Branville McCartney
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
WITH issues over important national issues remaining unclear, Democratic National Alliance leader Branville McCartney said yesterday that Bahamians were warned two years ago about the Christie administration’s “incompetence.”
Questions remain unanswered over issues relating to webshop regularisation, the constitutional referendum, Value Added Tax (VAT), the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act and the future of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC). In view of this, Mr McCartney said the legacy of the Christie administration as a “late again” government has already been written.
His comments come weeks after Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said in March that he would bring stipulations before the House of Assembly within two weeks as the webshop industry prepares to be regularised on July 1st.
However, weeks since that deadline passed, the legislation has not been brought before the House and State Minister for Legal Affairs Damien Gomez has been quoted as saying the webshop industry is unlikely to be regularised until December 31st.
As for the constitutional referendum, National Security Minister with responsibility for referendums Dr Bernard Nottage said recently that no date has been set for the referendum, despite Prime Minister Perry Christie’s previous announcement that the referendum will be held by June.
“They’ve failed to call that referendum, which would be important particularly as it relates to gender equality and this is a government that campaigned on the promise to address issues relating to gender equality,” Mr McCartney said.
Regarding VAT, the government is awaiting a report from the Tax Coalition before proceeding with its plan. Nonetheless, Mr McCartney said Bahamians are concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the rate at which VAT will be introduced and whether it will be introduced on July 1st as stated by the government.
“They never campaigned on VAT and said they would put more taxes on the back of poor Bahamians,” he said. “Yet they said when they came in they would bring it but they can’t even get this right because they started to say by July. But we don’t even know where we stand as Bahamians, whether or not VAT will come in or at what rate it will come in. As a matter of fact, the government probably doesn’t even know what rate it will come in.”
As for the Freedom of Information Act, Mr McCartney said: “We’ve heard talks from this administration about the Freedom of Information Act. When the Act came under the last administration, they criticised it, saying it had no teeth, but we have not heard anything from this administration about what they will do with it now.”
Mr McCartney also criticised the lack of transparency over the government’s Bahamas Electricity Corporation’s (BEC) break-up deal.
“This is why they aren’t running to implement the Freedom of Information Act, because they don’t want to be transparent and held accountable,” he said. “The government has failed to be open with the Bahamian people. I’m not against the sale of BEC, but I do think we as Bahamians must be informed and aware of the status of the process.”
Mr McCartney said bad leadership is to blame for the government’s “failure” to fulfil its agenda in the time it has laid out. “This is typical of the PLP if you look at the Christie administration during the 2002 to 2007 era,” he said.
“We have a lot to do in this country. We are still third world and we have third world leadership. The Bahamian people were warned of this. The government needs to change. They said they were ready on day one and they obviously were not. They have not fulfilled any of the main initiatives they said they would fulfil on the campaign trail. And since they’ve come to power, they can’t even keep the promises of their own legislative agenda.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 7 months ago
Seriously now. Is there anyone else in the DNA?
Publius 10 years, 7 months ago
Well, don't expect the media to point out to the country how this grouping fails in key ways to meet the standard of an actual political party in a parliamentary democracy. They are not in the business of education; you know.
Cobalt 10 years, 7 months ago
Brandville McCartney needs to quickly establish the DNA as a legitimate political party that has the capability of governing the country. Currently, it is not. He needs to organize and conduct a convention where he presents potential candidates and representatives for the various constituencies. There needs to be transparency as to what his intentions and plans for the Bahamas are in the form of a manifesto. He needs to explain how his ideas and plans are practical and capable of initiating change in the Bahamas. Many Bahamians such as myself are ready to consider an alternative to both the FNM and PLP. The fact that the DNA established a new record in the Bahamas for third-party votes supports this idea. But until he validates himself and his political party by doing the honorable thing, he will always be perceived as an empty barrel.
John 10 years, 7 months ago
Tom had this problem of getting up late in the morning and was always late for work. His boss was mad at him and threatened to fire him if he didn’t do something about it. So Tom went to his doctor who gave him a pill and told him to take it before he went to bed. Tom slept well and in fact beat the alarm in the morning by almost two hours. He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.
“Boss”, he said, ” The pill actually worked!”
“That’s all fine” said the boss, ” But where were you yesterday?”
TOP TEN EXCUSES FOR BEING LATE TO SCHOOL
1.They’re always ringing the bell before I get there.
2.I saw a sign that read “School Ahead. Go Slow.”, so I did.
3.My watch was set to Tokyo time.
4.I had to feed my pet piranha.
5.My alarm clock kept going off while I was asleep.
6.Sorry–usually my punctuation skills are excellent.
7.I was dreaming about a b-ball game, and it went into overtime.
8.I’M on time–everyone else is early.
9.I told you if i wasn’t here, you should go ahead and start without me.
10.What? I thought this place was open until three thirty!
Teacher: What excuse have you got for being late? John: (breathlessly) I ran so fast, teacher, that I didn’t have time to think of one
“He was always late on principle, his principle being that punctuality was the thief of time.” -Oscar Wilde
“I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.” E.V. Lucas
Never Too Late It is never too late to be happy; It is never too late to smile; It is never too late to extend a hand With a cheering word once in a while. For there’s never a sorrow or worry In all this green-covered earth But is followed soon by a gladsome joy And a generous measure of mirth. ~ Jeanette H. Carey
John 10 years, 7 months ago
How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?
Dr. Seuss
If you're going to do something tonight that you'll be sorry for tomorrow morning, sleep late.
Henny Youngman
I am invariably late for appointments - sometimes as much as two hours. I've tried to change my ways but the things that make me late are too strong, and too pleasing.
Marilyn Monroe
Timekeeping - Does it Matter?
Steve Cleary was in his early 50's, retired and had started a second career. However, he just couldn't seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. However, he was a good worker, really clever, so the owner was in a quandary about how to deal with it. Finally, one day he called Steve into the office for a talk.
'Steven, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a top class job, but you're being late so often is quite a worry.'
'Yes, I realise that, sir, and I am working on it.' replied Steve.
'I'm pleased to hear that, you are a team player. It's odd though, you're coming in late. I know you're retired from the Royal Navy. What did they say if you came in late there?'
'They said, "Good morning, Admiral." '
TalRussell 10 years, 7 months ago
Comrades you thinks Hubert be's reading Bran from Cooper's Town? Personally speaking I have taken to seeing Bran's many press releases coming out he Village Road office, as being nothing more than he prep talk to he self, cause him is a political party of but one voice. I can see why it can be said of PM Christie and he former trusted law partner Hubert, how much them two have lose they way, cause once they did have a way to lose. God bless we Comrade Bran, cause it ain't like he's dangerous, after all, he ain't hurt'in none us with he prep talks. Some of he preps can be good medicine, if you is feeling depressed over this and that, cause they makes many laugh. That one about how he wants hold public flogg'in sessions in Rawson Square, not so damn funny.
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