Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
WITHIN two days before the May 10 general election, the former Christie administration signed off on “millions of dollars” in contracts, Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest revealed yesterday, as he underscored the “egregious fiscal mismanagement” of the Progressive Liberal Party.
There were also “hundreds” of people employed just days before the country went to the polls, Mr Turnquest said.
He explained that among these questionable hires were 41 people in Acklins who were given the impression that their new jobs were on a long-term basis. However, the finance minister said the workers were only contracted for a three-month period.
The minister said when the workers’ contracts expire, the government will have to make a decision on what to do next.
Mr Turnquest further responded to the Official Opposition’s criticisms over the government’s projection that it will have to borrow $722m to cover inherited outstanding bills along with the costs associated with running the country moving forward.
The Minnis administration now has to obtain parliamentary approval for the emergency borrowing through a resolution in the amount of $400m that will allow the government to clear the back log of payments owing and those unfunded commitments, Mr Turnquest said.
He said any criticism coming from the PLP in this regard was “disingenuous” and an “indictment” on the opposition party.
“The member for Englerston (Glenys Hanna Martin) asks if we are going to be firing people,” Mr Turnquest said. “What I am going to say is that we will not place on the backs of the Bahamian people costs that they cannot bear for political expediency.”
He spoke in response to the former transport and aviation minister’s questions over whether the government’s review of expenditure in the public sector would cause some in the civil service to be terminated.
He reiterated that questions of efficiency will come into play. Among these is whether certain quasi-government agencies can be transferred to the private sector.
He continued: “I will say this again, persons were hired just before the election on May 10. In fact, May 9 people were hired by the previous administration, hundreds of them. In Acklins today there are 41 people who are calling, trying to find out how they are going to get paid and when they are going to get paid.
“They were hired May 9. What is egregious about that is that the previous administration gave these people the impression that they were going to be long-term employees. The contract though for those people is three months. And so, Mr Speaker, I don’t know what they were going to do, God forbid if they were successful.
“But they got these people on a three month contract and when the three months is up this government is going to have to make a decision, but they want to stand up and claim victimisation. Mr Speaker, once again the government of the Bahamas will not put more on the Bahamian people than the revenue that we generate can bear. We cannot continue to carry on as if there is fat and plenty.
“So, no, we are not terminating. That’s not the fact. But we are going to insist on efficiency. We are going to insist on the redeployment of some resources. We are not in the business unlike y’all on the side opposite who when they came to office wiped out everybody at Urban Renewal.”
The deputy prime minister also said: “Mr Speaker, it is so disingenuous for the side opposite, I saw some statements in the newspaper talking about $722m and how this government just came to office and borrowing $722m. It is so disingenuous because they know that back on the 8th and the 9th (of May) they have to explain to the Bahamian people how they entered those contracts and why they entered those contracts for works as well as for services and employment and extension of contracts for people who are on contracts who naturally should have ended. They are going to have to explain.”
When the House of Assembly resumed for the afternoon session, Mrs Hanna Martin denied the East Grand Bahama MP’s accusations.
“The member for East Grand Bahama, who asserted in this House that within days there were 41 people hired in Acklins on a temporary contract for three months, of course you know that would have caused great anxiety to the people who would have been hired in Acklins at some point.
“I have been provided with several letters relative to several persons and there are a couple of observations. One is dated the 13th of March not the 8th or 9th of May. Secondly, it is signed by a permanent secretary in the government and thirdly it is not three months. It’s a letter of appointment.
“The member cannot make it up as he goes along, Mr Speaker. You don’t do that,” Mrs Hanna Martin said.
Comments
DDK 7 years, 5 months ago
Is this news? Not a pun.
BahamaPundit 7 years, 5 months ago
Stop crying. Provide us with the names. And cancel them. Easy.
OMG 7 years, 5 months ago
Names, contracts. Cancel contracts subject to review. You cannot trim the budget if you put your head in the sand and say we won't terminate anybody just ask for greater efficiency and or re deployment. NONSENSE. there are people employed prior to the election who have nothing to do so until the government grows some balls and faces reality the deficit will grow and grow until we are in the same state as Jamaica.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 5 months ago
I agree ........... A total list of ALL PLP pre-election contracts (issued since selection of the 2017 Election Boundaries Commission) the contractors, scope of works, total cost and timelines should be published by the Ministry of Finance & Ministry of Works .......... and let the people see where Christie, Halkitis & Davis spent our money to win the election
Alex_Charles 7 years, 5 months ago
release them to the public and let the public see
Seaman 7 years, 5 months ago
5 years is a short time...... If the FNM does not send guilty persons before the Courts ...good bye FNM. People want justice.
The_Oracle 7 years, 5 months ago
Easy contracts to cancel, 41 people in Acklins, hired to do what exactly? Probably haven't done anything, so how about non performance?
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2017…
birdiestrachan 7 years, 5 months ago
When Mr: Turnquest was asked on the house floor what contracts were signed two days before the election on the house floor. he refused to answer. he was not truthful. Mr: Cooper of Exuma made him look like a kindergarten boy in short kaki pants.
banker 7 years, 5 months ago
It is spelled khaki not kaki.
There is an 'h' in it just like 'wore'.
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2017…
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 5 months ago
ROTFL "wore" with an H. Lol
DDK 7 years, 5 months ago
You too mean lol!
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 5 months ago
.....mmmmmm
birdiestrachan 7 years, 5 months ago
Thank you Banker. This is for you "The words from the lips of a wise man are gracious But out of the lips of a fool folly marks the beginning of his speech and pure madness the end. this is a quote.
banker 7 years, 5 months ago
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2017…
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrades! Pretty damn Trump-like ugly lands in the Bahamaland - how you Red Shirts post to give a fake reassurance of hope that the change you sought on May 10, 2017 - is being found in how KP just wanna slip, slip, slip, slide in a way around what even he must know makes absolutely no sense to It's the People's, who got no time his explanations.
We do know the Red Shirts 2017 campaign hired-on the very same political ideology consultants, who Trump had hired on. I sure hope the Reds - pay them, cause it's unlikely Trump ever will - unless they take him court for their monies.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 5 months ago
KPT ............ Where is the frigging PLP contracts list??????????? ........ Put up or STFU!!!!!!
birdiestrachan 7 years, 5 months ago
Banker the quote is about fools and wise people it has nothing to do with genius. It is funny you missed the point.
banker 7 years, 5 months ago
People like you really fascinate me. I get the same fascination by watching Trump supporters. No matter how obvious and egregious his lies are, they stand behind him. No matter what he says about sexual genitalia assault on women, they born-agains vote for him. He has been a total failure, and yet I just saw some Trump supporters say that they are amazed at how much he has accomplished since January.
In the same way, in spite of the kleptocracy of the PLP, you are an ardent fan. In spite of Swindling's drug running and criminality, you regard him as a saint. You probably voted for Crisco Butt even though he ran the country into the ground and sold our sovereignty to the Chinese. You may even deny these self-evident truths.
It would be interesting to know how and why partisan politics trumps (no pun intended) rational, cognitive reasoning.
I am willing to bet that age plays a part of it. You must be definitely over 40 and Tal would be either approaching 60 years of age or passed it.
I am always interested in the human condition and finding out the reasons why people think with their feelings rather than with their logical minds. I know that you do possess logic because you use a form of it to twist the truth to fit your worldview. The real puzzle is why?
The only reason that I am a rabid FNM fan, is because I hate coming in second or third or fourth when it comes to country pride and patriotism. The rape of the Bahamas by the PLP from independence is so egregious, that it should offend the sensibilities of every right-minded individual, and yet it doesn't. It would be interesting to know why.
I rather suspect that one of the deepest reasons has to do with race and self-esteem within the context of being Black in the Bahamas. However, one would think that simple enlightenment would chase those demons away, but it hasn't and they still linger. It is truly a conundrum. Individually we are great as a people. Collectively we made and live in a sewer hole and a cess pit, and people like you and Tal sing hosannas to the people who made it that way.
ohdrap4 7 years, 5 months ago
birdie is 67 and will turn 68 or just turned 68 this year,
banker 7 years, 5 months ago
I hope that she lives long enough to see history correct her perceptions of her beloved PLP.
Jonahbay 7 years, 5 months ago
Banker, I read this paper just so I can stumble upon your posts. Thank you for writing here.
Publius 7 years, 5 months ago
What in the world is Turnquest talking about? There is no decision to make. Their employment term would be over. There are no legal obligations to them beyond that. Turnquest is not behaving at all like we are in a financial crisis.
What?! This is madness! Turnquest is behaving as though his party is trying to get elected and hence, does not want to piss anyone off. What a disappointing start.
DDK 7 years, 5 months ago
My thoughts exactly!
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 5 months ago
Peter Turnquest seems totally overwhelmed and appears to lack the chutzpah needed to get on with slashing costs wherever possible. He should by now have a well qualified team in place to identify padded and fraudulent contracts entered into by the previous corrupt government within six months of the last general election for which we the people either have or will receive little or no value. Such contracts should be summarily declared void and without any legal effect whatsoever. The names of those individuals and their businesses who were a party to such contracts should then be referred to both the attorney general's office and the chief commissioner of police with an appropriate complaint/allegation made by Mr. Turnquest of their attempt to defraud the Bahamian people. Stop whining Mr. Turnquest and just get on with the people's business.....that's what you and your government were elected to do and, as Minnis promised, it's now the people's time!
yari 7 years, 5 months ago
I hate to be the one to defend the birdbrain but kaki is a legitimate alternate spelling of khaki and entered the language through French. Maybe birdie is a French scholar or of creole origin. And that quote above makes me wonder if birdie is one of Freddie's personas. As to the bird brain's arguments they are as expected specious. What else can you expect from the bird that buries it's head in the sand to avoid reality?
banker 7 years, 5 months ago
Kaki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kaki may refer to:
the Japanese word for oyster
the Japanese word for fence
the Māori name for the black stilt
the Hungarian and Hebrew word for feces
the Telugu word for crow
the Malay word for foot
Diospyros kaki, a fruit better known as Japanese persimmon or Asian persimmon
I think that she is Hungarian or Hebrew. I couldn't find a dictionary reference for 'kaki' referring to clothing, but if there is one, I am always ready to stand corrected.
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 5 months ago
There is no choice. Fire as many of the new hires over the last 5 years that you can. Hopefully all of them.
We have to put an end to the PLPs jobs for votes strategy... It has to stop.
By firing all of them you send a message that says if the PLP buys your vote you will be fired immediately...
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 5 months ago
Re-post of reply to @DDK above:
Peter Turnquest seems totally overwhelmed and appears to lack the chutzpah needed to get on with slashing costs wherever possible. He should by now have a well qualified team in place to identify padded and fraudulent contracts entered into by the previous corrupt government within six months of the last general election for which we the people either have or will receive little or no value. Such contracts should be summarily declared void and without any legal effect whatsoever. The names of those individuals and their businesses who were a party to such contracts should then be referred to both the attorney general's office and the chief commissioner of police with an appropriate complaint/allegation made by Mr. Turnquest of their attempt to defraud the Bahamian people. Stop whining Mr. Turnquest and just get on with the people's business.....that's what you and your government were elected to do and, as Minnis promised, it's now the people's time!
Truism 7 years, 5 months ago
"MINISTER OF FINANCE CLAIMS MILLIONS IN DEALS AHEAD OF ELECTION, BUT, MINISTER HAS NOT TABLED ANY DOCUMENT TO SUPPORT THE CLAIM." Shouldn't this be the headline?
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