The Tribune

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday released the details of his much talked about anti-corruption plan, saying it aims to restore transparency and accountability to the country.

However the plan was not detailed and revealed no new initiatives. Instead it only repeated much of what the Killarney MP has already presented to supporters.

Included in the plan are a Freedom of Information Act, term limits for Prime Ministers, a recall system for poor performing members of Parliament and a transparency in government act to ensure that funding allocated to MPs is utilised for specific projects.

Dr Minnis said a plan like this was needed to combat the damage done by the PLP government, which has sought to enrich supporters and cronies.

“Bahamians deserve better,” Dr Minnis said in a brief press statement yesterday. “They deserve a government focused on helping them and working towards making their lives better – not a government focused on helping themselves and their friends at the expense of all the people.  The FNM will enact tough, new anti-corruption laws that will bring about true transparency and hold government accountable to the people.

The FNM government will enact: a Freedom of Information Act that will make it easier for all Bahamians to have full access to the workings and the decisions of the government; the Whistle Blower Protection Act- to protect those persons who are willing to report illegal activities by those in government; strengthening the Prevention of Corruption and Bribery Act so that politicians are held accountable for any corrupt activities and term limits for Prime Ministers to ensure that no politician can abuse their mandate to serve the people by manipulating the levers of government to attain absolute power.

He added: “(In addition there will b) a recall system for poorly performing MP’s– to ensure that MPs faithfully serve the people who elected them; a transparency in government Act that will ensure that funding allocated to MP’s will be utilized for specific projects identified by their constituencies and make the Public Disclosure Commission independent and free from political oversight.”

He said the party’s goal is to return power to the people.

This can only happen through true transparency and accountability, Dr Minnis said.

He said the people deserve to know they have a government working for them, not working to enrich themselves. 

The Bahamian people and the FNM will work hard every day and in every way to give them better, Dr Minnis said.