Branville McCartney
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday criticised the Christie administration for its “outright failure” to protect the residents of Marathon following a 2012 underground fuel leak at a Rubis service station.
Mr McCartney said the fact that most members of Parliament voted against a resolution proposed by Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins for a select committee into the matter, “dealt yet another crippling blow to the fight for accountability and transparency in governance.”
He added that the MPs’ insensitive response to the cries of the affected residents illustrated that the government is only interested in protecting the “rights and interests” of their family, friends and political allies.
“The government’s refusal to allow for such an investigation raises a number of questions, chief of which is what does this government have to hide,” said Mr McCartney.
“What is the Christie administration afraid will be unearthed as part of those findings and is it also related to the decision by the attorney general to suppress the release of the environmental report for an entire year,” the former Bamboo Town representative wanted to know.
Mr McCartney added: “Even more noteworthy was the (prime minister’s) absence from Wednesday night’s vote. As with the vote on value added tax (VAT) the nation’s leader seems to be working diligently at distancing himself from this latest firestorm.
“As a seasoned politician who has shown a preoccupation with his own legacy, perhaps he does not want to be associated with the blatant and callous disregard for the lives of this country’s citizens.”
The Black and Veatch International report found that Marathon residents were possibly exposed to harmful chemicals, including cancer-causing benzene.
The government had the report for more than a year before it was made public earlier this month.
Dr Rollins, a backbencher in the Progressive Liberal Party, called for the formation of a committee to investigate the leak.
However, 15 of the MPs present voted no, seven MPs voted yes (including Dr Rollins and the opposition members present) and 15 members were absent from the evening session. PLP MP Renward Wells was also among those to vote “yes.”
Mr McCartney claimed that Wednesday’s parliamentary “no” vote was a vote against democracy. He said that the Christie administration, particularly the ministers “at the heart” of the matter should accept responsibility and not stay “flippant and dismissive” over the issue.
“Come 2017, Bahamians must remember the many missteps of this Christie government; follow their lead and vote no to another (five) years of PLP governance,” he said.
Mr McCartney said the Rubis issue highlighted the need for a Freedom of Information Act to be enacted.
Comments
birdiestrachan 9 years, 6 months ago
I was wondering where Bran was. I think they are calling for him over there at the FNM party to be their leader according to Papa's girl. who works at the other daily news paper.
GrassRoot 9 years, 6 months ago
birdie, are you running out of arguments?
asiseeit 9 years, 6 months ago
Looks like you are the only one who has not figured out that the PLP is a corrupt failure. It is simple, people who have their eye's and ear's open can see the massive mistake the Bahamian people made in 2012. The only friend the PLP has in the media is ZNS and that is because their jobs depend on it. All the rest are just telling the TRUTH.
TruthHurts 9 years, 6 months ago
"I was wondering where Bran was."
I was wondering myself! Thought he may have taken that much needed vacation, but alas!!! It looks to me like the Rubis conundrum is 'prime real estate', ammo for them to once again bash each other and not come up with solutions to problems. Oh well.. here's to hoping the folks in that area can get justice amid the mudslinging that is sure to ensue and overshadow their concerns for immediate action.
John 9 years, 6 months ago
All of us need to vote DNA as a protest catch the rest of them crooks off guard and let the truth be told but they have some serious characters running doe
John 9 years, 6 months ago
Then owner of your vote
John 9 years, 6 months ago
Bahamians who know what's going on and those who don't know and those who are confused. Find some time to go this weekend and don't worry what bathe preacher is preaching just fall on your knees in silent prayer and ask God for knowledge wisdom and understanding about the tribulations we face. All I will say beyond that is Monday will be a different day Babylon is falling!
EnoughIsEnough 9 years, 6 months ago
Branville doesn't seem to be so concerned with his own neighbours health and the health of the constitutencies that are affected daily for years by the continuous gases being emitted by our dump. He has been painfully silent on this for years. And it doesn't look like any DNA members went to that demonstration in Rawson Square last week. Does he pick and choose his environmental battles? Either you care or you don't. it's simple.
TruthHurts 9 years, 6 months ago
"Branville doesn't seem to be so concerned with his own neighbors health and the health of the constituencies that are affected daily for years by the continuous gases being emitted by our dump."
My point exactly.. a true Opportunist at it's finest! This another dred who aint getting my vote! NEXT!!!
SP 9 years, 6 months ago
... The DNA May Not Be The Best Solution, But they're The ONLY Solution At This Point ...
"John" has a very valid point. Everyone voting DNA or anything other than PLP and FNM is the only way were ever going to clear the way to begin sorting out corruption in government.
TruthHurts 9 years, 6 months ago
I understand what you saying SP.. but even Stevie Wonder can see through the 'Bran-Facade', as I will affectionately call him hence forth. He aint ready at all. But I will say this.. I am open to looking closely at candidates in his party. But he, himself is not someone I would want in the Boss chair!
Andrewharris 9 years, 6 months ago
Truly it would appear that the DNA is the only choice. Something new, anything new. Just no more of the same.
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 6 months ago
What is it with the Tribune and Bran?
Why do you insist on giving this man a podium every damn chance you get?
He cannot win. He has no party. He has Ben, Chris, Andrew and Podestra.
Why do you give him so much space?
TruthHurts 9 years, 6 months ago
Cause If they don't throw him a bone once in a while, he'll whine about that as well! He clearly doesn't understand the public's annoyance with him ALREADY!!!
I would vote DNA just to show FNM & PLP what the deal is.. but I need a leader! Here's to hoping that he can get a grip on himself and get a real perspective on the needs and wants of the people he's looking to serve one day. Because right now he comes across as just another 'Junior Achiever' mimicking and spouting the same rhetoric as his predecessors. It's nothing personal when I speak about him, because I'm sure he is a nice person. However, steering this ship we call The Bahamas out of the pit it's currently in is not an easy feat. We need to see Branville on the ground working, cutting through all the BS to seek a solutions to current problems. No getting caught up in the pointing fingers. They say proof is in the pudding!
ted4bz 9 years, 6 months ago
Agreed that we give the DNA a chance, but I do not think it will be any different or better. But I would rather give a new set of trouble makers and dishonest people a chance rather than keep the same gang of trouble makers and dishonest people. Yeah, this adding to the problem, I know. But obviously its no help the way it is.
Take a look at the images on the spill, these are images lifted from the report showing the minimum spread of the contamination. I have overlaid the blue and pink colors to indicate the true likeness of the water and chemical spill not shown in the report: https://www.facebook.com/groups/7657901…
SP 9 years, 6 months ago
.................. DNA Cannot POSSIBLY Be Any Worse than the PLP and FNM ...............
The FNM sold us out with bahamianization, immovable properties, BTC, gave100M's to foreign contractors for works Bahamians could have done, Hospital extension, and $5M we KNOW about that disappeared via a shell company by their Minister of tourism.
The PLP suckered us with" Bahamians first", the gambling fiasco, BAMSI, land fill, BOB, protecting the SunShine Boys and Rubis while knowingly letting Bahamians suffer horrible deaths, BEC scandal....OMG too much more to mention.
At least DNA won't have any skeletons in their closets to protect or keep hidden and we can finally begin working on rooting out the systemic corruption and asinine political stupidity stagnating our countries growth.
We can always vote DNA out after 5 years too. Lets at least try "turning the corner" for the sake of our children who will surly call us all full-blown-assholes for knowingly putting up with 40+ years of blatant corruption and ruining THEIR COUNTRY!
Emac 9 years, 6 months ago
I agree with all who suggest that DNA is the only viable choice at this time. As SP suggested, the DNA cannot be worst than the PLP or FNM. Voting for this party would certainly put the power back in the hands of the people. All these politicians would see that we are tired of the back and forth bullshit of the two major parties. They have both failed miserably. Time to cut our losses and move on!
ted4bz 9 years, 6 months ago
PLP - Watered down UBP's PLP - baggs the cash like it belongs to them PLP - In bed with foreigners PLP - Punishes Bahamians.
FNM - Watered down PLP's FNM burns through cash like there is no tomorrow FNM - Foreign is better FNM - Ignores Bahamians.
DNA - Watered down FNM's DNA, well...Hmmm!
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