Several parliamentarians 'miss disclosure deadline'

As of Friday, March 15, 2019

By RIEL MAJOR

ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna-Martin said yesterday she will be carefully watching the response of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis regarding parliamentarians missing the deadline to disclose their assets and liabilities.

Reportedly, several parliamentarians failed to submit their declarations of assets and liabilities by the March 1 deadline.

Mrs Hanna Martin said she doesn't want to give her view on the parliamentarians who have yet to disclose.

She said: "The prime minister expressed strong views on it all the way through, especially in opposition. He was adamant in opposition about what should happen.

"Particularly based on his principled position taken in opposition. He expressed in opposition a strong position, very strong...stronger than anyone I’ve ever heard about what should happen to people who are obliged by law to disclose under that legislation."

Mrs Hanna Martin said it will be interesting to see if the prime minister will act in accordance with what he said.

Mrs Hanna Martin said: "From what he said publicly, I think he said lock them up, that’s what he said so I’ll be interested to see whether he will act in accordance with what he said was his declared principled position on the matter."

In an interview with The Tribune, Free National Movement (FNM) chairman Carl Culmer said he hadn't received the list, so he is unable to say who has and who hasn't disclosed.

In 2014, while in opposition, Dr Minnis said parliamentarians who failed to make their financial disclosures should be arrested.

“I can tell you that I have disclosed,” he said at the time. “I can tell you that the opposition has disclosed. You would do me a great favour, you and the Bahamian public –– set an example, march and force them to disclose.

“And the police should lock them up. That’s the job of the police. They must disclose.”

rawbahamian 5 years, 9 months ago

Then the identified clowns need to be subjected to the laws governing them !!!

Guy 5 years, 9 months ago

Don’t hold your breath.

SP 5 years, 9 months ago

Blah, blah, blah, blah. The only thing that changed on this subject in 27 years is we went from a grinning buffon to a dancing buffon to this spineless buffon!

Self-serving, corrupt politicians and their cast of blind supporting lackeys and drones are still the order of the day.

Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 9 months ago

The loud mouthed obnoxious Hanna-Martin would be holding her tongue if a single PLP parliamentarian had not met the disclosure deadline. And let's not forget that while she was a sitting MP under previous governments led by Christie, she kept her big mouth shut when many parliamentarians had entirely ignored their financial disclosure requirements. Bottom line: Hanna-Martin is just being what she has always been - nothing but a hypocrite with a loud uncouth mouth.

That said, those FNM parliamentarians who are still non-compliant should be called out and made to suffer an appropriate fine of increasing amount until they are compliant. The laws/rules should also be changed so that no non-compliant parliamentarian may continue receiving their parliamentary pay until they become compliant.

Frankly, the easiest way to fix this recurring problem going forward is for the rules of parliament to be amended such that an elected and/or appointed parliamentarian cannot take their seat and/or vote or otherwise participate in any parliamentary proceeding unless and until such time that they have complied with their financial disclosure requirements. The Speaker of the House should also be duty bound to have removed from the House, by force if necessary, any non-compliant MP no matter what reason he or she may give for their non-compliance. Believe me when I say this would fix the problem overnight. These grown children, when they don't behave and abide by rules and laws to which are subject, should be made by rule-of-law to face very real and appropriate consequences; and no PM or Speaker of the House should be able to exercise any discretion whatsoever in the matter.

sheeprunner12 5 years, 9 months ago

Yes ........... Minnis cannot go back on his Opposition words now ......... LOL

Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 9 months ago

I hope the Office of the AG and the Director of Prosecutions take due note.

screwedbahamian 5 years, 9 months ago

TIs this right out of the PUNCH "grapevine gossip page?? If you break the law, NAME AND SHAME THE PARLIMENTARIANS that do not file their Law demanding DISCLOSURE RETURNS ON TIME. If we ordinary citizens break the law, we are named and shamed ( maybe).