Minister of National Security Marvin Dames.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THE attorney general and his team are “working assiduously” to complete anti-corruption legislation to ensure that those sitting in the highest offices are held accountable, according to Minister of National Security Marvin Dames.
The Mount Moriah MP added that the public has the responsibility of bringing matters to the attention of the Royal Bahamas Police Force while the Minnis administration audits government agencies.
Press Secretary Anthony Newbold has said the government will table this legislation in the House of Assembly shortly after Parliament’s summer recess.
The Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade “is responsible for investigating those matters,” Mr Dames said on Thursday following the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s change of command ceremony. “The public has the responsibility of bringing the matters to the attention of the police and as we see matters during our audits within our own departments and throughout government we will certainly bring to the attention of the police.
“Wherever there are allegations of improprieties then we have to investigate it. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it.
“Bahamians are concerned with how the affairs of this country have been managed over the last five years and we will be doing a disservice if we ignore it as if nothing happened. It cannot be and so we are determined to do whatever is necessary within the framework of the law to ensure that we provide a full accounting to the people of this nation.
When we say it’s the people‘s time we’re not just saying that for fluff, we mean it and we have to be as transparent as possible. We pledged that while on the campaign trail and we don’t intend to buckle at this time.
“So the unit that has been formed internally within the police force is addressing these matters while we work on bringing the bill to Parliament that will establish an autonomous anti-corruption agency whose responsibility will be to take on these matters and other matters in future.”
He continued: “The attorney general and (his) team they are working assiduously now. They are looking at best practices because we want to make certain that when we do introduce an anti-corruption bill to Parliament (that) it is a bill that Bahamians will be pleased with (and that) it is a bill that will certainly cover all of the issues that are currently out there.”
In keeping with its campaign promise to wipe out malfeasance in government and increase transparency, the Free National Movement administration pledged last month in the Speech from the Throne to create and enforce anti-corruption legislation for parliamentarians and public officers.
“My government will ensure that its ministers are held to the highest standards of constitutional and personal conduct. Consequently, my government will enact and enforce anti-corruption legislation for all parliamentarians and public officers,” the speech, read by Governor General Dame Marguerite, noted.
“My government is proud of the capabilities of the team that you have entrusted with your mandate. As has been noted publicly already, we will ensure that all members of Parliament and all of the senior members of the public service are familiar with all of the practices, principles and tools of good governance as we get to work on your behalf,” the speech continued.
For several months before the general election, stamping out acts of corruption was a common theme upon which now Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis capitalised.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 4 months ago
Words are the easy part of the anti-corruption campaign. The proof will be in the actions we, the people, see taken.
MonkeeDoo 7 years, 4 months ago
Cristie may say nothing happened but hundreds of thousands of Bahamuans beg to differ. Maybe Christie was asleep but his boys were making hay.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 4 months ago
A lot of money changed hands from corrupt Red China officials, seeking to establish a greater foothold on the door step to the U.S., to very greedy corrupt Bahamian government officials at the highest levels. This is why Christie, Maynard-Gibson, Baltron Bethel and so on committed to the impossible. Not a single agreement involving any of the Red China related enterprises associated with the Baha Mar should be honoured by the new FNM government for the sake of the Bahamian people. Corrupt parties that bribe other corrupt parties (politicians) to defeat the sovereignty of a people and cause them grave harm are not capable of entering into legally valid agreements with anyone in the Bahamas, period! Marvin Dames, Carl Bethel and Ellison Greenslade had better be putting the resources in place to investigate what should be the most important investigation of all....the previous government's willingness and efforts towards selling our country to Red China!
birdiestrachan 7 years, 4 months ago
The FNM can do what ever they want with Baha Mar the gambling houses and VAT. If people have stolen money they can take them to court. These things are some of the things that helped the FNM to win the election they should get busy. But they can not because they were telling lies.
banker 7 years, 4 months ago
Sigh ... all PLP's are fungible. The characteristic that makes them fungible is their love of living in virtual and real excrement with no moral compass.
BahamaPundit 7 years, 4 months ago
I find it hard to believe PLP MPs cannot be charged for corruption without this legislation. I'm sure the common law and current statute law could provide for them to be brought before the courts on the basis of theft and fraud. Paying a milliin dollars for a five dollar job should lead to a conviction before the courts without this legislation.
DDK 7 years, 4 months ago
I think you are right and I also think lip service abounds!
John 7 years, 4 months ago
Why does the average citizen on the street feel that police are involved in crime, murders especially. When you talk to the average citizen they believe that the police are involved to the point at of at least covering up certain murders. And some would go even beyond that point and say there is a gang operating within the police force. And the rank goes all the way up the khaki uniforms. And once they want you dead, you dead bro. They may not do it themselves but they will put you in certain position that you can't protect yourself Provide certain information. When a shooter can pull up on a car loaded with 4 people and they only kill the person they come for, that ain't no ordinary shooter bro. That's a trained asassin. Trained to kill. Yes it's time to be suspicious. The murder rate is decreasing and the detection rate is decreasing. Wow in this small lil country Jed?
John 7 years, 4 months ago
*the murder rate is increasing and the detection rate is decreasing according to the minister of national security. It is a government's duty to protect its citizens and to punish those who break the law or trample on the rights of others. It is time for this country to get to the bottom of this crime problem, murders especially. Flush out those responsible and let them feel the full brunt of the law. Else the country will destroy itself. Implode.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 4 months ago
This country is a country of laws ............. but it lacks enforcement, accountability, court efficiency, debt redress and prison rehabilitation
Anything that Minnis, Carl, KPT and Dames can do to turn that around in the next five years will go a long way to modernizing and improving social justice and reducing institutional corruption in our country .......... This will undoubtedly go a long way in reducing our national debt and crime levels
TalRussell 7 years, 4 months ago
Comrades! PM Minnis' June 30, 2017 deadline Financial Disclosures has now expired - so why haven't we heard even a peep from "Ace" if this red government done have “assiduously” turned over the files to the attorney general...... but Assiduousness - would first calls for sticking to your promises made to voters during the 2017 General Election campaign.... And from media reports it would appear the AG and the PM - ain't exactly in sink when it comes down to who going be prosecuted and who won't be standing before a judge?
BahamasForBahamians 7 years, 4 months ago
Dude.
People are being slaughtered daily and your #1 fight is corruption?
With #2 being road blocks?
Marvy Marv your grade so far is a D+!
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