Branville McCartney
THE Democratic National Alliance (DNA) will join activists, environmentalists and members of the trade union movement among others in a march and demonstration in Rawson Square on June 11 to agitate for the prompt implementation of a Freedom of Information Act.
More than 90 countries around the world – including first world countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada – have implemented some form of legislation that grants its citizens access to public information, the DNA said.
The party added that the legislation has a direct impact on the development and sustainability of strong and vibrant democracies.
The DNA said that access to public information should not be determined by way of privilege or ministerial discretion, but should instead be made a fundamental right for all citizens.
The immediate implementation of this legislation will not only encourage new levels of government accountability and transparency, but will also work to restore power to the electorate, Mr McCartney said.
“This issue goes way beyond petty political allegiances and speaks to the value of protecting the rights of Bahamians yet unborn,” the former Bamboo Town MP said.
“The time has come for Bahamians to be put in the know. The time has come for us to demand insight into the government’s decision making processes. We deserve to know how much taxes are collected, what the government is spending our money on, and which licenses or permits are issued or denied on what basis.
“While successive governments have paid only lip service to the ideals of transparency and accountability, the DNA is proud to stand with the thousands of courageous Bahamians who have shown themselves unafraid to fight for this essential aspect of our still developing democracy.”
The Act was passed in the Senate during the Ingraham administration, shortly before the May 2012 general election. However, the Act did not have an implementation date.
Officials in the Christie administration have said the legislation is being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General to work out issues before the law is implemented.
Comments
asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago
When is the march? Tribune needs to do so much better.
Honestman 10 years, 5 months ago
Officials in the Christie administration have said the legislation is being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General to work out issues before the law is implemented.
In other words: "we gat three more years to plunder and so we need to stall this baby!"
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
Bran is being Bran; again, having never seen a camera or microphone he wouldn't step in front of. My advice to the Comrade Leader is to stop scribbling your media messages in chalk; cause the rain and street washers, go'in wipes them away, before them can sinks in Bahamalanders heads. More supporters would turn out for a Freedom of Information march, if the legislation could be backdated to also cover the years from 2007 to 2012. What Bran can never do is banish the cynicism citizens’ reserve for anything past or present connected to red shirts politicians. So, Bran, why not just come out of the red closet and fulfill your true red ambition, which requires you try to beat Loretta to the red shirts leadership? Why not cause as green shirts you’ve been incapable of managing to accomplish even "some small things, much less great things," I know you keep all your red mementos to remind you of the good days you and Papa had once enjoyed. Who knows, Papa might just be ready to bury the hatchet to support you. over Loretta? Talk this idea over with Comrade Rupert….promise?
justthefactsplease 10 years, 5 months ago
That is one massive load of HOGWASH ... even for you TAL.
Reality_Check 10 years, 5 months ago
As recently pointed out in the House of Assembly by perhaps the most intelligent and reasonable PLP MP sitting today, The Freedom of Information Act was passed by the previous FNM government but has not yet been commenced, and with very good reason. It isn't worth the paper it's written on in terms of the multitude of loop holes that would be available for any government to avoid complying with the most basic of requests for information. The current FOI Act needs to be tossed to the waste bin and a new one drafted from scratch. All of those agitating for the FOI Act as is to be commenced are blindly led blithering fools.
justthefactsplease 10 years, 5 months ago
So...amend it and pass a better one ... don't just tell me it is crap and then do nothing!!!
PastorTroy 10 years, 5 months ago
Freedom Of Information Act is not a partisan party football to just kick around to gain political points, this is a right to every Citizen Of The Commonwealth Of The Bahamas! What's amazing is that Citizens will defend their party to NOT implement the FOIA, this is heartbreaking! The FOIA is for YOU! the electorate. I agree with Bran, these are 21st century issues that need to be address and implemented in this our developing democracy. Any political party who have govern The Bahamas in the last 40 years WILL have 'dirt on their hands' when the FOIA becomes law, the question is who and how much. We are so quick to defend political colors, we should be more eager to defend the Aquamarine, Gold & Black. #DivideThemAndRuleThem
Honestman 10 years, 5 months ago
Well said Pastor!
TheMadHatter 10 years, 5 months ago
NO - The Act CAN HAVE A TIME LIMIT - where info cannot be gather prior to a certain date - like say Jan 1st 2015. SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE. Avoid the pitfalls and move forward.
TheMadHatter 10 years, 5 months ago
Or maybe we can hire a Canadian consulting company to tell us that, and pay them a $5 million consulting fee. I would be happy for a 1/2 million. I will forward my bank account number to the Min of Finance on Tuesday morning for prompt payment. Heck - that's a 90% discount I just gave them.
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
The Official Opposition party needs to take a page out of the advice they like to offer to PM Christie's government - fix what is already in place before you introduce new legislation. Comrades even with a gloriously written and enacted Freedom of Information Act, there has and will never be a political party in power who will give up such potentially damaging information without a fight to keep it forever hidden from the public. This brings us to the sad state of our local media. Unless major actors such as press and community groups become either willing or capable of pursuing long drawn out campaigns demanding the disclosure of such potentially damaging information to government, the FOIA act will remain useless. The Speaker of the House of Assembly is still lacking in effort to get House MP's to understand that the Financial Disclosure Act does not stand for the The Financial Nondisclosure Act and we''re talking both sides of the House and Senate.
TheMadHatter 10 years, 5 months ago
Tal - you are lost on this one. First - the FOIA can have a date prior to which no information can be gather - that would protect all past crimes and criminals from being revealed. Besides we DON'T NEED to reveal them. We all know who they are.
Free media? You may recall the FIRST act of PM Ingraham when he won in 2007 was to fire on of the guys from ZNS/radio. Also we have had another media person fired since then for speaking out (name does not come to me right now).
And as for the "Speaker" - until we get to a point where the PM cannot fire the Speaker - then there is no speaker in reality.
Beside the only "speaker" that 80% of Bahamians pay any attention to is the pastor who speaks to them on Sundays in a sermon. So they deserve whatever government they get. All they care about is what happens when they die. Therefore, they continue to live pathetic lives. Their choice.
SP 10 years, 5 months ago
The PLP and FNM governments have no interest in a Freedom of Information Act.
Such a FOIA would expose too much high level corruption.
Could you begin to imagine what the real stories are behind the road & infrastructure improvements, hospital extension, JFK buildings, BTC deal, Cable Bahamas deal, Atlantis, Albany, Sandyport, Baha Mar and 40 years of shenanigans between the PLP, FNM?
The PLP government is between a rock and a hard place on this one, as the rest of the world are also pressuring them to fall in line with a FOIA.
They don't have to reinvent the wheel, the "excuse" that the head witch Attorney General Maynard is "reviewing it" doesn't hold water, because they can simply adapt best practice guidelines from other countries and whip out an acceptable FOIA together in about an hour.
You guys can march until all the illegal Haitians go back home....The PLP and FNM are totally UNABLE to open their closets and let innumerable skeletons run lose.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 5 months ago
It definitely would be a sight to see that is for sure!! So many damn back door deals and kickbacks (in both parties), once the masses started digging into that info there would probably be riots and mayhem!!
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 5 months ago
So all four of the DNA ga join the march?
BahamianDiaspora 10 years, 5 months ago
This goes beyond any party politics. This is a Bahamian issue. Without this, our country will not develop!
TheMadHatter 10 years, 5 months ago
proudloud - obviously you are one of the small minority of Bahamians who are living just fine in this hell-hole, while the majority are suffering - living pathetic lives and eating Ramen Noodles.
In addition to that - you seem to be opposed to people supporting the FOIA.
That's your choice. You will have to account for all of that some day when you go up yonder. Good luck with that.
Bahamianpride 10 years, 5 months ago
Anyone who supports immediate passage of a clear unadulterated Freedom of Information Act must be supported regardless of political affiliation. This act must be brought into law for us to have any hope of an open, accountable, successful existance, country first over individuals. Without knowledge we don't have any hope of ensuring accountability.
SP 10 years, 5 months ago
@ Bahamianpride There is no question that what you say is 100% spot on and EVERY Bahamian should demand a FOIA is brought into law forthwith.
However, in the "real world" of the PLP & FNM, to do so would mean immediate political suicide for both parties.
Case in point.....Remember.....After much denial, ducking, dodging, finger pointing and the usual PLP & FNM shenanigans this oil exploration situation was a closely guarded secret until the DNA blew the lid off the dealings just before the 2012 general elections.
Then it was discovered that then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, Perry Christie and Brave Davis were all in cahoots together pulling deals with the oil companies.
It is an unrealistic pipe dream to expect the PLP and FNM to EVER bring a FOIA to law and commit harakiri.
The only solution for ever getting FOIA into Bahamian law is to remove both FNM and PLP from power.
Their days are numbered no matter how the pendulum swings, time is longer than rope. the only question is how soon. All of their shenanigans and closet skeletons will be exposed someday whether they like it or not.
The PLP & FNM were so blinded with greed they ignored what Almighty Jehovah God has said:
“What is done in the dark will come to light”, which comes from the bible verse Mark 4:22 “For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.”
Couldn't happen to better bunch!
sheeprunner12 10 years, 5 months ago
SOOOOOOOOOOOO, who is going to replace the PLP and FNM ??????
TheMadHatter 10 years, 5 months ago
MadHatter for PM !!!!!!!!!!!!! yaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh !!!!!!!! LOL
SP 10 years, 5 months ago
I second TheMadHatter for PM.
lionfish 10 years, 5 months ago
Bad reporting that the Tribune forgot to mention it. The march is on Wednesday, June 11 at 8 a.m. till 2 p.m. in Rawson Square.
SP 10 years, 5 months ago
Branville's rhetoric about Bahamians shouldn't be allowed to gamble in casinos and flogging criminals in Rawson Square put's him in the same lunatic boat with Ingraham and Christie.
A combination of respected businessmen, responsible individuals and a sprinkling of "good politicians" must come together and form a coalition to govern the country.
Otherwise this fast ride to hell we're on will only escalate.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 5 months ago
Um Madhatter, not against FOIA my friend. Very much against the liar bran and his party of brainwashed idiots though...
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 5 months ago
Oh no Rory/General crazy! Did you get banned from the Tribune site too?!? Had to use yet another of your web names? Dude, seriously now, get off ya ma's couch at least one time this year man. It'll be good for you. I'd come see ya but unfortunately I'm travelling thru Europe on business. You know life and stuff...
Get off ya ma's couch man.. PLEASE....
heh heh heh..... My lil punching bag....
birdiestrachan 10 years, 5 months ago
It was interesting to see Mr.McCartney on a TV station just talking as he usually does, no substance . But the camera more than once showed his expensive rings and watch etc. Lots and lots of BLING BLING..
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