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THE BIG QUESTION: MPs and financial declarations

As of Monday, April 25, 2016

What do you think should be done to ensure members of Parliament file their financial declarations on time?

Leave your answers in the comments section below . . .

Comments

Publius 8 years, 7 months ago

Does the public really need to be asked what should be done when a law is not followed? Appropriately amend the Act to give it actual teeth and then do what The Bahamas seems morbidly averse to - enforce the law on the books without fear or favor.

B_I_D___ 8 years, 7 months ago

Do what the law says...fine them and/or give them jail time...it's really quite simple. But Bahamians are daft in that respect, so as always, nothing will ever be done and we will further entrench ourselves in lawlessness.

Required 8 years, 7 months ago

The law has no teeth, and if politicians want to protect themselves and their buddies, nothing will change. These politicians will not amend the law. The likelihood of this happening if the colour of the party in power changes, is minimal. They had their chance, and blew it. (And yes, that goes for former FNM-member Branville McC. and former PLP-member Greg M., too.)

The challenge should be, let no Bahamian voter mark their X next year for a candidate, government or opposition, who has ever, during their political career, been in violation of the disclosure requirements. Regardless of their newest set of promises.

marrcus 8 years, 7 months ago

I would like to see the names of the 55 passport holding Bahamians on the Panama List. I suspect there are good reasons why these politicians don't want to disclose. 500 million in VAT money went somewhere.

Sickened 8 years, 7 months ago

Each member should get one lash for every dollar he hasn't disclosed.

sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago

Simple ........... if an MP/Senator etc does not disclose his/her assets & liabilities by March of each year:

  1. He should be warned publicly (by official letter) and given THIRTY DAYS to comply and fined.
  2. Failure to COMPLY, he should be suspended from Parliament without pay for the next THIRTY DAYS
  3. Failure to comply with #2, he should be suspended for a further THIRTY DAYS and his seat vacated forthwith once the time period elapses.

This is a serious matter that should set the tone for how our leaders should ACT

sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago

The financial information is for the calendar year (Jan-Dec) ...... what is their excuse for not complying by March??????

Publius 8 years, 7 months ago

The Act gives one until March if he or she requests an extension of time ahead of the December deadline.

Alltoomuch 8 years, 7 months ago

and I see that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is travelling - again!! And this country has NO money!!

Wideawake 8 years, 6 months ago

No Financial Declaration? OK No Pay!!

Tarzan 8 years, 6 months ago

There is only one solution that will work in a democracy. Elect a government that will uphold the rule of law. In the final analysis, in a democracy you get the government you deserve. Of what benefit will be new laws compelling disclosure, when a lawless government is elected to office? The police and the AG will not enforce those laws any more than will the police and/or the AG enforce the laws on the books now. If the Courts attempt to intervene this government has made it quite clear, it is even willing to hold the independent judiciary in contempt. This leadership of this government has demonstrated through several election cycles, that any law will be ignored if doing so is in its political or economic self interest. Welcome to just deserts Bahamas!

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