The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

The Opposition’s deputy leader yesterday demanded that the Government provide a full accounting of how the funds collected through the $2 per person tourism enhancement levy have been used.

Shanendon Cartwright, in a statement, blasted the Government for failing to disclose what it has used the proceeds from this fee and the $5 environmental levy charged to cruise passenger for.

He claimed the tourism levy, which has been collected since last year and directed to the Tourism Development Corporation, has not yet been publicly accounted for and demanded a full breakdown of the agency’s revenue and expenditures.

“As the Government is collecting money in the name of tourism development, then the Bahamian people have a right to get a full accounting. These are the Bahamian people's tax revenues and Parliament must be given a full breakdown of the amounts collected and for all related expenditure. There is no justification to withhold this basic information,” said Mr Cartwright.

He argued that the Davis administration has a pattern of “governing in the dark”, and called for the Government to disclose how much has been collected via tourism levies and details of procurement contracts over $25,000.

“The Office of the Prime Minister publicly claimed that these levies would ‘go back into the country so entrepreneurs will benefit from it, and the redevelopment of tourism will benefit from it’. That promise demands proof,” said Mr Cartwright.

“Which entrepreneurs have benefited, where are the projects, and where is the accounting? These are questions of trust, accountability and basic financial stewardship. Tourism is the backbone of our economy, and Bahamians supported these levies because they were told the funds would be used responsibly and transparently to strengthen the country we all depend on.

“Until full disclosure is provided, the Tourism Development Fund will stand as yet another example of a government that demands public confidence while refusing public scrutiny.”

Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, last week defended the Government’s handling of tourism funds, calling allegations of financial secrecy “absolute nonsense and mischievous” while urging the Opposition to stop making unsubstantiated claims.

During Parliament, a heated exchange took place between Opposition leader, Michael Pintard, and Mr Cooper regarding transparency in the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC).

Mr Pintard raised concerns that the public has no clear understanding of how much the Ministry of Tourism has spent over the past four-and-a-half years, including contracts and other expenditures.

In response, Mr Cooper insisted the Government has “nothing to hide” and assured Parliament that all financial details related to the TDC would be laid out “in due course” in accordance with legal reporting requirements.

“We have nothing to hide. All of the details of everything to do with the Tourism Development Corporation will be fully laid out to this place in due course, in the standard form of reporting. So the member’s innuendos about not knowing where money is spent is absolute, absolute nonsense and mischievous,” said Mr Cooper.

He also defended the ministry’s operations, saying they are both legally compliant and appropriately adapted to the fast-moving, international nature of the tourism sector.

“The Ministry of Tourism by its very nature, because of its international dealings, because we have to respond quickly to changes in markets, we have special considerations as to how we go about certain matters,” said Mr Cooper.

“Anything that we are required to report under the law, under procurement laws, we have done so or will do so, in the general course of reporting.”