The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A former PLP Cabinet Minister, current FNM Senator and well-known cleric are among the almost 70 realtors unable to practice because they have failed to pay their annual licence fees, with one yesterday blasting the Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) Board for “sheer stupidity and disrespect”.

George Smith, the former Exuma MP, accused BREA of seeking to “embarrass its membership” by publishing his name and those of all other ‘delinquent’ agents who had failed to pay their annual license fees.

He alleged that the Association was doing “very little” for its members in light of what he described as “exorbitant” fees.

Mr Smith, who is a broker and investment advisor with C.A. Christie Real Estate, said it was a “simple overnight” on his part that he had failed to pay his dues as mandated by the Real Estate Brokers & Salesmen Act 1995.

“I may have forgotten to pay my dues. I probably did. Sometimes we forget, but they normally call you. Nobody called me,” he told Tribune Business. “It’s probably just an oversight. That is what I gather to have been the practice.

“I cannot see them doing that sort of thing to someone who has paid his dues from the beginning of the Act, from the formation of the practice. I was a supporter of the Bill when I was in the House of Assembly, and the fact that they would treat me with that level of discourtesy or anyone for that matter is rather rude.”

Mr Smith added: “I could only mark it down to sheer stupidity on behalf of the Board if they did that. I think it’s sheer stupidity and disrespect when they do very little for their members, like protect them from foreign realtors encroaching on Bahamians in the real estate industry of the Bahamas; when they don’t advocate that the high-end properties are made available to local realtors to sell; when they do very little for their membership and charge such exorbitant fees, such as $400 for a broker and $300 for a sales agent.

“When you consider that, you would think that they wouldn’t wish to embarrass any member. I mark it down to absolute stupidity on the behalf of the leadership of the Association. I’m extremely disappointed, and my not paying was a simple oversight and I expect to be treated with more courtesy.

“For the little they provide their membership they get quite a bit of fees. No one should deliberately seek to embarrass someone who has been a member of the organisation from day one. I expect them to rectify it with an apology,” Mr Smith added.

FNM Senator Michael Pintard, whose name also appeared on the list published in Tribune Business yesterday, along with some 64 other BREA members, chalked his delinquency up to an oversight on his part.

“I wasn’t aware that they had put out a list, but I know for the last calender year I had missed the deadline. When I had sought to make  the payment, the young lady mentioned that the practice is that even if you are a day or a week late, then that’s what it is,” said Mr Pintard.

“It is what it is. I will send them a letter seeking to pay. It was just a simple oversight in meeting the deadline. I’m still very much interested in the field, primarily as a developer of my own properties, but by extension I’m interested in the real estate business  and would support any and all projects BREA puts forth once I get a chance to consider them.”

Another notable name appearing on the list was Bishop Walter S Hanchell, president and chief executive at PGF Real. Bishop Hanchell could not be reached for comment and was said to be off the island.

The practice of publishing the names of persons who have not paid license fees, and thus cannot practice as realtors, has drawn criticism in the past, most notably from former two-time president Pat Strachan. He called the practice illegal, noting that it could damage a person’s reputation and give the impression that the individual may have committed an unethical act.

But BREA’s current president, Carla Sweeting, told Tribune Business: “Any agent listed should not be practicing. We follow the Act; it’s the law. Your annual membership license is due by the 31st of very year, but the Act allows you six months till the end of June in order to pay your dues.

“After that you are no longer licensed, which means you are no longer legal to practice or engage in real estate. The Act requires that we gazette twice a year. The first gazette must be those that are licensed, and the second can be either/or - either the licensed or the unlicensed.”

Ms Sweeting said agents whose names appeared on the list could reapply for membership. “It’s a simple process. They could reapply to the membership committee. There is a fee for the reapplication, and when they pay their dues the application is reviewed by the committee, then forwarded to the Board” she added.

“I have never known anyone to reapply and not get their licenses. It’s just a formality.”

Ms Sweeting acknowledged that persons whose names appeared on the list would undoubtedly be displeased. “The reality is it is what it is. If I don’t license my car and I get stopped by the police, what am I supposed to do,” she asked.

“I can’t drive my car, I’m going to get a ticket. We’re following the law. If I had a Board that wasn’t following the law I would have people screaming at me about why I’m not following the law. This is done every single year. It is what it is. I don’t know anybody that gives you six months’ grace period. Your dues are due at the end of the year and you have a six months grace period. If you can’t afford to come up with the $300 or $400 you can pay it over time.”