilities
DEPUTY HOUSE Speaker Don Saunders has come out in support of House Speaker Halson Moultrie saying he needs to be more respected and the legislative branch of the government needs to be independent.
Another House of Assembly staffer has virus
A SECOND Parliament staffer has tested positive for COVID-19, raising what House Speaker Halson Moultrie said is concern about “institutional spread” of the virus in the House of Assembly.
UPDATED: Parliament worker tests positive for COVID-19
A STAFF member of Parliament who interacted with elected officials during a House of Assembly sitting last week has tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the cancellation of Senate proceedings on Monday and causing uncertainty about how proceedings in the House of Assembly will proceed.
Economic empowerment zones to be expanded
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis tabled an amendment in the House of Assembly yesterday to expand New Providence’s economic empowerment zone, which will allow Englerston and Montel Heights to now qualify for concessions. He noted the zone is now “lim
Auditor General's report calls for more staff in San Salvador
A NEWLY released auditor general’s report is calling for more staff to be hired at the post office in San Salvador to ensure appropriate staff segregation of duties after it was discovered that all postal transactions were being performed by only one
AG: We hope to have Bail Act amendments passed in July
MONTHS after the government tabled an amendment to the Bail Act in the House of Assembly, Attorney General Carl Bethel revealed yesterday officials are hoping to have the bill passed in July. Giving his 2020/21 budget communication in the Senate yes
Budget ‘a missed opportunity’
The 2020-2021 budget represents a missed opportunity to kickstart talks on progressive reforms such as personal and corporate income taxes, a University of The Bahamas (UoB) economics lecturer is arguing.
Date set for Public Procurement Bill debate
THE Public Procurement Bill, dubbed as landmark legislation by the government, will be debated after the annual budget debate wraps up.
Unemployment assistance expands to self-employed outside tourism
THE government will expand its unemployment assistance programme to self-employed people outside of the tourism industry, Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest announced Monday.
One person fails to submit disclosure
THE Public Disclosures Commission has written to the prime minister and leader of the official opposition revealing that one official has failed to file an asset disclosure.
Parliamentarians seek extension on public disclosures deadline
SEVERAL members of Parliament have requested deadline extensions to submit documents disclosing their assets, according to Public Disclosure Commission Chairman Myles Laroda yesterday.The deadline for disclosing is March 1 each year.However, Mr Larod
March 1 deadline for asset disclosures
THE Public Disclosure Commission has sent notices to all Members of Parliament and senators as the deadline for declarations approaches. MPs and those in the Senate are expected to submit documents disclosing their assets by March 1. According to P
Judges pay in line for 6% increase
A report tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday recommended judges receive an overall increase of six percent in their current salaries.
‘NO SURPRISES’: Culmer warns FNM MPs - don’t back PM, you don’t back party
FREE National Movement chairman Carl Culmer expects all FNM parliamentarians to support Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in today’s vote of no confidence in the House of Assembly, though he declined to discuss what repercussions could befall those who don’t.
Sex offender register moves a step closer
REGULATIONS tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday contain a provision for the public to be notified through the Royal Bahamas Police Force of the release of a sexual offender from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
$1.3bn tax giveaway
The government gave up more than $1.3bn in customs duties during the 2015-2016 fiscal year due to the multiple tax breaks afforded investors and corporate entities.
Budget's winners and losers
THE Department of Social Services’ uniform assistance programme will receive considerably more money in the upcoming fiscal year in an apparent effort to curtail the anger government received last cycle for allotting what many saw as insufficient to cover the needs of dependents. Government estimates that $462,000 will go toward the social assistance benefit.
Two years in and 58 bills passed
Parliament has passed 58 bills since the Free National Movement won the general election two years ago.
Two-decade effort to ‘banish’ Lehder legacy resumes
The Government yesterday moved to revive a near two-decade effort to banish the legacy of Carlos ‘Joe’ Lehder by seeking Parliament’s approval for a two-way, nine acre land swap.
No drinks, no phones driving laws pass
CHANGES to the Road Traffic Act meant to save lives were passed in the House of Assembly yesterday.
'Two made disclosures within extension time'
TWO of three parliamentarians who requested extra time to disclose their assets and liabilities this year made their disclosures before the end of the extension period, according to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.
Tynes: Govt wrong not to hold mid-year budget debate
FORMER chief parliamentary clerk Maurice Tynes has criticised the handling of the decision not to hold a debate in the House of Assembly on the mid-year budget statement, telling The Tribune the government does not own Parliament.
Ministers miss the disclosure deadline
THREE Free National Movement parliamentarians - two of them Cabinet ministers - were granted more time to file their public disclosures, The Tribune was told.
Several parliamentarians 'miss disclosure deadline'
ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna-Martin said yesterday she will be carefully watching the response of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis regarding parliamentarians missing the deadline to disclose their assets and liabilities.
US State Department report: No campaign finance laws leave country vulnerable to corruption
UNREGULATED campaign finance and an opaque procurement process continue to expose the country to potential abuses, according to the US State Department.
All Opposition parliamentarians 'have filed public disclosures'
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell confirmed on Friday that all Opposition parliamentarians have filed their public disclosures.
MPs rush to meet filing deadline
PUBLIC disclosures from parliamentarians were flying in like “hotcakes”, according to Public Disclosure Commission Chairman Myles Laroda yesterday.
Amendments to Commercial Entities Act
GOVERNMENT will table proposed amendments to the Commercial Entities (Substance Requirements) Act when the House of Assembly meets today.
House agrees to borrow $100m for emergencies
THE House of Assembly approved a resolution yesterday to borrow $100m from the Inter-American Development Bank as a contingency against natural disaster emergencies.
Deal for serviced lots in Fox Hill likely to get passed
GOVERNMENT is expected to move a resolution in the House of Assembly today seeking approval for the conveyance of 1.2 acres of land in Fox Hill to be developed for sale as serviced lots.
Poor processes slash GDP growth by 1% pt annually
Poor governance and business processes have slashed Bahamian economic growth by an average one percent of GDP every year this century, the Government has admitted.
Govt not adjusting web shop revenue forecasts
The Government has refused to adjust its gaming revenue projections despite the web shop industry’s legal challenge to the increased taxation, arguing that its case is “on solid ground”.
HANG UP AND DRINK UP TOO: Drivers face ban from using phones and booze in cars
PROPOSED amendments to the Road Traffic Act will make it illegal to drive or operate a vehicle while using a cellphone, or with an open alcoholic beverage.
Now name and shame non-disclosure MPs
OPPOSITION Leader Philip “Brave” Davis called yesterday on Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to live up to his pre-election promises and identify those who have not declared their assets and liabilities to the Public Disclosure Commission in accordance with the Public Disclosure Act.
Chairman appointment expires - and still no disclosures revealed
THE public will have to wait just a bit longer for the final listing and review of financial disclosures for the last three years, with Public Disclosure Commission Chairman Myles Laroda yesterday refusing to comment on the work of the unit without f
Concessions ruled out for businesses who owe tax
BUSINESSES behind on National Insurance Board contributions, business licence fees and real property taxes will not be granted concessions through the Over-the-Hill revitalisation programme, according to the Economic Empowerment Zones Bill which was tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday.
'Rebels should have resigned - not waited to be fired by PM'
GOVERNMENT appointees who voted against an increase in value added tax to 12 percent should have resigned their positions rather than wait to be fired, retired parliamentary clerk Maurice Tynes says. Mr Tynes, the chief adviser to House Speakers from
Web shop staff call for boycott
WEB shop employees yesterday suggested a boycott of businesses or economic interests of Cabinet ministers as operators pledge to take their fight against an impending tax increase on their sector all the way to the Privy Council.
Miller against VAT increase
GOLDEN Isles MP Vaughn Miller yesterday became the third Free National Movement member of Parliament to publicly oppose the government’s impending value added tax increase.
70 percent against tax rise in survey
MOST Bahamians oppose the Minnis administration’s “People’s Budget”, with more than 70 percent against the impending value added tax increase, a new scientific poll from marketing and research firm Public Domain reveals.
MP: Grand Bahama 'dying a slow death'
PINERIDGE MP Frederick McAlpine said Grand Bahama “is dying a slow death,” urging his governing party to try a “little harder and faster” to bring some economic relief to the island.
McAlpine calls for income tax rather than VAT rise
OUTSPOKEN Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine yesterday ridiculed his government’s budget, telling parliamentarians it appears Free National Movement politicians have reneged on their words.
FNM MPs kept in dark on increase
THE government’s proposed value added tax increase was not only a shock to the nation but completely blindsided several Free National Movement members of Parliament who told The Tribune yesterday it appeared the decision was kept within the confines of Cabinet.
Budget demand for more web shop taxes
Governance reformers yesterday called for increased web shop taxes in tomorrow's Budget, coupled with 5 per cent annual spending reductions through 2023, to avoid a fiscal crisis.
Dame Joan: FNM eating its words
THE Free National Movement is “eating its words” on major issues it admonished the former Christie administration over, according to retired Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer.
PM silent as spy bill approved
THE controversial Interception of Communications Bill was passed the House of Assembly yesterday with no input from Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, once a fervent critic of the bill.
New board planned to oversee contracts
PUBLIC procurement processes in the Bahamas, long derided by the US State Department as “opaque,” will be standardised through the Public Procurement Bill 2018, a draft version of which has been submitted to the Organization of American States who released the document.
'On target' for March 1 disclosures deadline
AS the deadline for members of Parliament and senators to file financial disclosures approaches, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold said everyone is on target to meet the timeline of March 1. “The Public Disclosure Commission continues to meet and the
Organization for Responsible Government condemns events in Parliament
THE Organization for Responsible Government has condemned the events that took place in the House of Assembly in the past three weeks.
Bail act needs urgent review
THE power of magistrates to grant bail in all but the most serious of offences should be returned forthwith, the country’s top judge said yesterday, as he urged Parliament to pay more than “lip service” to the issue.
Enterprise Bill may have changes
ALTHOUGH Free National Movement parliamentarians unanimously voted to pass the Commercial Enterprises Bill in the House of Assembly last week, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold, in the face of criticism from some, yesterday said the administration will consider “recommendations and suggestions” for the bill and incorporate those it believes have merit.
MPs’ pay rise conditional on upturn
IN the face of public uproar, the Minnis administration has placed a stipulation on its pledge to increase salaries for Members of Parliament next year, with the prime minister’s Press Secretary Anthony Newbold saying yesterday the salaries will not be increased if the economy does not improve.
MPs’ pay will need economic upturn
DEPUTY Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest yesterday said he believes “there will be an improvement to the country finances” in next year’s budget cycle when members of Parliament are expected to receive pay raises.
Another group hits out at govt over Public Disclosure Act
ANOTHER local advocacy group has spoken out against the government's failure to fully enforce the Public Disclosure Act, charging that not doing so could undermine public trust in two recently tabled pieces of anti-corruption legislation.
Govt slammed for 'excuses' over public Disclosure Act
CITIZENS for a Better Bahamas (CBB) yesterday slammed the government for failing to meet its campaign promises on enforcement of the Public Disclosure Act.In a press statement the advocacy group called on citizens to reject “implausible” and “unreaso
New rulebook to beat corruption
IN keeping with its pledge to tackle corruption and introduce a new standard of accountability in the country, the Minnis Administration tabled its highly anticipated Integrity Commission bill yesterday.
Bill tabled that would bring more financial disclosure requirements
PUBLIC officials would face additional financial disclosure requirements under the Integrity Commission Bill the Minnis Administration tabled yesterday.
New spy bill tabled
THE Minnis administration tabled an Interception of Communication Bill and legislation to create legal framework for the disbanded National Intelligence Agency in the House of Assembly yesterday.
First govt Bill tabled for independent prosecutor
THE Minnis administration tabled the first Bill of its tenure yesterday: a Constitutional Amendment Bill to establish the independent Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
'Disclosure three’ may go unpunished
PUBLIC Disclosure Commission Chairman Myles Laroda yesterday distanced himself from the government’s pledge to prosecute non-compliant parliamentarians, telling The Tribune it is possible no penalties will be exacted.
Three politicians missed deadline for disclosure
THREE parliamentarians have missed the deadline imposed by the government to file financial disclosures, but that list is not at the Office of the Attorney General just yet, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold said yesterday.
Disclosures left ‘in the air’
DESPITE his critical role in an ongoing process to have delinquent parliamentarians and senators file their outstanding disclosures or face prosecution, Public Disclosure Commission Chairman Myles Laroda said yesterday that his appointment has expired, leaving aspects of the process “up in the air”.
Deadline today - but some disclosures outstanding
WHILE today marks the deadline for both sitting and former parliamentarians to file financial disclosures, Public Disclosure Commission Chairman Myles Laroda told The Tribune yesterday that there were still some that are “outstanding”.
Appeal of parliamentary privilege ruling cost govt more than $100,000
THE Government racked up more than $100,000 in legal costs connected to its appeal of the landmark Supreme Court ruling on parliamentary privilege, according to Attorney General Carl Bethel, who noted that the sum represented costs for foreign lawyers.
Parliamentarians respond as deadline looms for disclosures
PUBLIC Disclosure Commission Chairman Myles Laroda yesterday remarked on the high-level of engagement experienced by his office due to the looming deadline for former and current parliamentarians to file financial disclosures or face prosecution.
Ex-ministers to face the courts?
FORMER ministers in the Christie administration are “guilty” of “misfeasance” and Attorney General Carl Bethel will have to determine if they should be held liable for the “millions” in taxpayer dollars that were awarded in questionable contracts, in some cases to “inexperienced” contractors, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister told the House of Assembly last night.
Parliamentarians must file disclosures by June 30
THE government has set a June 30 deadline for former and sitting parliamentarians to file disclosures or face prosecution, according to Press Secretary Anthony Newbold.
Three weeks to file missing disclosures or file will go to the Attorney General
DELINQUENT former and sitting parliamentarians have been given three weeks to file disclosures or face the court for breaking the law, according to Press Secretary Anthony Newbold.
Five years and no disclosures
DESPITE repeated calls for parliamentarians to submit annual financial declarations as mandated by law, Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) Chairman Myles Laroda said yesterday that there is a handful of officials who did not make a single disclosure for the entire five-year term of the Christie administration.
US, Caricom to monitor election
THE Bahamas government has received confirmation from two of four international organisations invited to send electoral observers for the upcoming general election.
Chipman sparks boundaries row
MEMBERS of Parliament clashed in the House of Assembly yesterday over allegations St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman made in a letter to House Speaker Dr Kendal Major in which he claimed that the draft order for constituency boundaries that was tabled last week differed significantly from the report he signed as the Official Opposition’s representative on the Constituencies Commission.
Bid to intercept letters, emails
THE government has tabled a bill in the House of Assembly that aims to create a “single legal framework” that would allow the Commissioner of Police to obtain a warrant from a judge to intercept and examine a person’s communications from telecommunications operators, internet providers and postal services for a period of three months.
Only one seat extra recommended for New Providence
THE Constituencies Commission is expected to convene today for a final meeting on its recommendations for boundary changes, which, according to well-placed sources, will call for the addition of only one seat in New Providence.
Lowest turnout for election is predicted
POLITICAL analyst Dr Ian Strachan believes the country may experience its lowest voter turnout in history for the upcoming general election due to lack of faith in the current political system and “weak” alternatives to the current administration.
Privilege Committee investigations stalled
MAJOR investigations by Parliament’s Committee on Privilege have stalled in recent months, with no clear end in sight for them.
House likely to have at least four more seats
AS the 2017 general election draws near, the number of constituencies in New Providence and the Family Islands is expected to increase by at least four seats with the Constituencies Commission set to finalise its report by the end of the month.
Call for privilege committee to await court ruling
OPPOSITION MPs of the House of Assembly’s Committee on Privilege have been advised to request that the probe into Justice Indra Charles’ ruling on the limits of parliamentary privilege be adjourned until the matter is no longer before the courts.
THE BIG QUESTION: What will you be looking for in a political party to ensure your vote?
With the 2017 election season on the horizon, what will you be looking for in a political party to ensure your vote?
Call for international observers for committee’s probe
SAVE The Bays (STB) has appealed for international observers to oversee the House of Assembly’s Committee on Privilege’s probe into the landmark ruling by Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles over the leak of its private emails in Parliament.
Employers could face jail if they fail to inform govt of job cuts
IN THE wake of Sandals’ decision to make hundreds of its employees redundant, the government wants to bring “emergency legislation” to Parliament that would make it a criminal offence for employers to fail to consult or notify the relevant minister or bargaining agent about their intention to make ten or more workers redundant.
Darville: End contempt efforts over leaked emails
SAVE The Bays Chairman Joseph Darville yesterday urged House of Assembly Speaker Dr Kendal Major to “call off efforts” to have certain members of the organisation held in contempt of Parliament.
UPDATED: Neko Grant steps down as Leader of Opposition Business in the House
CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant yesterday resigned as Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly and the Free National Movement’s shadow Works Minister, pointing to his relationship with FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis as the motivating factor.
INSIGHT: The role of Opposition forces
New political movements prove the health of democracy in the Bahamas but won’t unseat the PLP as divided factions, Malcolm J Strachan says . . .
THE BIG QUESTION: What steps should each party take to win the next election?
With Dr Duane Sands saying the FNM has not being “gaining traction”, and the PLP recovering from the referendum defeat, what steps should each party take to convince the public they should be elected at the next election?
Ministers fail to table audits
CABINET ministers responsible for at least six quasi-government institutions and agencies have failed to table audit reports, creating a lapse in the public record that contravenes the law.
Voter discontent could impact equality referendum
THE Christie administration’s track record could doom the upcoming gender equality referendum, as there is growing public dissatisfaction towards the government and its handling of similar votes.
Judge unlikely to face House
CENTRAL and South Eleuthera MP Damian Gomez said he would be “surprised” if Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles is called before the Committee on Privileges after being named last week in a resolution to determine whether she and others should be held in contempt of the House of Assembly.
'No' vote group to sue for referendum funds
CITIZENS for Justice, an activist group, has said it will take legal action against the government this week hoping to force it to provide public funds to the constitutional referendum’s vote “no” campaigns.
Religious leaders still waiting on request for 'no' campaign funding
RELIGIOUS leaders backing the constitutional referendum's vote "no" campaign are still waiting for Prime Minister Perry Christie to respond to their request for seed funding.
‘No need for vote’
PRESIDENT of the Bahamas Global Impact Prayer and Fasting Network (BGI-PAFN) Jeremiah Duncombe yesterday said there is no need for the constitutional referendum scheduled for June 7, as the government is “fully capable” of amending the Constitution to show gender equality “all on its own.”
Judge may be held to account by committee
SUPREME Court Justice Indra Charles along with Save The Bays Director Fred Smith, QC, and lawyer Ferron Bethel were named in a resolution yesterday in Parliament for the Committee on Privilege to determine whether they should be held in contempt of the House of Assembly.
THE BIG QUESTION: MPs and financial declarations
What do you think should be done to ensure members of Parliament file their financial declarations on time?
Rex Major urges ‘no’ vote for fourth bill
EVANGELIST Rex Major added his voice to the chorus of pastors urging Bahamians to reject the fourth constitutional referendum bill yesterday.
Voters registered for 2012 election already eligible for referendum
ALL Bahamians who registered to vote for the 2012 general election are eligible to participate in the upcoming gender equality vote, which is expected to take place in about six weeks, according to Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlin Hall yesterday.
‘No’ campaign launched over referendum vote
THE Save Our Bahamas Committee - the group that opposed the 2013 gambling referendum - yesterday launched a vote no campaign against the fourth Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Bishop urges ‘no’ vote in gender equality referendum
BISHOP Walter Hanchell has come out against the upcoming constitutional referendum, charging that it would lead to same-sex marriage and an “influx” of foreign men using Bahamian women as a “ticket” to get work.
THE BIG QUESTION: Preventing government corruption
After the findings of a US State Department report, what do YOU think should be done to prevent government corruption in the Bahamas?
THE BIG QUESTION: Campaign finance - what would you do?
What measures would you introduce to reform campaign finance?
'Historic day' as gender equality bills passed
THE four Constitutional Amendment Bills on gender equality were passed in the House of Assembly on Wednesday in what has been called a “historic day.”
Watson doubts FNM election win
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson yesterday insisted that unless the Free National Movement worked harder to connect with Bahamians on key issues, it is hard to see the party securing a victory in this country’s next general election.
Freedom of Information Bill does not fix flaws, says expert
THE draft Freedom of Information Bill does not eliminate the flaws inherent in previous legislation passed by the former Ingraham administration, an expert on right to information laws has said.
Speaker breaks ranks to allow FNM comments in the House
TENSIONS mounted in the House of Assembly yesterday after the Speaker, Dr Kendal Major, went against senior Progressive Liberal Party members and allowed an “intervention” by opposition leader Hubert Minnis into the “judicial interference” matter surrounding embattled Cabinet minister V Alfred Gray.
Bill passed to scrap mandatory minimums
A BILL to abolish the controversial mandatory minimum sentences implemented by the former Ingraham administration was one of a compendium of bills debated in the House of Assembly yesterday as part of the government’s effort to modernise the judicial system and curb crime in the country.
Female parliamentarians do not want delay for referendum - but understand if it is needed
THE FAILURE of the proposed gender equality referendum should not be an option, Sea Breeze MP Hope Strachan said yesterday.
INSIGHT: Cannibalism in the PLP
IN a 2009 tribute to Sir Clement Maynard, then Governor-general Sir Arthur Foulkes wrote that “politics, that most noble of professions, can sometimes, descend into something approaching savagery. And it seems that there is no greater fury in the political arena as when colleagues turn on each other”.
Smith: Government MPs should fall in line and back bills
FORMER PLP Cabinet Minister George Smith said all government MPs should “fall in line” and support the Christie administration as it attempts to pass the four gender equality bills to amend the Constitution.
Nottage ‘taken aback’ by referendum debate delay
ORGANISER of the government’s Constitutional reform education campaign, retired Justice Ruby Nottage, said yesterday that she was “taken aback” by the announcement that parliamentary debate of the highly anticipated equality Bills would be delayed.
Still no financial declarations
WHILE a group of parliamentarians last week suggested their salaries be subject to an independent review with a view to increasing how much they are paid, the government has not made public the annual financial disclosures of elected officials since 2012.
MPs seek more pay and new Parliament
DESPITE the country’s significant fiscal constraints, a government-appointed select committee recommends that the Christie administration build a new House of Assembly complex during this parliamentary term, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage announced yesterday.
New rules in House are 'against democracy'
THE new rules for those attending the House of Assembly are anti-democratic and amount to an attempt to manage the media, a former senior parliamentarian charged last night.
Road closures for opening of Parliament
POLICE are warning people to watch out for road closures as the new session of Parliament meets.
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