“FNM shocked as Lewis joins Coalition protest of Immigration Minister” – The Tribune
Excerpt from this article; “CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis raised eyebrows in the Free National Movement yesterday when he joined members of the Coalition of Independents at a protest demanding the resignation of Immigration Minister Keith Bell.
Although the FNM has also called for Mr. Bell’s resignation and believes the Davis administration has inadequately addressed concerns about the actions he took at a recent funeral, the major political parties have been careful to distance themselves from Lincoln Bain’s movement, fearing its immigration rhetoric and views are too extreme.
Mr. Lewis’ appearance alongside COI members shocked some in the FNM, according to three sources who said people found it ill-advised.”
I find it simply amazing that ANYONE would find it “ill advised” or be “shocked” by one Bahamian standing with another group of Bahamians to bring about an end that both groups are advocating for.
We have the Coalition Of Independents protesting against the actions of the Minister of Immigration, the “Hon.” Keith Bell who granted citizenship to a man who had passed away family at his funeral at that funeral; claiming that he was only attempting ti grant the man’s dying wish, while the intent may have been honorable; were they appropriate for that setting?
The question has already been asked by his colleagues that have come to “rescues”, if his actions were illegal and they were not; then the question has be raised, “Do an act have to me illegal for it to be wrong?”
I have found that the New Day government loves to play with semantics to justify any and all of their malfeasance, in order to justify the wrong doings of their fellow Member of Parliament, and even former members of parliament.
To tell the God’s honest truth I do not know if the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as a party or a government has ever committed anything wrong, but then that is another story for another day and I really am no story teller.
Mr. Iram Lewis then goes on to explain the reason behind is action.
“I’m here totally in solidarity with this move because, again, it’s not about colours. It is about The Bahamas,” Mr. Lewis said, standing next to Mr. Bain near the Office of the Prime Minister?”
In my opinion showing a certain a high level of political maturity when it comes to matters that affect the sovereignty of The Bahamas.
I fervently hope that this is someone in the media trying to “fire bun”, to use a term from my father; because in my opinion there is NO reason for anyone in the Free National Movement (FNM); to be “shocked” by this move FNM’s Member of Parliament for Central Grand Bahamawith all of the other issues that need to addressed on a daily basis, like a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has seems to have developed a God” complex and making outlandish statements, even as he faces very serious allegations of sexual assault.
“Food prices will remain elevated’ – Roberts doesn’t expect immediate relief as inflation imported” – The Nassau Guardian – Thursday, June 22, 2023
Excerpt from this article; “Super Value food store chain owner Rupert Roberts said yesterday that notwithstanding all the creative measures employed by buyers in the grocery store industry, particularly within his establishment, food prices will likely remain elevated into next year and will probably continue to rise.
Roberts said the only commodity that he sees going down right now is corned beef.
“Most of the other commodities have gone up,” he said.
“Sugar went up $3 a bale; rice is up. Most commodities have gone up.
“Now, in the next 18 months, I hope they remain the same, but they are likely to go up again.
“So, I don’t know what’s fueling it, but we tripled up on orders from China … and, of course, the freight rates from China have actually come down. We locked in the prices on the China goods at least until the end of this year.
“All of the inflation hasn’t really shown in this country because when we suspect something, we buy [to lock in lowest prices]. We have a 100,000-square-foot warehouse now. Our warehouse is probably a little less than half full, and so we have a lot of opportunity to buy. We have space. We have storage.”
The Budget Debate has wrapped up and to my knowledge this subject; that of some sort of immediate relief to the average Bahamian shopper has not been addressed.
There was a lot to say about the New Cruse Port deal and how it was such a “bad deal for The Bahamas but no one seemed willing or able to offer any immediate solutions to the impact that inflation is having on the average working class of the country.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) New Day government has bragged about their two “major accomplishments” as it concerns the working class; these being the increase of the average wage from two-hundred and ten dollars ($210) to two-hundred and sixty dollars ($260) and the decrease in Value-Added Tax (VAT) to ten percent (10%) but they also seemed unable to show how this decrease along with the addition of VAT to breadbasket items and mediation; which were once exempt from VAT, has benefited the people of the country.
It would appear that the general consensus “on the ground” beside the concerns about immigration and crime is inflation, as revealed by Fred Mitchell, Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Minister of Foreign Affairs and the member of parliament for Fox Hill;
“Speaking in the House of Assembly recently during the 2023/2024 budget debate, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, the MP for Fox Hill, said inflation is clearly the number one issue faced by Bahamians and he is seeing more requests for help from constituents than he has ever seen in his time in politics.
“… It seems to me, I know people say that crime and immigration are issues which concern them, but it seems to me right now that inflation has got to be the number one issue that’s affecting people because the cost of everything has become more expensive,” Mitchell said.”
The New Day government cannot claim that they did not know of this being a major problem when they came into office, as we all knew – if we were paying attention that we were about to go through a round economic period coming out of the pandemic; even as the world began to open up and the economy begun to rebound.
It would appear that the New Day government spent an entire budget debate applying his common tactics of deflection and “smoke and mirrors to’ have the public not notice that they are actually failing the people of The Bahamas, as the double down and make even more promises on the top of those that they made during the campaign season.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) fails for one reason, it is their nature.
The manner in which the Keith Bell, the Ministry of Labour and Immigration, attacked the deal surrounding the new Cruise Port, is indicative of a government and members of parliament that are simply unable to focus on what is important; so they “invent’ things/situations/issues to “deal with”; even if these situations makes them look more incompetent and inept than they already are.
I know that most would say that this is simply impossible but they [The New Day Government] does just this each and every day.
“Shanty town demolition to start ‘this year’ – Bell” – The Tribune March 6th 2023
Excerpt from this article;
“LABOUR and Immigration Minister Keith Bell said he thinks the government will move to demolish shanty towns sometime this year.
The minister was asked during a recent interview about a timeline for when the government will move to raze the illegal structures now that a Supreme Court injunction barring such action has been lifted.
This comes as tensions over the issue continue to mount, with political hopeful Lincoln Bain and several of his supporters being stopped by police a little over a week ago as they tried to demolish homes in a shanty town off Bacardi Road.
Asked about the issue, Mr. Bell responded: “The main thing here is that this is a country, and I’ve repeated this before, this is a country of law and order. Everything has to be done in decency and respect and in those shanty towns, we have three categories of persons.
“While we have the undocumented migrants we also have persons who have legal status here in the country and we have Bahamians living in those shanty towns. So the idea is that when we do go and move to demolish, we identify those Bahamians, and we ensure that they have some place to go, or we provide Social Services to them.”
It would appear that Minister Bell has lost control of this situation as he claims to be simply abiding by the law and order of The Bahamas, but the last time I checked the demolition of the shanty towns was already deemed lawful, so exactly which “law and orders” is the minister referring to?
By the this time, shouldn’t the New Day’s government’s Immigration Minister and all other relevant ministires have had resolved all of the other factors that the Minister of Immigration is suggesting that should have been considered
So what should a Cabinet Minister do when it would appear that his portfolio is failing and he seems lost as how to get it on track?
Deflect of course, but when you do you should really deflect to something that you should be more knowledgeable about and that does not contradict the opinions of the persons whose portfolio that you seemed to now want to be passionately wrong about.
“Bell: Cruise port deal worst ever in history “– The Nassau Guardian
“Although Prime Minister Philip Davis and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper both recently applauded the partnership with Global Ports Holding, which gave birth to the newly opened $300 million Nassau Cruise Port (NCP), Minister of Labour and Immigration Keith Bell yesterday excoriated the former Minnis administration for entering into a “bad deal” for the port — a deal he termed a “national disgrace”.
“It is a bad deal,” said Bell, who used a great portion of his contribution to the 2023/2024 budget debate in the House of Assembly to rip apart the deal, which was signed in 2019.
“As a matter of fact, I would submit that this is the worst deal in the history by any government and any administration in the history of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. I’ve never seen nothing like this, never.”
Bell charged, “When the FNM and the competent authority (former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis) signed this deal, they wrote off hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions, in revenue for at least 27 years.
“What is most disturbing is that the honorable member of Killarney (Minnis) is proud of his deal. Madam Deputy Speaker, to make matters worse, this deal was done by the same government that spent $44 million of taxpayer money in 2009 to dredge the same port that they turned around and gave away.”
Keith Bell continues to talk about the “give away of the port”, a claim that he is unable to substantiate with fact; most of this contribution based on speculation and supposition and most of it spent addressing the Port deal instead of what is happening in Immigration; I guess this is not as important or salacious as the “stories” that he seemed so willing to create concerning a matter that most people would accept his opinion on, if he were able to show some positive moment in his very own portfolio.
Keith Bell’s contribution seems to be indicative of the New Day government’s approach to govern, total unfocused and out of touch with reality and as the saying goes; “you are free to our own opinions’ but not your own facts. So while Bell contradicted the sentiments of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Tourism and Aviation on this matter, he also seemed quite willing to contradict the facts and the numbers by making up his own.
“$85.3 mil. in govt. revenue from cruise port next year – Figures contradict Bell’s claim that govt in deficit position from port deal.” The Nassau Guardian June 15th 2023
Excerpt from this article; “The government of The Bahamas is projected to rake in revenue of $85.3 million next year as a result of the redeveloped Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. (NCP), up from $72.3 million in revenue in 2019, according to numbers released yesterday by NCP.
The NCP release came on the same day that a Cabinet minister claimed the Bahamian people are being robbed as a result of the deal the Minnis administration entered into for a public-private partnership arrangement for the new, state-of-the-art $300 million port.
The $85.3 million in revenue would include $82.8 million in head tax and $2.5 million in lease payments.
Minister of Labour and Immigration Keith Bell claimed that over a five-year period – from 2023 to 2027 – the port will get $575,800,000 in revenue while the government gets a mere $18 million, which he claimed amounts to a deficit when one considers the $44 million The Bahamas government invested over a decade ago to dredge Nassau Harbour.
NCP did not reference Bell in its statement yesterday but outlined facts on the port deal and its projected impact, which directly contradict the information he provided in Parliament while contributing to the budget debate.
NCP noted that it completed the construction of the new berth six and extension of berth one in early 2022, which has materially improved the cruise port’s vessel capacity and consequently the number of passengers coming to Nassau.
In 2023, Nassau is forecasted to surpass 2019’s passenger count by approximately 300,000 passengers and in 2024 the total number of cruise passengers is estimated to climb to 4.6 million passengers.
“As we look forward, Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. forecasts from FY2024 to FY2027 are based on cruise passenger bookings for the next two years and future estimates,” NCP said.
“Notwithstanding the addition of berth number six and the expansion of berth number one, passenger capacity and revenue generation is limited by the number of berths available and the size ships each berth can accommodate. It is also impacted by The Bahamas tourism seasonality.”
The cruise port projects that 4.6 million passengers will visit in 2024 for a total revenue for the port of $34.1 million; five million passengers are expected in 2025 for a total revenue of $47.4 million; 5.2 million are projected for 2026 for a total revenue of $60.4 million; 5.4 million passengers are expected in 2027 for a total revenue of $64.7 million and 5.6 million are forecast for 2028 with a projected revenue of $68.9 million.
The revenues do not represent profits as expenses and dividends to investors are included.
“In summary, the development of the new Nassau Cruise Port is the envy of the Caribbean,” NCP said.”
My opinion to the “Hon.” Keith Bell would be simple and straight to the point. Please stick to your portfolio and get the country out of the bind that you and the New Day government has it in, as it pertains to it not being able to reclaim Crown Land that has been built on illegally by persons that are here illegally. It has become quite apparent that you are now even a failure at spreading cheap nonsensical political propaganda.
Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.
Today is being recognized as Labour Day or Sir. Randol Fawkes Day; the man recognized as “The Father of the Labour Movement”. It is a day set aside as a holiday on the first Friday of June to recognize and celebrate the nard working proletariat This day has been hi-jacked by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), and to hear them tell their story – it is a PLP holiday but the only thing that they have succeeded in doing is to create separate between the average workers based on politics when this day has nothing to do with politics. The PLP has become toxic to the Workers Day Celebrations by first separating the workers from their colleagues, whom they should be walking with, by encouraging them to walk with the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), turning the march into a political event. They further separate the workers from their fellow colleagues by encouraging them to end the march at Gambier House, the PLP Headquarters; instead of encouraging them to end it and socialize together on Arawak Cay. The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has always been a party of separatists and only encourages “togetherness’ with it politically convenient for them as a party and/or government. The PLP fails for one reason, it is their nature. END
“Dead in the water – Govt. kills opposition bid for immigration committee” – The Nassau Guardian 21 February 2023; excerpt from this article; “Parliamentarians last night overwhelmingly voted against the formation of a select committee on immigration, as requested by the opposition.
The vote was 22 nays, five yays, and 10 MPs were absent, including Prime Minister Philip Davis and former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis.
Shortly after the vote, Davis informed the opposition that now is not the time for reports on immigration but action”.
After hearing these words I was assured that Davis and the New Day government was about to rectify a situation that they helped to create shortly after Dorian, so imagine my surprise to find out that the “action” had not yet begun.
“Legal wrangling over shanty town demolitions – Govt. wants order to tear down structures” – The Nassau Guardian 4 April 2023
Excerpt from this article; “The government’s request for a court order to demolish more than 300 buildings in shantytowns across Abaco and New Providence is an attempt to sidestep the law, Fred Smith, KC, argued yesterday, saying that the decision to demolish buildings lies in the hands of the minister responsible for building regulation and not the court.
The government filed a summons and issued notices in both English and Haitian Creole to some residents in shantytowns on Abaco and New Providence who, it argues, breached a Supreme Court injunction by building new structures on the land.
Kayla Green-Smith, who appeared on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General, asked the court to grant an order to demolish the structures and an order for costs.
Both sides appeared via Zoom before Chief Justice Ian Winder yesterday morning.
Green-Smith noted that the government is seeking the demolition of 232 buildings off S.C. Bootle Highway on Abaco; 120 in the shantytown called The Farm located near Treasure Cay; 19 buildings in a shantytown on All Saints Way on New Providence; 14 buildings on Montgomery Road, off Cowpen Road; and five on Butlers Way, off Carmichael Road and Gladstone Road.
Several shantytown residents who were served with notices appeared in court.
Smith, who appeared on behalf of 177 shantytown residents, said the court has no jurisdiction to order demolitions, as the power is vested in the minister.
He argued that what the government is attempting to do is “convert what was a shield of protection into a sword”.
He said there is no jurisdiction in the court to permit that.”, but didn’t Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson just overturn her very own ruling on the demolition of shanty town properties and evictions of residents saying that they can resume and are indeed lawful?
So it would appear that the New day government has not begun the works that has already begun under the former Free National Movement (FNM) administration, even after claiming that they had all legal rights to resume the works, and now may be facing the same type of “roadblock” to the demolition of these illegal shanty towns and illegal structures that they once backed when Davis once called for a “halt to Abaco demolitions”; what a turn of events.
But the argument that that Fred Smith KC presents here is this; “……..the decision to demolish buildings lies in the hands of the minister responsible for building regulation and not the court”, so if this is the case then what exactly is the issue?
Doesn’t the ministry responsible now have the responsibility to go in and make assessments and say which structures must be demolished?
Is the Minister with the responsibility willing to take on this responsibility or is he being asked to stand down and let the issue run its course?
Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.
This past week the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government, led by the “Hon.” Philip ‘Brave Davis, basically told the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association to stop bit**ing and to make do with the fifty-four cents (54 cents) per gallon that the government was allowing them to make at the time.
The New Day government went even further putting its foot on the necks of these very same people by suggesting that if they, the New Day government, were to give the petroleum retailers what they were asking for then the New Day government would have to be rise the price of gasoline and in a sign of mercy they, the New day government went on to say that they would not burden the people of The Bahamas with such an increase, who are already struggling with the high cost of living.
This stance would and should look favorable for a government that is looking out for the welfare of its citizens; but is laughable if the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association were actually asking for the government to increase the cost of petroleum in the country and in light of all of the other taxes that the New Day government has already burdened the people of The Bahamas with.
“DESPERATE TIMES: Petroleum retailers say lay-offs inevitable due to fuel profit margins” -Eyewitness News
Excerpt from this article;
“NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Petroleum dealers could be forced to lay off staff early in the new year if the government does not make an adjustment to their margins on gasoline and diesel, according to Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association vice presidency Vasco Bastian.
In an Eyewitness News interview, Bastian noted that petroleum retailers have all year been pushing for an adjustment to their margins and have had formal and informal discussions with the government.
“The government has made some adjustments with us on a small scale in the background to address some of our needs but the main issue has always been and continues to be the margin on gas and the margin on diesel,” said Bastian.
Retailers currently earn a fixed $0.54 per gallon margin on gasoline, and $0.34 for diesel — margins that do not change when fuel prices go up.
“The government decided to raise the minimum wage. How do you absorb that in the petroleum industry where the margin is fixed? From that $0.54 cents on gas we pay our light bill, water bill, and salaries, we buy goods for the store, and order fuel – all from that $0.54 cents. You come and tell us that you are going to go up on certain aspects of our model but you have not dealt with the margin increase,” said Bastian.”
Retailers currently earn a fixed $0.54 per gallon margin on gasoline, and $0.34 for diesel — margins that do not change when fuel prices go up.
“The government decided to raise the minimum wage. How do you absorb that in the petroleum industry where the margin is fixed? From that $0.54 cents on gas we pay our light bill, water bill, and salaries, we buy goods for the store, and order fuel – all from that $0.54 cents. You come and tell us that you are going to go up on certain aspects of our model but you have not dealt with the margin increase,” said Bastian.”
So it would appear that the Bahamas Petroleum Retailer Association is not asking the government to increase the cost of petroleum but rather adjust the margin to make it more equitable, so that they can actually survive in the current economy, so why would the Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr. Michael Halkitis make it seem otherwise?
“Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis said yesterday that the government is not prepared to entrain any increase in margins for petroleum retailers if it means the price of gas at the pump will increase and appealed to the Bahamas Petroleum Association to talk with the government”; first this is not what it seems that the retailers are asking for and secondly the retailer have indicated that they have been talking with the government – with is the disconnect?
Why does the Davis administration seem unwilling to adjust the margin to accommodate the retailers so that they can actually remain open?
The language used by Economic Affairs Minister; Michael Halkitis is very troubling when he says; “….the government is not minded to do anything that will increase the cost of fuel at the pump.”, as I have asked, is that is the action being suggested by the retailers suggesting this?
There seems to be an attempt to pit the petroleum retailers against the people by the government . This within itself would be a vile and cowardly act on the government’s part.
Why this the New Day and “caring” government being so uncaring and deceitful on this matter?
Shanty town demolition will begin ‘this year’ – Bell” – The Tribune
Excerpt from this article; “LABOUR and Immigration Minister Keith Bell said he thinks the government will move to demolish shanty towns sometime this year.
The minister was asked during a recent interview about a timeline for when the government will move to raze the illegal structures now that a Supreme Court injunction barring such action has been lifted.
This comes as tensions over the issue continue to mount, with political hopeful Lincoln Bain and several of his supporters being stopped by police a little over a week ago as they tried to demolish homes in a shanty town off Bacardi Road.
Asked about the issue, Mr. Bell responded: “The main thing here is that this is a country, and I’ve repeated this before, this is a country of law and order. Everything has to be done in decency and respect and in those shanty towns, we have three categories of persons.
“While we have the undocumented migrants we also have persons who have legal status here in the country and we have Bahamians living in those shanty towns. So the idea is that when we do go and move to demolish, we identify those Bahamians, and we ensure that they have some place to go, or we provide Social Services to them.
“And that is what I think we are seeking to achieve, that when we do go we have all our ducks lined up and there is no push back. And we ensure that once we go in there and we clear the shanty towns that we ensure that there is no rebuilding of the shanty towns. So that is what I think we want to make sure we get it right — we only have one bite at the apple. “
It would appear that New Day government is “kicking this can down the street”, as it pertains to this matter because when the courts put the injunction in place to prevent the pervious Free National Movement (FNM) from demolishing these homes, they objected basically on the same grounds that they seem to be pushing back today; “The main thing here is that this is a country, and I’ve repeated this before, this is a country of law and order. Everything has to be done in decency and respect and in those shanty towns, we have three categories of persons.” One thing to date that this New day government has not proven is that the previous administration was not about to carry out the process in a decent and humane manner and also but they have proven that they have wasted a lot of time attempting to prove that the manner in which the previous administration was going to carry out the process was unlawful; they owe the country an apology for setting this movement back by years by not standing with Bahamians as they attempted then, to begin to mitigate the proliferation of these unsafe and illegal communities.
So now, again the New Day government promises action; because according to the prime minister; “PRIME Minister Philip Davis said he will not at this time or ever support a House of Assembly select committee on immigration, calling it unnecessary and questioning the motivation for the committee itself” – The Tribune, basically saying that the time for talk is over and now it is time for action – well Mr. Prime Minister, we await the action but this hollow sound of that empty tin can being kicked along the halls of parliament is extremely deafening.
Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.
The very same Supreme Court Justice that put an injunction in place to prohibit the demolition of shanty towns and illegal structures now has removed it.
“Green light given to clear shanties– Judge says policies to demolish unregulated communities is lawful” – The Nassau Guardian; February 13th 2023
Excerpt from this article;
“The decision of Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson that the Minnis administration’s shantytowns eradication policy and its actions in seeking to execute it were legal, clears the way for the Davis administration to carry through on its own stated plan to address the vexing and long-standing issue of irregular communities across The Bahamas.
In a ruling that had been highly anticipated, Grant-Thompson rejected the claims made by a group of shantytown residents that the government acted illegally in issuing notices for them to vacate land and violated their constitutional rights on multiple fronts, including their right not to be deprived of their property, their right not to be treated in an inhuman or degrading fashion, and their right to freedom from discrimination.
“The policy and the subsequent decisions were constitutional,” stated Grant-Thompson in the ruling handed down on Friday.
“Any interference with any right was justifiable and applied reasonably to obtain a legitimate aim/purpose. It was further submitted that such policies were not discriminatory in their effect. The applicants were not unlawfully deprived of their property.”
As such, the judge discharged the injunction she granted on August 3, 2018 which restrained the government from demolishing buildings in shantytowns on New Providence or elsewhere in The Bahamas.
The judge also cleared the way for the disconnection of utilities illegally connected, though she said the actions of the authorities ‘should be humane and sensitive to the needs of this potentially vulnerable community’ and in full compliance with human rights conventions.”
On Friday past in her ruling the Supreme Court Justice says; “The Court is satisfied that the Minister has the authority to remove or require the removal of dangerous or dilapidated buildings even to the point of demolishing them. Such structures would obviously pose a risk to the health and safety of the public. As a result of this ruling, the injunction which was in place covering the ‘shantytowns’ is hereby lifted.”
The first and most obvious question that I have is when did the Supreme Court Justice come to the realization that these structures would “pose a risk to the health and safety of the public”?
Now we must not jump to the conclusion that the decision was compromised by politics, but it is curious that only now the Supreme Court Justice finds “The policy and the subsequent decisions were constitutional,” what has changed since the Minnis administration initially put the policy in place?
There has been no referendum to change the constitution.
Are we playing politics with the lives of persons that we claim to be concerned about?
Are we playing politics with policies which, if implemented when they were first issued, would have move the country that much further along in “the plan to address the vexing and long-standing issue of irregular communities across The Bahamas”?
Now the New Day government claims a “victory” in having this injunction overturned, when they we sympathetic to having it put in place in the first place.
Just shameful or is that shameless?
Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.END
One of the greatest transgressions that the Minnis administration committed against the Bahamian people upon coming to power was when they increased Value-Added Tax (VAT) from seven and a half percent (7.5%) to twelve percent (12%). They did this after telling the people that taxation was a lazy man’s way to raise revenue and they were heavily criticized and ridiculed by the people of the country, even those that put their trust in them and voted for them and also by the opposition at the time; a Philip ‘Brave’ Davis led Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). This is notably one of the “nails in the coffin” of the Minnis administration.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in opposition promised to do better; as they claimed that the Minnis led Free National Movement (FNM) government, was having no consideration on the less fortunate amongst us and was burdening them with the increased VAT rate.
“Govt. approves NIB rate hike” – The Nassau Guardian
Excerpt from this article; “The Cabinet of The Bahamas has green-lighted a National Insurance Board (NIB) rate increase, which is expected to take effect July 1, The Nassau Guardian understands.
The government has made no announcement as yet, but a 1.5 percent increase has reportedly been agreed.
Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Myles LaRoda, who has responsibility for NIB, did not confirm Cabinet’s specific decision on the matter, but did indicate to reporters yesterday that a decision was made.
“That matter has been dealt with at Cabinet,” said LaRoda when asked for an update.
“We are at a decision. We have a little bit of cleaning up to do with regard to the decision that was made and we will be coming forth shortly with the direction that the National Insurance Board will go with regards to the [rise in] contribution rates and other recommendations that were made in the report that the executive management team of the National Insurance Board has recommended to the government that in their view needs to change.”
There has only ever been one NIB rate increase since NIB started in 1974 – the rate increased from 8.8 percent to 9.8 percent in 2010.
LaRoda has repeatedly said an increase for NIB cannot be avoided.
Early last month, The Nassau Guardian reported that the board of NIB wrote the government recommending that it move ahead with an increase of between three quarters of a percentage point and 1.5 percentage point to begin to save the fund from depletion in 2028 as was projected in the latest actuarial review presented in January 2022.”
Prime Minister Philip Davis said last April and again last June that a rate increase was not in the cards, but the board had recommended that the government move quickly to effect the increase in time for January 1, 2023.”
ommended that the government move quickly to effect the increase in time for January 1, 2023.”
The former Minnis administration, at one point seemed to have at least made an attempt at mitigating their “transgression” of the higher VAT rate by removing VAT from breadbasket items and medications. The New Day Davis led Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government has reduced VAT to 10 percent (10%), as promised and has also managed to increase the minimum wage from Two Hundred and Ten Dollars ($210) to two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250) per week, also as promised, but along with these ‘great” works they seemed to have also increased every other tax even putting ten percent (10%) VAT on the once VAT free breadbasket items and medication, basically negating the minimum wage increase, as that extra fifty dollars per week will now go toward increased taxes and a higher electricity rate, that came about due to the negligence of the New Day government.
Now the National Insurance (NI) rates have been increased and although it may be just one and half percent (1.5%), all knew that at the very moment that the prime minister made the statement that NI rates would not be increased, we knew to expect them to actually to be increased.
Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.
“Sears: At no time did I deliberately mislead House” – The Nassau Guardian 2 Feb. 2023
“Opposition Leader Michael Pintard charged yesterday that Minister of Works Alfred Sears misled Parliament, not once, but eight times on the Davis administration’s failure to execute certain fuel hedge trades in the fall of 2021 to lock in fuel prices and keep Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) fuel charge stable.
Pintard raised the issue once again in the House of Assembly, prompting Sears to spring to his feet and declare he never intentionally misled the House.
Sears took exception to Pintard’s use of a certain word to describe the Davis administration’s actions with respect to what he (Pintard) termed a lack of transparency over the issue.
The speaker of the House ordered the particular word struck from the record of Parliament, but Pintard fired back, saying even if the particular word is not used, “In English, it is called a synonym. It just has the same meaning. You have misled the House on no less than eight occasions on your feet.”
Pintard told Parliament, “We have not forgotten, the prime minister has not yet relieved the member for Fort Charlotte (Sears) of his duties, nor has he decided that he will demit office, but, Madam Speaker, I remind the public that we are going to pay over $100 million because of ill-advised decisions by this administration …”
It appears that the “good” minister is either suggesting that he did mislead the House or as a seasoned attorney; a King’s Council no less, is trying to convince us that he may have unknowingly misled The House?
All I can say is loose the donkey!
“FNM blasts govt. over BPL’s $150M arrears” – The Nassau Guardian
Excerpt from this article; “The Free National Movement (FNM) yesterday renewed its call for Minister of Works Alfred Sears to resign over what it insisted has been the “bungling” of the affairs of Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) as evidenced by a revelation in the government’s newly released Fiscal Strategy Report 2022 that the utility has arrears of $150 million.
The report, which Prime Minister Philip Davis tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, states under the government liabilities section at the end of the document, “The recent disclosure of approximately $150 million of payment arrears of Bahamas Power and Light represents a significant unbudgeted liability of the government.
“To ensure continued provision of essential electrical services to the public, the government has committed to ensuring payment of this liability by the corporation.”
The opposition party has sought to link the BPL arrears to the Davis administration’s decision to reject recommendations made by BPL’s fuel hedge committee in the fall of 2021 for the government to execute fuel hedge trades to lock in oil prices and keep the BPL fuel charge stable.”
The FNM has contended over months that the failure to conduct those transactions, and the prime minister’s decision to reverse a BPL fuel charge increase announced by BPL last February, directly resulted in consumers having now to stomach a substantially higher fuel charge which is being rolled out over months.
The FNM has taken particular aim at Sears, who has told conflicting reports in Parliament over the BPL matter, initially stating that he had had no briefing nor received any advice on the hedging program.
Sears more recently acknowledged that he in fact was privy to such advice, and that it was the minister of finance who decided against executing the trades – a claim Davis, who is minister of finance, has denied.”
So, first Minister Sears says that he had no knowledge of the briefing nor had he received any advice on the hedging program, only to then “acknowledged that he in fact was privy to such advice”, and at this point it would appear that Prime Minister Davis left him in the deep end by himself, by going on to claim that he never saw the report even though it is suggested that it was the minister of finance that decided against executing the trades.
It would appear, as you look back on the entire mess, that the minister’s action, whether “unintentional” or through sheer incompetence and ineptitude will have a negative effect on the rest of us; but he sees no reason why he should face no consequences for his actions.
Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.
My Morning Paper 