The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday said his party is ready to restore the Bahamian people’s faith in governance if elected to serve.

The former Bamboo Town MP made the remark in a statement addressing Prime Minister Perry Christie’s silence on ongoing controversies surrounding his Cabinet and state affairs in the country.

“We find ourselves as a country without vision,” Mr McCartney said, adding “we are stagnated and seem to be moving backwards.”

“In his book, The Principles and Power of Vision, Dr Myles Munroe stated, ‘a visionless life is a poverty-stricken existence.’ We seem to be poverty stricken compared to what The Bahamas used to be. Where is our Bahamas?” Mr McCartney asked.

Earlier this year, Mr Christie told College of the Bahamas journalism students that his government will not be matched by any other administration in the history of the country.

Mr Christie cited taxation and gaming reform, plans for National Health Insurance (NHI) and a pledge to enact a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as key achievements his administration will have completed by the end of its term.

He also said international observers have praised the efficiency of value added tax (VAT) implementation by his administration.

However, Mr McCartney faulted the government for lack of transparency and accountability.

“The prime minister has not answered the Bahamian people regarding disclosure, pursuant to the Public Disclosure Act, of his colleagues, inclusive of himself. There has been not a single word from this prime minister on the (alleged) interference of justice by one of his Cabinet ministers.”

“This same prime minister seems to condone the Deputy Prime Minister (Philip Davis) misleading Parliament on BAMSI. And has failed to reprimand a sitting MP who publicly bragged about abusing women,” the DNA leader said.

He further highlighted that Mr Christie’s silence on Baha Mar and whether he and his administration has direct/indirect interests in the development “indeed remains deafening.”

He said if the DNA is elected to power, the party would ensure that there is an independent attorney general, implement a proper Freedom of Information Act and Whistle Blowers Act, amend the Constitution to limit the Powers of the Prime Minister to safeguard against the abuse of power, enact legislation to limit the length of service of the prime minister to two terms only and enact legislation to create a fixed date for national and local elections.

The party also proposes the strengthening and enforcement of the Public Disclosure Act to require disclosure up to five years after leaving office, amending the Constitution by way of referendum to allow for the creation of a recall system for non-performing members of Parliament, create and enforce a Code of Conduct Act for Public Officials, introduce Local Government to New Providence and establish an Office of the Ombudsman.