The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE government's survey of businesses adversely affected by the ongoing road works is nothing but a shallow political tactic, Coconut Grove Business League spokesperson Ethric Bowe claimed yesterday.

Mr Bowe was responding to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham's announcement that the scheme was progressing well and that some businesses have already been compensated.

Mr Ingraham gave the update as he toured the construction site of the Princess Margaret Hospital's new critical care facility, which is 20 per cent complete.

He said: "We have already responded to the request from two small business owners. One was a request from a hairdresser who had a business on Prince Charles Drive, who was able to demonstrate that the road works affected her negatively. She was unable to make her regular payments and get her customers in there. We were able to assist her financially.

"We will do likewise for other small businesses as soon as we are able to verify the information we get," Mr Ingraham said.

But Mr Bowe said the government's response is just not good enough.

He said: "We had a forensic accountant look at (the questionnaire) and he determined that a lot more would need to be done to make a good determination.

"It's going to be a lot more complicated to assess the damages of the small businesses. More complications come now as the small businesses that are still open cannot afford a forensic accountant, so the only practical thing is to go back to court and get them to appoint one.

"How do you do an evaluation for the car wash or the take-away that closed, or the one business on Prince Charles that had to let six of their staff members go?"

Mr Bowe said Mr Ingraham also needs to tell the Bahamian people how he is able to "just give away public funds".

He said: "It is against the law to just give away the public's money without it being budgeted. Had the House still been sitting, there could have been an inquiry by the Public Accounts Committee."

Three weeks ago, Mr Ingraham told FNM supporters his administration is compiling information, including the expenses, revenue, profits, accounts receivable and payable during the period 2007 to 2011 for each business that claims to have been affected.

"Businesses that are in operation as well as any that may have closed temporarily as a result of the roadwork will be included in the survey.

"The results of the survey will help us determine how best we might lend economic or financial assistance to those business establishments adversely impacted by the works," Mr Ingraham said.