During his contribution on BAMSI
on Wednesday, Deputy PM Philip Davis sought to downplay the seriousness of this
gross mismanagement of public funds calling pubic concerns a distraction. With
2.6 million dollars in tax payer monies up in smoke, and 5.5 million dollars
being allocated to rebuild the uninsured structure, the Deputy PM’s comments
were flippant and showed a disregard for the rule of law and a level of
disrespect for the Bahamian people. The Democratic National Alliance repeats
its call for his immediate resignation.
Equally culpable, if not more so,
is PM Perry Christie who, as the substantive Minister of Finance holds the
country’s purse strings in his hands. As Minister of Finance it is his ultimate
responsibility to ensure that any and all payouts from the treasury are done so
in accordance with the law.
By the DPM’s own admission
mobilization payments were made without the inclusion of the necessary
insurance documents. The failure of officials at the Ministries of Works AND
Finance to ensure that these documents were in fact part of the contractor’s
file BEFORE approving payment is not only negligent, but indicative of the way
PM Perry Christie has run his cabinet and this country. Since taking office,
the PM has allowed his band of merry men to run amuck failing on countless
occasions to reign in officials who have skirted the law for personal gain.
This time, his lackadaisical style of governance has cost the country MILLIONS.
For months now, the PM has touted
the benefits of BAMSI spreading the message of its potential across the
archipelago; recounting again and again the very personal attachment he had to
this idea. It is hard to believe then that the PM was not intimately
knowledgeable about the facilities inner workings, its progress and exactly how
much money was paid out, when, and to whom. If this is indeed the case, it
would seem that Mr. Christie has willfully and intentionally ignored the rule
of law in favor of giving his longtime political associate a lucrative deal and
for that he must also tender his IMMEDIATE resignation.
The fire which gutted an
unfinished dormitory at BAMSI has long been extinguished, but today, in the
wake of stunning revelations of government ineptitude, BAMSI BURNS. The North
Andros facility is in a state of emergency, yet the persons at the helm seem
blissfully ignorant of this fact. Even as the electorate is left to wonder
where the government intends to find the money to reconstruct that building PM
Perry Christie left the country following Parliamentary proceedings on
Wednesday night to attend a Miami Heat game in Florida!
This trip could not come at a
worse time! Where are Mr. Christie’s priorities and who funded this trip? Were
taxpayer funds again misappropriated for the personal exploits of government
officials? Was a basketball game really
more important to him than dealing with the BAMSI crime scene?
Clearly this administration has
lost its way. The leadership of the Progressive Liberal Party has failed this
country. THEY MUST ALL GO! NOW!
Branville
McCartney
DNA Leader
