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FNM names law it says govt broke over trip to Bermuda

FNM leader Michael Pintard.

FNM leader Michael Pintard.

FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard accused the government of violating the Public Finance Management Act when it used public money to pay for Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ controversial trip to Bermuda.

He said the opposition will put this issue before the Public Accounts Committee and use that group’s power to compel the turnover of all the relevant documents.

Last week, press secretary Clint Watson urged those who said the government had broken the law in reference to the trip’s financing to show which law had been contravened.

“It is embarrassing for us to have to educate the Office of the Prime Minister on the law - especially given that the Cabinet has more than one noted King’s Counsel with decades of experience in the practice of law,” Mr Pintard said in a statement yesterday.

 “We firmly believe they were fully aware that their actions were inappropriate but were blinded by arrogance and were caught in plain sight. Nonetheless we shall assist the Office of the Prime Minister.

 “The government’s spokesman would do well to acquaint himself with Articles 130 and 131 of the Constitution which speaks to how public funds are authorised and which, in Article 131, expressly says that public funds ‘issued shall be disposed of for meeting public expenditure under Article 130 of the Constitution or, in the case of statutory expenditure, for the purposes appointed by law.’”

 He also said: “We are pleased to advise him as well that under Section 30 (1) of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act that ‘no public officer nor public office holder shall commit the government to a financial liability or contingent liability unless specifically authorised to do so under this or any other Act.’

 “Finally, we make him aware that Section 111 (1) (a) of the PFM Act states that ‘a public officer, or other person with responsibility for public resources commits an offence of financial misconduct if, without lawful authority, that person willfully or recklessly (a) incurs expenditure or makes commitments for expenditure of public money.’ Clearly, advancing money for a trip by a political or any other non-government entity is not public expenditure as defined in the Constitution or any statute law of The Bahamas.”

 Mr Pintard said the trip’s financing was “unauthorised expenditure”.

 “Parliament has not appropriated any sums of money to advance to outside entities for travel purposes,” the Marco City MP added. “Indeed, Parliament could not do such a thing. Given that this is unauthorised public expenditure, it qualifies under the PFM act as expenditure ‘without lawful authority’ and as such it constitutes an offence under Bahamian law. We fully expect that all persons who authorised this expenditure would do the honourable thing and accept the sanctions prescribed under the PFM Act. We shall take up this matter forthwith in the Public Accounts Committee where we shall utilise our statutory powers to compel the submission of all relevant information in respect to this most sordid matter.”

 Last week, the Progressive Liberal Party released a copy of a cheque for $24,750, reflecting money the ruling party reimbursed to the Public Treasury to cover the cost of a chartered Western Air flight to Bermuda.

 On Wednesday, Mr Davis said he made the decision that the government will not pay for the trip, adding that the trip’s expenses would eventually be repaid to the Public Treasury in full, even for himself who travelled as prime minister. He was responding to Mr Pintard in the House of Assembly, who had accused the government of breaking the law.

 However, Mr Davis admitted that the cheque from the PLP did not cover the full costs of the travel.

 Mr Davis’ trip drew scrutiny after it was revealed that he spoke at a political convention for Bermuda’s ruling Progressive Labour Party. He travelled to Bermuda with a delegation, including former Prime Minister Perry Christie, on October 19 and returned on October 20.

 The Office of the Prime Minister initially said the Progressive Liberal Party paid for the trip and to put any further questions to the party. But PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell later released a message to supporters, saying the flights were organised through OPM as is standard.

 “The standard procedure is for most if not all flights of the Prime Minister to be arranged through the Office of the Prime Minister. When settlement of expenses are done there is a reckoning as between personal expenses and public expenses. That procedure was followed in this case and there is nothing unusual about it,” Mr Mitchell said over a week ago.

 On Thursday, Mr Watson said that the full cost of the trip was still not known and he was unable to say how much money was spent on hotel accommodations, transportation, food, per diem and other trip-related elements.

Comments

Flyingfish 2 years, 1 month ago

There should be a full investigation into this and they need to publish the findings to the public. The problem is nobody seems to know who authorized this trip and what the punishment is, because we claim to follow the Westminster system yet unlike the UK, etc. it looks like there's no consequences for wrong doing in government.

Who ever is involved should resign from their position. PM included

LastManStanding 2 years, 1 month ago

The Westminster system requires politicians with integrity to function correctly, something our nation sorely lacks.

M0J0 2 years, 1 month ago

K. 1 point for Mr. Pintard, but where was this voice when his party was doing even more of the same.

realfreethinker 2 years, 1 month ago

Mojo stay focused. This has nothing to do with his party.

DWW 2 years, 1 month ago

doon watch notin' here bey. this govt bisness and nunya bisness aye! And all ye voters rejoice at the waste

sheeprunner12 2 years, 1 month ago

1000 other ppl should be investigated by PAC

themessenger 2 years, 1 month ago

The PAC is a toothless lion and couldn't do the accounting for a conch stand.

Thats why our politicians constantly tief and lie because they know there will be no consequences.

TalRussell 2 years, 1 month ago

@ComradeTheMessenger, stopped to gram a single small size Conch Salad and it set my finances back by a Twenty Dollar banknote. Now a treat Conch Salad will be added to my Off Buy List ― Yes?

themessenger 2 years, 1 month ago

@ComradeTal, in case yinnas ain heard, conchs in recession too, and as ma brudda Eleuthera boy Eddie does sing soon ga be no more conch on we menu - Yes?

birdiestrachan 2 years, 1 month ago

Mr Pintard of toggie and boggie is all over this story it is to bad he did not see the doc when he was travelling and calling the Bahamas corrupt my understanding is that the PM was going to Bermuda the plan was able to carry 25 people so those who went were able to go so the plane would not go empty

Strong

birdiestrachan 2 years, 1 month ago

Pintard Check out the food programme where you all were paying a rich woman one thousand seven hundred per week to do a job that many women would have done for nothing

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LastManStanding 2 years, 1 month ago

I don't know why Bahamians still expect any better at this point. Governments from both parties have told us loud and clear that they are going to boongie us out of every nickel and dime they can to live large, and there is nothing that we can do about it. Barring major institutional reform, the Bahamian people have no power to hold governments accountable for their actions.

TigerB 2 years, 1 month ago

Well my 5 cents is the PLP is in charge now, FNM done fall from grace. Brave enjoy a year of Bliss, honeymoon over now. He will let Fred drag him to hell, Chester keeping his nose clean. from this one. Seems now this their OBAN black eye, it will not be forgotten.

birdiestrachan 2 years, 1 month ago

FNM FAST AND LOOSE
WITH
TRUTHS

SP 2 years, 1 month ago

ENOUGH PLP and FNM smoke and mirrors. I support Mr. Lincoln Bain

themessenger 2 years, 1 month ago

" I support Mr. Lincoln Bain." The lunatics are running the asylum.....................

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