By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner accused the government yesterday of using public funds to bail out a private company.
Mrs Butler-Turner was referring to the government’s plan to purchase the former City Markets head office and warehouse facility for $9 million dollars.
Shane Gibson, Minister of Labour and National Insurance, confirmed to The Tribune in an earlier interview that the National Insurance Board had been looking to acquire it to “assist” with the fund’s liquidation.
He denied, however, that the deal was proposed solely to “bail out” City Markets employee pension fund and the supermarket chain’s owners, the Finlayson family, who are major political supporters of the current government.
Speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday, Mrs Butler Turner said while she understands that former City Market employees should be paid what is owed them, the public’s money should not be used to bail out “friends, companions, lovers and supporters of the PLP.”
“We know the familiar ties with all these things. I just hope that that doesn’t allow anything to become clouded or distorted. So, Mr Speaker, I would like to know why these particular acquisitions are even under consideration. Should it not be put on hold until this whole debacle at NIB has been sorted out, because, Mr Speaker, it appears to me that we are now taking the government’s money, NIB’s money, which is also a pension fund, it seems like we are taking that to bail out another pension fund from the private sector. That is the point I am trying to make. We cannot use the people’s public pension to bail out a private pension fund, that is the point I wish to make,” she said.
“The Bahamian people fully understand exactly what I am saying. It appears, Mr Speaker, that the pension fund of the Bahamian people that is deposited in NIB is being used to bail out friends, companions, lovers and PLP supporters in a private entity. I have no difficulty with those people being satisfied, but you cannot go and bail out people who have misused and misappropriated funds and try to make good with the public.”
In response to the allegation, Mr Gibson said Mrs Butler Turner is giving the public the wrong impression.
“I think,” he said, “it is wrong for the member to give the impression, Mr Speaker, that the government or NIB is trying to bail out anybody. There is a need for warehouse space, the building is available and we did an appraisal and if depending on the condition of the building or whether or not we can get it at a good price and not at a regular price, we will determine whether or not we will make an offer to the owners to purchase the building.”
According to sources, the former City Markets headquarters are effectively unusable, and need to be demolished. The floor, which is laid over water tanks, is said to be collapsing, with a new roof also needed as the 28-year-old building starts to show its age.
Comments
spoitier 11 years, 11 months ago
Both parties have shown where their heart is concerning what is best for the country, both of them want to get power just to raid the funds. If a warehouse is needed go ahead and build one from scratch which will more than likely cost less than 9 million dollars for a broken down one, A bi-partisan team need to be create by government to make sure contracts is handed out fairly to everyone, this will slow down people giving out contracts in order to get kickbacks. The freedom of information act needs to be put in place so citizens could know exactly what is going on.
TalRussell 11 years, 11 months ago
Comrade Sister Loretta you are slipping in my support for you, when as a former cabinet minister you must have been aware of NIB funds being used for buildings by your red shirts party?
What about the whopping $10 million check from NIB funds that Hubert authorized the NIB to write in the final days to" lift-up" the lack of interest from the money mangers in the public offering (IPO) to make damn beer?
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2013…
Ironvelvet 11 years, 11 months ago
Before I even read the article and just read the title the first thing that came to mind was, how in the world is a government bailing out a PRIVATE company?!
After reading the article, my initial thoughts remain. It is utter rubbish to say that the government needs a warehouse, etc. when:
A. the building is unusuable and needs to be demolished-a new one would be cheaper to build/maintain. B. and with WHAT money is the goverment (full of debt, Moody's abysmal report) supposed to be using to acquire this crap building?! A building that will have an unspecified purpose. C. How is it the responsibility of the Bahamian people to pay employees (with their pension) that City Market hired.
City Market was a private company owned by regular citizens who are living fat off the land. They need to dip into their savings and pay these people their money or the law needs to deal with them.
Sign in to comment
OpenID