The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER leader of government business Wayne Munroe defended the number of absences of Fred Mitchell and John Pinder in the House of Assembly, but said he couldn’t speak to McKell Bonaby’s after records showed the trio had the worst attendance rates since the Davis administration assumed office.

Mr Munroe, who is also the National Security Minister, said he was making no excuses for anyone, but maintained that none of their absences had hampered the government’s legislative agenda.

Records obtained by The Tribune revealed that each MP attended fewer than 80 percent of sittings during the period

Fox HIll MP Fred Mitchell, the Foreign Affairs Minister and PLP Chairman, missed 76 sittings for an attendance rate of 60.8 percent. He was followed by Mr Pinder, the Central and South Abaco MP with 55 absences and Mr Bonaby, the Mount Moriah MP and chairman of the Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority, with 52.

Yesterday, Mr Munroe defended Mr Mitchell, saying his role as foreign affairs minister requires extensive travel.

He said Mr Pinder, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism,  also travels frequently to advance the country’s tourism agenda, which he said has contributed to record visitor numbers.

“The other person is Mr Bonaby,” he said. “I can't speak specifically to him, but certainly he didn't rack up sufficient absences to be debarred from his seat. There are rules that would have your seat declared vacant if you miss too many meetings.”

Those with the best attendance records included Marco City MP Michael Pintard, leader of the FNM; MICAL MP Basil McIntosh; and St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright.

They were followed by Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin, North Eleuthera MP Sylvanus Petty, Carmichael MP Keith Bell and Mr Munroe, each of whom recorded attendance rates at or above 90 percent.

Prime Minister Philip Davis, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, Myles LaRoda, Dr Michael Darville, Pia Glover-Rolle Bacchus Rolle, Alfred Sears, Clay Sweeting, Jomo Campbell, Mario Bowleg, Ginger Moxey, Leon Lundy, Zane Lightbourne, Wayde Watson, Kirk Cornish, Jamahl Strachan, Lisa Rahming, Leroy Major, Dr Hubert Minnis, Adrian Gibson and Kwasi Thompson were among those with attendance rates above 80 percent.