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Bahamian Politics Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Hubert Chipman responds to Bradley Roberts
By Hubert Chipman M. P.
Sep 20, 2015 - 11:28:59 PM

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Nassau, Bahamas - Hubert Chipman M. P., Public Accounts Committee in the Hon. House of Assembly ( In answer to Press release of PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts):

The Public Accounts committee in discharge of its constitutional function is precisely in search of the truth when it comes to the administration of the Urban Renewal Programme 2.0 by the Urban Renewal Commission, contrary to the naked and misguided assertions of PLP chairman Bradley B Roberts.
In this task it requires no assistance from Mr. Roberts whose Alice in Wonderland tenuous link with reality appears to ignore the complete absence of systems and foundational structures in the Programme.

The Public Accounts Committee in its hearings have examined a plethora of witnesses including the Permanent Secretaries of the Urban Renewal Commission, the Financial Controller, the Quantity Surveyor, numerous officers agents and employees together with persons under contract with the Commission and of course the Co-chairs. Additionally the Committee has had to consider reams of Documents including bank records, the reports of the Auditor General and the separate report requisitioned by the Ministry of Works and notably correspondence emanating from the Ministry of Finance questioning deficiencies in record keeping and compliance with the Financial Administration and Audit Act.

The preliminary observations of the Committee echoed by the Chairman show that there was a complete absence of systems and organization within Urban Renewal. In addition, testimony regarding the Small Homes Repair project – the stated aim of which is to aid the poor, elderly and disabled – suggests public funds may have been wasted and in many cases, the objectives of the programme were not fulfilled.

Far from being a witch hunt as Bradley Roberts suggests the enquiries of the Public Accounts Committee have been the most fulsome and in depth.
The Committee has been keen to ensure that all relevant voices have had an opportunity to be heard; and its deliberations are continuing.

Once again Bradley Roberts has demonstrated his unyielding capacity for foot in mouth disease.  His penchant for acting without thinking is unrivalled.

What Mr. Roberts should have done is a little thinking before acting: in which case he could have said:

“The Government looks forward to receiving the report of the Public Accounts Committee on Urban Renewal because it takes its mandate help poor people very seriously. We want to ensure that the public’s money is well spent not wasted or abused. To this extent we will incorporate all positive recommendations that the Committee makes that will allow us to improve the programme. Where there is wrongdoing we will root it out: where there are deficiencies we will correct them.
This programme is about the poor: we will keep the focus on them.”

BUT Bradley Roberts did not do this…what a shame.


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