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Christie fails to address international trip cost

Prime Minister Perry Christie

Prime Minister Perry Christie

As of Thursday, December 5, 2013

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday went into great detail to explain his trip to Sri Lanka with stops in London and Rome, but failed to address the mounting concerns over its cost to taxpayers.

And neither did Mr Christie, who is the Minister of Finance, say how many persons were a part of the delegation or give any idea of when Bahamians could expect him to reveal a complete breakdown of the money spent during his travels. However, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said that the trip’s expenditure will be investigated once financial records are available.

Mr Christie left the country for 11 days on November 11. He returned on November 22. During that time, members of the public expressed concern of why the government with its monetary constraints sent such a large delegation with the Prime Minister and why he made so many stops in addition to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Readers of tribune242.com also questioned whether Leslie Bethel, son of PLP adviser Sir Baltron Bethel, was travelling as a part of the PLP’s contingent, reported to be around 30 strong. Mr Christie later denied that Leslie Bethel was a part of the contingent or that a conflict of interest existed despite holding discussions in the presence of Sir Baltron, Mr Christie’s adviser.

Describing the expedition as an “important series of interfaces,” Mr Christie said it was expected, prudent, and necessary for the Bahamas to assert regional leadership.

During a stop in London, Mr Christie spoke with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency to examine proposed projects and technical assistance for the country.

While at the twenty-third CHOGM, which brings together the Commonwealth’s 53 member states, Mr Christie said discussions took place between himself and the Prime Minister of New Zealand. The talks centred around the Value Added Tax (VAT) System and improving the fiscal position of the Bahamas.

The journey also took the Bahamian delegation to the Vatican in Rome where the Prime Minister discussed issues, including the contributions of the Roman Catholic Church to the Bahamas and the Haitian migration problem and the fight against HIV and AIDS.

That stop led Mr Christie to meet with the owner of the Waldorf Astoria, a hotel which the Prime Minister said he lived in.

Executives of the high-end hotel chain have been invited to explore opportunities in the Bahamas, Mr Christie said.

Comments

hj 10 years, 11 months ago

The cost of the trip will be revealed right after PC will close down the web shops and buy back BTC.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

And the 2nd NIB audit report. And the report on the Blackbeard cay developers

canesfins 10 years, 11 months ago

It was made clear that Leslie Bethel was not part of the delegation and the delegation was not even close to 30 strong.

banker 10 years, 11 months ago

Ahhh ... so a Minister of the Crown responds. Excellent. So what was the cost? PS. Welcome. Its good to have accessibility when most of the shop is closed. I am a little disappointed that the MOFA never arranged a proper reception by the Government for a Commonwealth leader.

You are probably the only foward thinking minister with a global perspective in spite of what the MOFA thinks of himself, so I would urge you to be bold, and open things with a can opener -- like the business climate and the ease of doing business in the Bahamas. Just do it. You will build a legacy, instead of the usual status quo and the quid pro quo that your colleagues exact.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

How many people are going to South Africa to represent us?

bismark 10 years, 11 months ago

he fails in everything else,this man needs to retire,i think he has given enough.

Honestman 10 years, 11 months ago

The trip to the Vatican smacks of nothing more than an expensive photo opportunity. There was NO need for the PM to make such a pilgrimage in these difficult economic times. The PM will have been fully briefed on the cost of the trip prior to its commencement and it is disingenuous of him to suggest otherwise. He ain't foolin' nobody with that one. Don't hold your breath for a breakdown of the cost - it won't be forthcoming.

John 10 years, 11 months ago

If you send your wife to the food store and you ask her to bring back all of the receipts, that marriage is doomed to failure. If you have a government that goes on a journey in search of billions of dollars in investments for your country and you ask them to account for every penny, you are ungrateful!I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about. Henry Ford A sign of wisdom and maturity is when you come to terms with the realization that your decisions cause your rewards and consequences. You are responsible for your life, and your ultimate success depends on the choices you make. – Denis Waitley, author and coach -

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

Oh please. Utter foolishness again. Accountability is a Godly concept. God is a God of records, his most famous record, the bible. He's recording his 2nd most famous record at this very moment, and according to his word, he will judge us according to that record, he will hold us ACCOUNTABLE for everything that we do. His prophets kept his example and they kept records, Joseph kept meticulous records, the Israelites had scribes, Ezra was a scribe.

I don't know which pastor blinded you and told you if you ask questions of his use of church money you don't have faith in God.

To continue this flawed example..sigh...A man and woman get divorced because she wasted all their money on Gucci purchases then tried to hide it. They meet 5yrs later, she apologizes and he gives her a 2nd chance. Pretty soon she's doing the same thing again. She goes to Fendi and buys bags, clothes and shoes when school fees are due next week, rent is due at the end of the month and the cupboards are bare. That marriage is doomed to failure.

Now I do believe God is in charge, yes, but he doesn't expect us to be foolish. A fool and his money and all that.

Maybe God is trying to tell us that we need all women leadership. - Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin. In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

John 10 years, 11 months ago

There is more than one way to account. If there is food in the house, the meals are well prepared and the house is well taken care off then is there still a need for receipts? Likewise if the governments trip was successful and investors come and put their money in the country, isn't it nit picking to ask for receipts? God is not petty! and no one blinded me, in fact it appears that my vision is greater than yours, because I can see the bigger picture.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

And I can see Russia from my house....and that's all I have to say about that

John 10 years, 11 months ago

So you left the Bahamas? I can see the heavens from my house!

John 10 years, 11 months ago

Since you bought it up (about the Pope and all) the parable about the silver coins refers to the 10 commandments. As you know the Catholic church removed one of them (a sliver coin) and made another one into two. God is saying when this woman (Catholic church) finds this coin (commandment) is replaces it back, there will be great rejoicing. He did not leave nine coins, he left TEN. Rejoicing in heaven and on earth.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

My what skills of interpretation you have..one coin split into two

John 10 years, 11 months ago

so are you saying you cannot change a dime into two nickles?...geesshhh!!

Honestman 10 years, 11 months ago

Now I believe it is right and proper than the government of The Bahamas should be represented at Mandela's State funeral but we don't need an entourage.

John 10 years, 11 months ago

If I was the prime minister and it was economically feasible, I would have every (Black) Bahamian at that funeral...real talks

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

If wishes were horses beggars would ride...

Wait a second, suppose a white Bahamian posted "I'd take every "white" Bahamian to the Pope's funeral if I could"? Remember that white people fought with Martin Luther King and white people fought for Mandela's release. There's no "skin colour attributable to "good" people. I don't know why you'd inject division where division isn't necessary...

John 10 years, 11 months ago

I never said White Bahamians could not go I said I would ensure that every Black Bahamian went. You try to construe my comment as being a racial one. But my comment is based on the fact that it was black people who were the victim of aparthied. It was the victims of discrimination that Nelson Mandela fought for. Black Bahamians had already won their battle and was able to support the effort of Nelson Mandela. Now we fight another form of discrimination in this country. Bahamians vs foreigners

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

you try to construe my comment as being a racial one ...That's funny:)

B_I_D___ 10 years, 11 months ago

I am Bahamian and I take GREAT offense to the 'Black' reference here. I am white, and I have the utmost respect for Mandela...why should I be discriminated against you racist @$$. It always comes down to frikkin black and white with you guys. Maybe when you meet your white god at the pearly gates your attitude may change...if he lets you in.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

Divisiveness is a cancer. I don't know what God he serves...my God is colour blind, "for man looketh at the outward appearance but God looketh at the heart"

John 10 years, 11 months ago

You couldn't even buy a Bahamian citizenship

B_I_D___ 10 years, 11 months ago

My family has been here longer than yours, I can almost guarantee it...some of the original eleutheran settlers that imported your ignorant self here...so shove off you troll.

John 10 years, 11 months ago

I repeat you couldn't even buy a Bahamian citizenship..maybe that is why you so bitter and hating on real Bahamians.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

And what the is a "real" Bahamian? Someone who ignores the fact that Pindling aided and abetted drug smuggling?

B_I_D___ 10 years, 11 months ago

Nice one...family were involved with the government at the time Pindling gained power and took the country independent...sad days for sure, the country has just plummeted into oblivion and despair.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

@John, you don't even know this person, where is your inspiration coming from for this drivel?

John 10 years, 11 months ago

by their fruits ye shall know them..go and read the posts he has written..everyone is full of bitterness, hate and resentment!

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

Do you listen to yourself? What does that have to do with his citizenship???

B_I_D___ 10 years, 11 months ago

I ain't worried...citizen and passport holder LONG before dear John was in diapers or even a wet dream of his mammies...too bad he can't see past his phone cards.

ohdrap4 10 years, 11 months ago

But you are not the prime minister If it were economically feasible, this govt would have every plp at that funeral, then a little stop to see robert mugabe

John 10 years, 11 months ago

The thing about all this is many who are making all the negative comments are not even Bahamians. Take their passports at the airport and stamp 'access denied' in them and most of the (unjustified) criticism will fall away.

concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago

@john what is so funny about you and the Bible ,it is a book written by white jews that named themselves Gods" chosen people" Then in the beginning there was a big discussion btw , matthew ,mark ,luke and john and they stated that only Jews could be christians ..That passport remark shows what a little xenophopic man you are ..I don,t think God had any race chosen over another and i can assure you the Bahamas is no more blessed that any other nations ,,remember nations are man made .John you really are a twit ,,

concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago

@JOHN ,,oh no the old tired rhetric ,"dey ain, even Bahamian " bro how old are you ??

John 10 years, 11 months ago

They say when you throw a 'rock' in a crowd, da man who holla is the one who get hit..

John 10 years, 11 months ago

Still waiting on the five phone card vendors who are happy with Cable and Wireless paying them four cents on the dollar to do top up...how old are you?

John 10 years, 11 months ago

I don't have to take a night class to know it is wrong for a foreign company to come in this country and take advantage of Bahamians because of their disposition. Why don't you take a day class and tell me how one can run a company on a 4% margin.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

I was talking about the phone card vendors. No one is forced into any single profession. If your current profession is not paying you the wage that you want, do the necessary work to upgrade yourself or change professions. After months you still have this misguided belief that BTC has an obligation to make another businessman profitable, that's insane.

John 10 years, 11 months ago

That is your opinion. But by the same token Cable and Wireless behind the face of Marlon Johnson does not have a right to come in this country and disrupt the livelihood of hundreds of Bahamians under the guise of making communications better for the country. It may be insane but how can a publicly traded company like Cable and wireless say that they are trying to get their EBITADA to be THIRTY PERCENT OF GROSS PROFIT when they want their vendors who account for $100 million in sales to work on a FOUR PERCENT MARGIN? Put all your prejudices aside and give a logical answer if only for once

banker 10 years, 11 months ago

Sigh ... the country is doomed.

Emac 10 years, 11 months ago

Not really doomed banker. In my opinion, the majority of the comments here show invaluable insight into this discussion: So this illustrates that we do have some highly intelligent Bahamians. But on the other hand, the majority of Bahamians do think like John: Shoots! So we are doomed. This religion thing really gat us all twisted. Respect each other and follow the laws of society and everything would be grand.

Bahamianpride 10 years, 11 months ago

This dialogue here is good, regardless of opinions we can all agree people who have been put in these positions of public trust must answer to the people on how the people's money is being spent. The biggest problem we have in our country is the career politician and a lack of oversight.. Many of these people are nothing more than used car salesman and it has been this way for as long as i can remember.. Politicians are your employee's and they are spending your money, therefore every Bahamian has a right to ask for the exact cost of a tax payer funded trip, project, or expediture and get the numbers in a timely manner. We should be able to go to the internet and pull up every public employee's salary and expenses for the year and question them on it if we feel it is inappropriate.. Remember people Nelson Mandela only spent 5 years as a politician and i believe its was for good reasons..

banker 10 years, 11 months ago

I agree that ALL of the discourse is good. It proves that God gave even dummies the vote, and that is the market that the PLP pander to. They know it. The unwashed masses don't. Fred Mitchell published that Bahamians are too stupid for discourse, so you just push the rules on them. For the segment of the population that he deals with, it is true. Enlightenment is a rare thing among Bahamians.

Between the religious beliefs pushed on the Bahamian populace (and Christianity was used as an argument for slavery -- "Slaves, obey your masters"), and the BS that Ping and the PLP were for the Black people, this poor country doesn't have a chance. Too many brain-washed people incapable of critical thinking for themselves.

concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago

PLP ,s campaign is not even that diffucult to come up w/ ,,it always basically is "whitey is bad he goin take everything ,we goin protect you from the white bogey man " surprised it still works after 40 yrs of independence and the PLP lining their pockets with all the "white devils " money they can divert from the treasury and the people ,,

John 10 years, 11 months ago

For the record I will repeat I have never had a conflict of any sort with a white Bahamian, Ninety Eight percent of the persons I come in contact with on a daily basis are Black like me! BUT I have heard the horror stories of how non Bahamians or naturalized Bahamians or residents move into neighborhoods and blatantly discriminate against Bahamians and try to force them out. I have heard this about Greeks, Canadians and other nationalities. Maybe y'all who call me a racist can explain why this happens. Are Bahamians too black to in the Bahamas? This usually happens in the more affluent areas, like Old Fort Bay, Lyford Cay, Treasure Cay, Abaco, Sandy Port, Cable Beach parts of Northern Abaco and in Grand Bahama. I have also heard about mistreatment and discrimination on job sites, yet you call me a racist. I don't have the power to be racist, because I have no control over no one who is not my own race, but I am racially aware. And I will speak out against discrimination in my own country,

B_I_D___ 10 years, 11 months ago

I will speak out for discrimination as well when I think it is deserved...to drive down a public road and have school kids launching racial slurs...where are they learning this from and why...and why do I need to turn around respect that person when they come to me for a job in 10 years time.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

Too many beaver holes to plug here...but anyway have you ever heard the term reverse racism?

John 10 years, 11 months ago

Is that the same as not liking someone because they hate and despise your because of you race and grudge you because of your nationality? yep, I heard of it!

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago

Obviously not...sigh...Nelson Mandela in 1995 described "racism in reverse" when Black students demonstrated in favor changing the racial makeup of staff at South African universities....

John 10 years, 11 months ago

I have never been to college so that wouldn't affect me then..racism in reverse..so why did they want to change their makeup anyway? Did they want to put on black face or just change to a different a different brand name of makeup?

Honestman 10 years, 11 months ago

John,

Perhaps your problem is that you need to get out more and engage peoples of all skin colour instead of listening to "stories" of foreigners forcing black Bahamians out of communities. What a load of rubbish. Aren't you aware that today there are many black Bahamians living in Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay etc? In this modern day Bahamas, the only thing that holds a person back is lack of education and vision of a better life. Skin colour is no longer an impediment to progress. The real problem is that government is not investing nearly enough in the education of our youth. The question has been raised many times, does this administration really want the country to be educated or is it happy to keep the populace ignorant and gullible? Frankly, the real discrimination in the Bahamas is black on black. One party discriminating against the members of the other. So drop this colour thing because despite your protestations, you are sounding very much like a racist!

B_I_D___ 10 years, 11 months ago

The government has zero intention of educating the public...an educated public would be their downfall and destruction. People would actually understand the issues and hold people accountable. Keep them stupid...quite simple...except now you have massive crime and poverty because you employee the uneducated...unless you are the government of course, and you give them unofficial jobs at the various utilities or agencies...not that that happens...

John 10 years, 11 months ago

can someone please translate this..I am dumb and dumbfounded

B_I_D___ 10 years, 11 months ago

Dang it...re-reading that...goofed in a sentence...re-write...I can't employ an uneducated person who cannot read or write...but big government can by giving them some random made up job at a government run utility or agency. They keep them stupid, give them a job, they buy their vote.

John 10 years, 11 months ago

I never had the color thing y'all did that's why the number boys are buying out what's left of paradise island as we speak..and no foreigners dare start a fight with them..because some of them are crime..and crime does not pay..(for anything) at least that is what the people who had the fake gernade (according to Fred Mitchel) thrown in their lobby is saying.

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