‘What PM says is up to him’

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

As of Tuesday, November 21, 2017

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRESS Secretary Anthony Newbold has defended Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis from criticism that he makes too many premature announcements, saying Dr Minnis is entitled to “make statements that he feels are appropriate for him to make,” including about major matters not yet discussed with his Cabinet colleagues”.

His statement came during the weekly press briefing as he was pressed on whether Dr Minnis too often speaks about major initiatives before ensuring that key details are fleshed out.

There have been unanswered questions about several of the administration’s plans that Dr Minnis has announced since the May 10 general election.

Weeks since he announced his intention to turn Ragged Island into a green island, for instance, details of this have been scant and the cost of the project is unknown.

Mr Newbold said yesterday his last information on the matter is that Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) was “attempting to ensure that what they were supposed to do [in Ragged Island] is done properly and efficiently.”

Dr Minnis also pledged in September to table a Mandatory Evacuation Bill in Parliament, but it has been ten weeks since his initial timeline for tabling of that bill, which has been missed.

Mr Newbold admitted yesterday the bill has not been sent out for consultation as Dr Minnis indicated it would. He could not say if the bill has as yet been drafted.

There was also no action after Dr Minnis announced a June 30 deadline for dealing with politicians and high-ranking civil servants who failed to make their annual disclosures in accordance with the law.

To this, Mr Newbold said Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) Chairman Myles Laroda informed officials prior to the June 30 deadline that all disclosures have been delivered.

“The last information we got from the commission chairman was that I think everyone had disclosed,” Mr Newbold said. “That was the last information up to that point. Whatever the deadline was, and it may have been June 30, my understanding was the members and those people who were obligated to disclose had done so. Again, I don’t know that that has changed.”

However, this contradicts what Mr Laroda told The Tribune after the deadline passed.

Mr Laroda, on July 12, said at least three people failed to file their disclosures in the time the prime minister allotted. Before yesterday, officials tended to explain the inaction on this matter on the fact that the initial deadline coincided closely with the expiration date of board appointments. Mr Laroda has also said the PDC had problems meeting because of a mould issue in their office.

“The prime minister makes statements that he feels are appropriate for him to make,” Mr Newbold said yesterday. “He will make statements sometimes without consulting with the Cabinet and he has a right to do that. There will be times when he will of course consult with Cabinet before he makes statements, but he’s the prime minister, he can make statements.”

Asked if it is important to announce plans that do not prompt more questions than answers - such as the administration’s agenda for expanding citizenship rights - Mr Newbold said: “Whatever is brought out, there will always be more questions asked and raised.

“Does he have to have it all spelled out at the moment that he makes a statement?”

BahamasForBahamians 6 years, 4 months ago

The proverbial sh*t is now hitting the fan as hubert's mouthpiece distances himself from hubert.

Anyone want tickets to see this shit show front seat can contact BahamasForBahamians at his tribune location.

LOL

TalRussell 6 years, 4 months ago

Comrade 'ACE-CEE,' whatever happened to It's the (consultation) peoples time?
Of course the PM, does not have to have it all programmed into his GPS at the moment that he starts drives east - then he mind undergoes a dilemma - should I just fuc# up minds my red colleagues in cabinet and do an abrupt U-turn to heads in the westward direction. {Comrades, an impossibility for anyone us have made these two man's 'peas in pot' up on May 10, 2017?|}

John 6 years, 4 months ago

Regardless of how much power you may think you have you are not as powerful as you think you are if someone has to tell you what to say or when to shut up. And that’s the major problem America has with Donald Trump. He prefers to go unscripted. Bareback if you please. And for Americans and the world it’s like peeling onions. You know you will eventually get squirted in your eyes and it will burn. You just don’t know when. And today with all the cameras and microphones in the media (scribes) and in the public in general they are there not to capture the news specifically, but to capture the moment when Hubert Minnis slips up and makes a jackass of himself. Fortunately for Trump he doesn’t really give a half cent for what the public thinks about him and the fact that he has had years of experience in television and live broadcast. Minnis is less prepared and a major mess up can be fatal to him politically.

Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 4 months ago

Here's a much more accurate translation of what Minnis said: "Ya stupid voters get swing in da election campaign - I ain't driving West no more - and it ain't no longer da people's time - it's my time, and I now driving East!"

TalRussell 6 years, 4 months ago

Comrades! My sources feel strongly there will be two top red shirts who are already aware they will be forced to resign from their high positions in the red shirts government? If my sources are correct, it will be something news worthy highly controversial which will put a major dent in the picture perfect clean image the red party likes present to the public.

joeblow 6 years, 4 months ago

What he says is up to him but what he says also affects us all!

licks2 6 years, 4 months ago

Yall know what. . .I went and did a survey of "the man on the street. . .only one woman said that she is concerned". . .all. . .I mean all professional and everyday man on the street ALL CONCLUDED THAT DOC "GAT WE IN THIS ONE. . .HE IS CHANGING THE ROOTS OF THE CORRUPTED ELITE. . .HE IS BREAKING DOWN THE OLD FOUNDATION AND HIS BRILLIANT GROUP IN GOVERNMENT IS REBUILDING A NEW WAY FOR OUR NATION. . .WE GAT HIS BACK! ONE ACCOUNTANT SAID. . .THE DPM IS ON IT. . .THIS NATION WILL SEE AN AWAKENING IN A FEW YEARS. . .THE EGGS ARE BREAKING TO MAKE THAT NEW OMELETTE. . .WE DON'T SEE WHAT THE PRESS TRYING TO TELL US. OUR LAZY PRESS SITTING ON THEIR TAILS AND WOULD NOT GO AND CHECK ALL ISSUES TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING. . .THEY JUST SIT WHERE THEY SIT. . .AMONG THEIR FRIENDS AND SAY "THE PEOPLE THEM ARE MAD"! WHAT PEOPLE ARE THEY REPRESENTING. . .THE NATIVES ARE GLAD FOR THIS NEW BREATH OF FRESH AIR BLOWING OUT THE GRIP OF THE ELITE!!

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