Attorney General Carl Bethel. (File photo)
By EARYEL BOWLEG
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel has urged landlords to be lenient with rent collection as “everybody has to take a hit” during the pandemic. While addressing the issue of rent relief in the Senate, Mr Bethel said there “obviously” needs to be some dialogue about the matter during this economic and health crisis.
“.....Everybody has to bear and be prepared to bear their fair share of the burden of the fight against this disease and that means landlords should be prepared to take something of a hit and not put old people, mothers, and children out in the road,” Mr Bethel said. “Everybody has to take a hit.
“Government is taking a hit. Private sector businesses are taking a hit. Unemployed workers are taking an enormous hit and though we’re trying to give some support, it may well not be enough to both survive and pay the rent.”
He did note, however, that persons being evicted within days of the country being placed into a state of emergency may not have been paying rent before the crisis.
The Senate also touched on the issue of face masks and how they can possibly help prevent the spread of the disease.
Progresive Liberal Party Senator Dr Michael Darville raised concern of some frontline workers not having personal protective equipment even though they come in contact with many people daily.
“Local workers are coming into contact with foreign workers without the protective equipment and we need to make sure that is taken under control particularly with the extension of this lock down,” Dr Darville said.
“...Small countries like Iceland are seeing excellent results in reduction of transmission of COVID-19 by the use of face masks and we’re also recommending that the government should look at this to be able to assist those who can’t afford face masks to have access to these masks.”
Mr Bethel, pictured, said that he was approached by a group of Bahamians who wanted to go into the business of mass producing face masks locally.
“They’re virtually impossible to obtain overseas at this time although we have ample stocks for the medical professions,” Mr Bethel told the Senate.
“So, we needed some exemption to have a fabric store to supply them which I would advise to the competent authority that he should grant urgently. . .So I think we will start to see, in short order, face masks produced here in the Bahamas for Bahamians.”
In the meantime, the attorney general suggested “self-help” measures such as people making their own masks by using two layers of t-shirts.
Comments
birdiestrachan 4 years, 7 months ago
Rental income is the only income some people have, They are in need of their rental income to pay their bills without it they have nothing.
What Mr: Bethel should do is have the Government pay the rent for those who are unable to pay.
It is important to think deep before making statements,
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 7 months ago
Your mischievous motives are much too transparent. Even the dumbest of the dumb can see straight through your political mischief. LMAO
joeblow 4 years, 7 months ago
... the government is not your provider! This entitlement mentality is what has this country stuck at fourth world status! People simply need to speak with their landlords and work something out. Most will comply especially if the tenant was a reliable one!
Bahamaland231 4 years, 7 months ago
Will the banks be lenient with mortgages?
My2centz 4 years, 7 months ago
Wasnt that already addressed? I believe their mortgage payments will be deferred for three months.
happyfly 4 years, 7 months ago
If the government FORCES people out of work they MUST either enact legislation that will protect the poor from unscrupulous landlords OR provide compensation to the tenants/landlords OR let people go back to work.
"Urging" people is a damn joke
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 7 months ago
Dumber than even the dumbest! @birdie hooked you good. ROWL
SP 4 years, 7 months ago
Actually, I wouldn't doubt that Roberts and the government were dupped by the misconception perpetuated by President Trump and the US government that masks were useless, just because they needed to secure all the masks they could for themselves.
Looking objectively at our whole scenario to date, the governments' early shutdown tactic is a very bold step in an attempt to curtail the spread of Covid19, and I support their decision 110%!
That being said, unfortunately, obviously, they did not factor in the need to ensure essential service providers i.e. cashiers and line staff of food stores, gas stations, pharmacies, and other businesses front line staff left in place to deal with the entire population were adequately protected against becoming infected themselves, and worse being carriers of the virus, and infecting many of those they come in contact with.
Now that the truth is out that wearing masks is actually an absolute necessity in the war against Covid19, the government needs to be agile, and adult enough to realize their shortcomings, and pivot to make the necessary adjustments to mitigate the oncoming deluge of cases headed our way in the next 10 to 15 days.
https://www.yahoo.com/gma/top-chinese-h…
The attorney general might want to look into who in the US government is responsible for putting out the deliberate misleading propaganda that masks were not necessary for everybody just for their own agenda leading to any number of Bahamians and people from other Caribbean jurisdictions suffering and/or dying needlessly.
Those responsible must be held accountable!
BahamaPundit 4 years, 7 months ago
Yes. The "you don't need a mask" hoax was perpetuated by the W.H.O. and CDC to prevent the American public from buying up all the masks, N95 respirators, because they were in short supply and needed by health care workers. The truth is without wearing masks, the public is sitting ducks, because the virus travels through the air whenever someone speaks. You will notice that all of the Asian countries required their citizens to wear masks and for good reason.
moncurcool 4 years, 7 months ago
It bothers me the statements that some politicians make at times. You shut down the country and then have the audacity to tell landlords they need to take a hit. The government needs to show they take a hit and downsize and stop spending. When they show they willing to do that then others would be willing to take a hit likewise.
. I agree this is going to be a long recovery road for all, but, Leaders must always lead by example, not by just talk. Besides, if they want landlords to take a hit, they need to tell the banks to take a hit and stop charging interest on portages now.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 7 months ago
....ditto that....
Bahamianbychoice 4 years, 7 months ago
Agreed.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 7 months ago
Many are saying alcohol has turned what was left of Bethel's small brain into mush. Those very heavy bags always under his eyes are certainly a very telling sign. One might be able to safely bet on what he stocked-up on to ride out the Red China Virus crisis. Some even worry he's liable to go berserk if runs out of his favourite fuel before certain stores are allowed to re-open and re-commence business.
Shameless Shane and No Good Frank Smith must have felt quite secure knowing that Bethel had oversight of their prosecutions that ended up in acquittals and much mud over Minnis's face with Bahamian taxpayers to bear the financial consequences of Minnis and Bethel's defeat. Not a pretty picture at all!
bahamianson 4 years, 7 months ago
Yup , the government wants landlords to take a bit. Did the government say anything about those same landlords not having to pay Real Property Tax or reduced Property Tax at the end of the year. If not , Mr. Bethell had not thought it through.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 7 months ago
Do you really know Bahamians who actually pay real property tax?
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