By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie was criticised for his absence from the House Wednesday night when members voted for the passing of the controversial Value Added Tax Bill.
Although the VAT Bill was passed by a vote of 22 to 8, Mr Christie, who turned 71 yesterday, left for Nevada Wednesday to meet with the Las Vegas Gaming Board on Thursday and to attend Friday’s opening of the SLS Las Vegas boutique hotel and casino. He returns to Nassau on Sunday.
FNM Chairman Darron Cash, FNM Shadow Minister for Finance Peter Turnquest and Democratic National Alliance Deputy Leader Christopher Mortimer criticised the Prime Minister for his absence.
Said Mr Cash: “It is nothing short of disgraceful that Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Perry Christie was absent from Parliament and from the country on the day that the House is wrapping up debate on the largest tax increase in recent memory. It is once again clear that this prime minister is out of his element and totally confused as to what his priorities should be.”
“Mr Christie can run, but he cannot hide. He can run from the vote in the House, but he will not be able to hide from the negative consequence of imposing this back-breaking tax on the Bahamian people. Prime Minister Christie is guilty of dereliction of duty. After dithering and mismanaging the drafting and legislative process for almost two years it is a reality that the prime minister ran out of time and has no choice but to force feed VAT down the throats of the people and the business community with inadequate education.
“With January 1, 2015 right around the corner it would be a miracle if the business community and the government itself are truly ready to administer this new tax regime. With the kind of ineffective leadership we have seen from Christie on this and other matters no one has reason to be optimistic.”
At a press conference yesterday, representatives from the DNA also faulted Mr Christie for not being present when the vote was taken.
Mr Mortimer said: “As important as this issue was, as central as it was to them talking about reform, the prime minister did not even bother to show up to vote for this bill and that is a crying shame. If you are the prime minister of a country, if you say it is important for this to happen to fix our ailing economy then the buck stops with you and you should be there for that vote. It is not sufficient to castigate members of the opposition or members within your own party and then not do the honourable thing and show up to record your vote for history.”
Mr Turnquest, who was contacted by The Tribune, directed his criticism not only at Mr Christie, but also Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin whose ministry will have to ensure that VAT does not wreak havoc on the poor and BEC Chairman Leslie Miller, who in the past has disapproved of the VAT being added to the already high electricity bills.
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, also absent from the vote, said on Wednesday the trip to Las Vegas will give Mr Christie both the chance to check out the SLS hotel before its operators open in the Bahamas as a Baha Mar luxury partner and allow him to review the gaming laws of the Nevada Gaming Commission as the government prepares to table its anticipated Gaming Bill in Parliament.
Critics, nonetheless, found Mr Christie’s absence odd and inopportune.
Some Bahamians on social media said it demonstrated a flippant indifference to the significance of the legislation and what it will mean for the country.
VAT is expected to be introduced on January 1 at a rate of 7.5 per cent.
ABSENT
Prime Minister Perry Christie, Centreville (PLP)
Obie Wilchcombe, West End & Grand Bahama (PLP)
Melanie Griffin, Yamacraw (PLP)
Leslie Miller, Tall Pines (PLP)
V Alfred Gray, MICAL (PLP)
Speaker of the House Dr Kendal Major, Garden Hills (PLP)
Edison Key, Central & South Abaco MP (FNM).
House Speaker Kendal Major, and Deputy Speaker Dion Smith, who was in the chair when the vote was taken, could not vote because of their positions.
VOTED NO
Dr Hubert Minnis, Killarney (FNM)
Loretta Butler-Turner, Long Island (FNM)
Peter Turnquest, East Grand Bahama (FNM)
Theo Neilly, North Eleuthera (FNM)
Richard Lightbourn, Montagu (FNM)
Hubert Chipman, St Anne’s (FNM)
Greg Moss, Marco City (PLP)
Neko Grant, Central Grand Bahama (FNM)
Comments
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 2 months ago
Anyone who didn't vote should resign immediately. They are being paid to represent the people, if they cannot represent the people on this most important vote they are not needed
Honestman 10 years, 2 months ago
Don't let a game of blackjack get in the way of the Nation's business!
mangogirl01 10 years, 2 months ago
Every flippant time this man runs away from his responsiblity as leader of our country, every damn time!! All he cares about is lights, cameras, outriders and action but unfortunately, we, the Bahamian people do not get any action from him! Sick and tired of this shit! #patheticleader #ballsless
Cobalt 10 years, 2 months ago
Don't be upset sweetheart. I'm sure he's in Las Vegas conducting business on behalf of the Bahamian people. I'm certain that his indolent promises to assure, reassure, makesure, and insure the success of Bahamians is at the top of his agenda.
hj 10 years, 2 months ago
Before PC left for Vegas,he ensured that new taxes will be imposed to the Bahamian people. Ironically VAT will mostly hurt lower and middle class families who supported the PLP in the last election. PC rewarded his voters for their stupidity
B_I_D___ 10 years, 2 months ago
If he was not there to vote on it, he can distance himself from the votes outcome...it has passed, he can now safely backpedal and say he still had some concerns on it and to blame the ones that did vote on it.
TheMadHatter 10 years, 2 months ago
Why do people keep having children to grow up and be slaves to this ruling class? Many years ago slaves (if needed) were forced to breed to ensure the masters had a sufficient "stock" of slaves to do their bidding.
Somehow, the slaves of this modern world simply obey willingly - and then pretend to complain.
TheMadHatter
Honestman 10 years, 2 months ago
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, also absent from the vote, said on Wednesday the trip to Las Vegas will give Mr Christie both the chance to check out the SLS hotel before its operators open in the Bahamas as a Baha Mar luxury partner and allow him to review the gaming laws of the Nevada Gaming Commission as the government prepares to table its anticipated Gaming Bill in Parliament.
Sorry but couldn't all the relevant information have been obtained on-line given the importance of the VAT debate and vote? What a joke!
birdiestrachan 10 years, 2 months ago
Where was Doctor Rollins did he vote??
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 2 months ago
Yes birdie he did. Your strawman argument just went up in flames, again
birdiestrachan 10 years, 2 months ago
Cash should ask him self about all the taxes put on the backs of Bahamians by the FNM. And he must know that the huge Debt put on the Backs of the Bahamian people has to be paid. The Bahamas was down graded twice under the FNM. And the road works !00 million dollars over run is huge. The FNM paid one million dollars for a old broke down building in Freeport for a hospital they said . when they knew the building was not proper for a hospital and the GBPA had already given them property for a hospital to be built. There was no need for Mr. Christie to be there, he had already said he supported the bill..
Emac 10 years, 2 months ago
The point is birdie, you can see and physically drive on the roads and touch other infrastructures that the FNM overspent on. On the other hand, you can only see a mirage of the projects that the PLP claim to have implemented. Take for instance the so called Agricultural School in Andros, the infamous Urban Renewal 2.0 foolishness and a whole lot of other money in my pocket schemes. Hopefully one day you will wake up from your blindsided PLP stroke and step into the light.
mangogirl01 10 years, 2 months ago
Support is one thing! As the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance who argued for the bill, he SUPPOSE TO BE THE FIRST ONE WHO VOTED YES! But no, he ducked out like the coward he is to celebrate his birthday as his presence at the opening of the Las Vegas Hotel didnot make one damn difference!
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 2 months ago
What a spineless bloated monster Christie has become! Is Craig Flowers part of his Vegas entourage?
Tommy77 10 years, 2 months ago
More should be done.
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CuriousAbaconian 10 years, 2 months ago
Answer to the headline: Because he is a spineless coward.
birdiestrachan 10 years, 2 months ago
There sure are a lot of PLP and Mr: Christie HATERS on this site If hate could make an Atomic Bomb , the Bahamas would have one. But hate only hurts the hater thus we have so many persons with high blood and stomach ulcers. Truth, there is none. You know what they say only a true lair lies to himself. Now just go ahead and cuss me . You folks are really good at that.
mangogirl01 10 years, 2 months ago
BirdieStrachan, it's not hate more like frustration at a man who promised to serve if given a second chance, frustration at the direction that the country is heading and yet the PM appears to be unaware of the seriousness of the issues facing the country and its people! Frustration at see the PM run away from his duties as CEO of the country, frustration at not seeing him as the leader he suppose to be or say that he is not aware of what is or has happened but when it comes to lights, cameras and anything to do with pomp and pagentry, he gets excited and seems to be full of energy. We are Bahamians, we don't have another country to run to and I sure don't want to run to another country but we are free to express our opinions no matter how you or anyone looks at it! So, BirdieStrachan, I beg to differ, it is not hate but plain and simple frustration, frustration, frustration!!
SP 10 years, 2 months ago
@ birdiestrachan ...... Kidding or you serious?.....LOL!
PKMShack 10 years, 2 months ago
@ birdie I am with you, Who has done more for the country PLP or FNM. you did list the short comings of the FNM. now let me help you with the short comings of the PLP that I know about. Where are the 10,000 jobs, murder is still going up, mortgage relief, number houses still open, DPM being robbed or what ever he was, carnival instead of Junkanoo, NIB, BEC cash payments by you know who, I will stop
When did this type stuff happen under FNM? Now to cuss you. You was born PLP and you will go on as a PLP even If the country suffers,
Thanks you big dummy!
B_I_D___ 10 years, 2 months ago
Interesting that the very outspoken Dr. Rollins voted FOR VAT....
SP 10 years, 2 months ago
P.M. left the island before the VAT vote to make a big smoke screen to cover his tracks when his press secretary was to be "hit" for knowing or hearing something.
Christie has the whole country focused on him being "out of town" so he cannot be blamed for the hit.....However, in reality he should be the first person under a forensic investigation.
Wouldn't be the first time something like this happened.
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