The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement South Beach candidate Jeffery Lloyd yesterday contended that a “culture of slackness, dishonesty and corruption” has manifested the ranks of political elites in The Bahamas, insisting that the culture had now infected and hampered every aspect of the Bahamian society.

“What is so pathetic, unfortunate, even tragic, is that those who are charged with the sacred guardianship of these noble and sovereign boundaries, are in fact their prime violators,” was how the noted radio personality and lawyer characterised the alarming number of politicians being accused of financial impropriety.

Reflecting on the revelations that fashion mogul Peter Nygard sent thousands of dollars per month to a Bank of America account belonging to Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson between August 2011 and January 2013 and Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald’s admission to seeking contracts worth millions from Baha Mar for his family’s business, both instances uncovered over the last week, Mr Lloyd stated: “No wonder our people’s respect for the traditional mores of decency, fraternity and authority has witnessed such a decline in recent generations.”

He told The Tribune: “In 2000, the Bahamas’ Commission on Crime fingered a reality about our people that was stark and disturbing: ‘It stated: (paraphrasing) that we as a people are not beset by crime in the usual sense, but, rather, by a culture of slackness, dishonesty and corruption’.”

He added: “The recent media revelations surrounding the actions of Minister Fitzgerald and others identify the tragic manifestations of this culture at the very top of Bahamian society.

“And it does not end there. In almost every subdivision of national life, Bahamians have been continuously assaulted by an advancing decadence in our social, moral and legal foundations.”

To that end, Mr Lloyd said his party aims to present “a new day” in national governance. He said the incoming FNM administration is committed to restoring and ensuring a system of accountability, transparency and discipline to national and community life.

Mr Lloyd said that all Bahamians, especially those privileged to serve on a national stage, will come to appreciate that under an FNM administration, “slackness and moral turpitude will not be tolerated”.

The Christie administration has been dogged by scandals concerning several of its most senior members, with the last week the most tenuous period for the administration.

The latest allegations and reports have resulted in several calls for resignations and firings.

Prime Minister Perry Christie on Friday several times refused questions from reporters over whether he would fire Mr Fitzgerald or demand his resignation as the Marathon candidate.

He also refused to address the issue when questioned yesterday.

Mr Christie is seeking his third non-consecutive term as prime minister and ninth term as member of Parliament for Centreville - inclusive of its incarnations as Farm Road. His first term as prime minister was also marred with controversy and scandal concerning government officials.