By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
ON the day Dame Marguerite Pindling was sworn in as Deputy Governor General her family remained tightlipped over reports that a payment had been made on her outstanding real property tax debt.
When contacted for comment, Dame Marguerite’s son Obafemi “Obi” Pindling declined to confirm reports, adding that: “the same way the papers found out about the account, they can go back to those same people and find out.”
Dame Marguerite was sworn in at a closed ceremony at Government House yesterday with only Bahamas Information Services allowed to cover the event.
Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes, 86, will demit office on July 8. He is expected to travel with Lady Foulkes to London tomorrow and on Thursday will visit Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace for the customary farewell.
According to documents obtained by The Tribune, it was revealed on Thursday that Dame Marguerite had outstanding real property taxes amounting to $306,831.73 on her home in western New Providence and had not paid for at least 14 years.
In an interview with The Tribune on Thursday, Prime Minister Perry Christie said he was unaware of the oustanding debt, adding that what he saw as a politically-motivated leak of her tax information was “impeccably” timed.
Mr Christie said he would first have to review the matter before it could be determined whether or not the recent revelation will affect his consideration of her possible appointment to the post of governor general.
He confirmed that there was “no question” that Sir Lynden’s widow would be up for consideration.
Dame Marguerite receives Sir Lynden’s pension payments - an annual disbursement of $86,000 - in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Pension Act.
Revelations over her outstanding tax debt drew scathing criticisms of the media from politicians, who defended Dame Marguerite as the retired wife of the first Prime Minister of the Bahamas. Sir Lyden died of prostate cancer in 2000.
Comments
Purcell 10 years, 5 months ago
Christie did not know it? He doesn't read the papers?So politicizing the appointment of someone to a political office should not be politicized? What a crock of shit.
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 5 months ago
WORTH REPEATING: Christie and "Little Good" Brad are mentally disturbed in far too many very unhealthy ways. They now seem to be suggesting Mrs. Ping should not be held liable for her unpaid real property taxes (including penalties and interest accrued to date) because she is somehow (in their lame minds) suffering from financial hardship and entitled to much more than she has received from a country greatly indebted to her. Meanwhile Mrs. Ping lives in a lake side mansion on an 11 acre estate in an exclusive Cable Beach neighborhood collecting a pension and other benefits well in excess of $100,000 a year of the Peoples money from Public Treasury. The average Bahamian on the other hand is struggling like never before to try and make ends meet while enduring financial hardships Christie and "Little Good" Brad can only begin to imagine. THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE ALREADY GRACIOUSLY ENDOWED MRS. PING WITH MUCH MORE THAN THE COUNTRY CAN AFFORD AND THE VERY LEAST SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE AS AN EXPRESSION OF HER GRATITUDE TO THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE IS PAY HER TAXES WHEN THEY BECAME DUE! INSTEAD SHE HAS SPIT IN THE EYE OF THE MANY TRULY POOR BAHAMIAN PEOPLE AND CAST SHAME ON OUR COUNTRY!! THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE CHRISTIE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH HOT AIR YOU AND "LITTLE GOOD" BRAD MAY SPEW TO TRY AND SPIN THE FACTS OF THIS HIGHLY EMBARRASSING MATTER FOR THE PEOPLE (NOT MRS. PING) GIVEN THE VERY PUBLIC PERSONA WE (THE PEOPLE) BESTOWED ON HER FOR HER ENJOYMENT. If Christie nominates her for appointment as GG, he himself will be spitting in the eye of the Queen! Go ahead Christie, we dare you! Many of us are well connected to the British Press and London Tabloids and would love to see your insanity feature on the front pages for weeks.....one story after another about your corrupt style of politics that has left a once wealthy country on the verge of financial ruin. Whether she has since paid her arrears in taxes is completely irrelevant to the character and integrity issues at hand which extend to all members of her immediate family who thought they stood to benefit in the long-term from their mother's evasion of her taxes!!
realfreethinker 10 years, 5 months ago
well said
sheeprunner12 10 years, 5 months ago
Sooooooooooooooo , you are very happy with the PLP???????? You are full of #*$@ ....tttttt. You are a national traitor and sell out. Be quiet!!!!!!
Cobalt 10 years, 5 months ago
Why do y'all even respond to this idiot??? He honestly isn't worth the time.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
he repeats the same thing over and over without any valid argument.
realfreethinker 10 years, 5 months ago
This crew just want to suck this country dry. when are we as a people going to stop defending the in-defensible
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
Start demanding. Know what you want and ask for it. Don't ask about what other people will do.
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
You comrade red shirts would spit on any PLP's reputation and credibility and then make a joke about how you had inflicted damaged upon them. Ignoring the fact, that Mrs.Pindling is but only one of several Bahamalanders being considered by the PM to succeed the retiring Governor-General Comrade Arthur, are we as a people about to become so unglued, by throwing out of the life's window, the many accomplishments and sacrifices of Mrs. Pindling to her Bahamaland? Is there not just one PLP's character, you reds would not bulldoze with your shallow arguments? You must all remember that time during the heat after Papa had rung the election bell, when a red shirts took aim and spat through the open car window at the PM's Christie's wife, back in 2012? I sure as hell do.
CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 5 months ago
stop repeating a lying...Christie and his wife conceded that no one spit on her however spit can out of someones mouth when they shouted...it is a difference. This people are not above the law...if they are so is everyone else! do away with tax den!
banker 10 years, 5 months ago
Now Rory, go take your meds, calm down, write some more kiddie code and put the keyboard down. Erryting gern be all right. Relax. Take those pills. They will make you feel better. They will take away your Tourette's Syndrome and your low-class gutter mouth. Relax beuy. Another CCTV contrack will come along.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
Otherway around black panther. I see that she was a photgrapher, where is the resume?
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A CONVERT RED SHIRTS RETALITAING FROM YOUR OWN PARTY. PLP'S ARE KNOWN FOR ABUSE. REMEMBER THE SPRAY IN A FNM CANDIDATE'S CHILD FACE AND ALL ELSE THAT NEVER GOT IN THE NEWS. THEY SLAPPED INGRAHM DOWN BATELCO STAIRS IN FREEPORT IN THE 90'S. THEY AMBUSHED THE EIGHT. HOW MANY DEATH THREATS DO THESE PEOPLE GET ? I HOPE YOU A RE BEING SARCASTIC BECAUSE I HAVE TO SAY OF ALL PARTIES PLP ARE THE HOODLUMS. I'VE SEEN ON MULTIPLE OCCASION WITH MY OWN EYE FNM MP'S GET ROUGHED UP AND THREATENED. BTW WHO KILLED CHAUNCYE TYNES???? SHANE SAID HE KNOWS " WHERE BODIES ARE BURIED".
EasternGate 10 years, 5 months ago
Every time people talk sense, some PLP asshole tries to counter with illogical defense. The people of the Bahamas owe Mrs. Pindling nothing! If it were not for politics she would be very ordinary and broke like the rest of us.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
So true. Where's birdie?
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
This is corrupt. There's other PLP's who actually did something. This is only about the Pindling name.
EasternGate 10 years, 5 months ago
I wouldn't be surprised if the Chief himself leaked the information, cause he isn't gat the balls to deny her "Highness"
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
and PLP was probably sponsored by a stem cell commitee that's going around the world buying bribing their governments , Italy included who wants them out.
Islandgirl 10 years, 5 months ago
I do believe the PLP got into power because of a split in the electoral vote due to the creation of the DNA, combined with persons being paid to shuttle people who had no idea of the goings on in the country to the election halls in return for a small monetary compensation. I think it is past time that ALL Bahamians be allowed to vote, especially those of us who have been well educated and trained and WANT to return home but have no choice but to stay in a foreign land in order to economically survive. They have much to contribute to the uplifting and true building of this nation, but are prevented from doing so. How can one return with a Master's Degree, a Doctorate degree and have to work as a delivery driver? Some of our most brilliant minds remain abroad and likely will continue to be with the way things are in this place. This "cesspool of criminality" did not come about overnight. Go at least thirty years back when drugs ran rampantly through this land with the approval of the government, and see how the values and morals of individuals in this country changed. Remember the state of this country prior to a blessed change in government in 1992 when you said nothing against the government for fear of repercussion ( you, your family and your friends lost jobs, denied basic rights, and were treated like the "scum" referred to simply because you stood up for what was right), and we were known world wide as a moral-less, cocaine filled nation, when hotel rooms were virtually being given away to have people come here. We don't want to "get used to" this garbage that exists in our country. We want it better. There is no reason that it shouldn't be, other than the Animal Farm mentality that once again has reared its ugly head and the label of "traitor" and "scum bag", peppered with profanity, ascribed to those who dare to speak out against the piling injustices here. We refuse to return to those "cesspool" days. We will speak out. Now you get used to that, and deal with that.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
TIME FOR THE RETURN.
banker 10 years, 5 months ago
I am totally amazed at some of my Bahamalander's blind eye and lack of moral compass as demonstrated by the remarks of TalRussell. A woman breaks the law. The cronies overlook her lawlessness and swear her in as a high government official. There is no besmirching of a person. She is breaking the law. Period. Just like her husband broke the law, and every single moral code in the world, by running drugs to the US with the Norman's Cay fiasco. A fortune was built on that, and our AND MY COUNTRY was sold out for person gain, and mentally deficient non-patriots defend them and their actions. Has everyone lost their minds? We as a country are getting what we deserve. As a nation we are totally retarded with people like that, and there is no hope. Events are proving. it.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 5 months ago
Like this General Crazy character ............. he should be horsewhipped in Rawson Square
birdiestrachan 10 years, 5 months ago
Wonderful, wonderful Lady Pindling. You will do well, and make your Country proud just as you have always done. There is none who came before you or will come after you ; who can or will, do any better than you. What ever God has for you, No Man can take it away. This is your time enjoy every moment of it. With God in the vessel one can smile in the storm. If Mr. Pindling and your Former Pastor Of Saint Agnes Rev. William Thompson , could see you now, How they will smile.
Cobalt 10 years, 5 months ago
What???? Stop talking nonsense, here!!!
wearedone 10 years, 5 months ago
It doesn't matter your political affiliation. ANY person who owes money in property taxes should have a lien put on the property and have a certain time to pay off the money owed. If not done they should have the property taken away and put up for auction/sale. I'm sure she can find some old drug money to pay off the taxes owed to the government.
bahamasoapmama 10 years, 5 months ago
THANK YOU!!!!!
Whether Lady P., Hubert, me, my ma, some rich investor....at the end of the day the rules need to be enforced and enforced equally across the board.
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
Regardless of the blogging of some, If the PM decides Mrs.Pindling is the one for Governor-General, she will be supported, respected and loved by thousands of Bahamalander's, blacks and whites.
....//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JovXms_III0
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
TRIBUTE
TO THE LATE
RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR LYNDEN PINDLING
BY
SEAN McWEENEY
STATE FUNERAL SERVICE
CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY
EAST STREET TABERNACLE
MONDAY, 4th SEPTEMBER, 2000
.......////http://www.fredmitchelluncensored.com/sean_speech.htm
banker 10 years, 5 months ago
Lynden Oscar Swindling is more like it.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
WHO KILLED KENNEDY !!!!!!!
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 5 months ago
Ya see poor ol Rory/General crazy/sickman.capt Bahamas mussee wanted a job when the FNM was in power but HAI mussee tell him carry his witless ass from round him so now sicko mad...
But he aint mad enough to get his witless ass off his ma's couch and go try find a job somewhere. He rather sit on his ma's couch and type pure bullshit every single day of his pathetic lil life.
So ya'll waste time trying to talk to crazy. I ga do what I been doing to him the last three years or so. And just log on to punch his ass around a few times on the web sites he loves to hang on. It's so much fun. If I have a bad day I go looking for general crazy. So easy to piss him off. It's so cathartic, riding and pissing general crazy off. Ya gotta try it....
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 5 months ago
Everyone should remember that the commenter "generalcrazy" is none other than Fred Mitchell with radical commentary intended to confuse only himself!
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