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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 Nassau, Bahamas - The following is the Contribution to the Budget Debate 2015/2016 of the Hon. Neko Grant, Member of Parliament
for East End Grand Bahamas, and Leader of Opposition Business in the House on June 8th:
Mr. Speaker:
I rise on behalf of the wonderful people of Central Grand Bahama to contribute to the 2015 / 2016 Budget Debate.
With your leave Sir, I wish to advise of the details of the expenditure of my Constituency Allowance.
1) Musical instruments were presented to the Lewis Yard Primary School. They are now equipped with keyboards and wind instruments. This is a continuation of my Music Ministry, which commenced in March, 1996.
2) The Basketball Court in Lewis Yard was refurbished and bleachers constructed.
3) Computers will be presented to students at the St. Georges High School at their graduation on Thursday, June 11, 2015.
4) The landscape enhancement on the foreshore of Williams/Russell Town will be completed in short order.
Mr. Speaker:
According to one count the English language has 112 words for deception, each with a different shade of meaning: collusion, fakers, self-deception confabulation, exaggeration, denial.
- Robin Marantz Herig
Mr. Speaker:
The P.L.P. needs to be added to this list … there is nothing progressive about them, they are however, LIBERAL with squandering the people’s money and not accounting for it … and Mr. Speaker, not to mention PARTY … they can certainly throw an elaborate PARTY on the people’s dime…
It seems as though this P.L.P. Government has adapted the French aristocrats attitude during one of the famines in France during the reign of Louis XVI (16th) – the French aristocrats continued to live as though all was well in the land …
Today this P.L.P. Government continues to spend lavishly… as with the French aristocrats who continued to live lavishly, to wine and dine and entertain … it is alleged that the Queen upon hearing that the people were suffering, she simply replied: ‘Let them eat cake’.
Mr. Speaker:
This P.L.P. is essentially doing the same thing. They are in total disregard for the state of affairs the people are in … their modern day reply to the suffering people is: ‘jump in the line and get Lucy’.
Mr. Speaker:
The PLP’s policy is not working.
I turn my attention now to the Prime Minister’s Budget communication and refer to page 60: ‘for environmental and safety reasons, we will ban the importation of wrecked vehicles and the importation of vehicles of more than 10 years of age’.
Those involved in the auto business advise me that the banning of wrecked vehicles in its present form is vague. Let me hasten to add, Mr. Speaker, that some vehicles I see being taken from our ports should not have been allowed to enter this country. Constituents who operate body-shops have advised me that there are three certificates associated with wrecked vehicles.
1) A wrecked vehicle with a Certificate of Destruction.
This vehicle cannot return to the streets of the United States and so it should not be allowed in The Bahamas.
2) A wrecked vehicle with a Certificate of Title.
This vehicle can be repaired and returned to the streets of the United States.
3) A wrecked vehicle with a Certificate of Salvage – Rebuildable.
This vehicle can be repaired and returned to the streets of the United States.
Mr. Speaker:
We are aware that the employment rate in Grand Bahama is almost nineteen percent (19%). In order to preserve jobs, the Government may wish to revisit this position and deal with wrecked vehicles in the categories afore-mentioned.
Mr. Speaker:
As for the ban on the importation of vehicles more than 10 years of age, how can the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, in good conscience look the poor man in Centerville, Garden Hills, Bain Town, Englerston, Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, Eight Mile Rock, West End, etc. and tell him in the face he cannot purchase a vehicle older than 10 years, when the Government has recently acquired a fleet of thirteen (13) year old right hand drive Japanese vehicles. Yes, a fleet of 2002 Honda SUV’s were acquired and the vehicles are being driven by Ministry of Education Officers on the island of Grand Bahama. From whom where these vehicles acquired; who imported them? I understand that reputable dealers importing these Japanese vehicles only import 2007 models and newer.
This cannot be right, Mr. Speaker.
This P.L.P. Government must stop its double standards. One standard for the people, and another standard for the Government.
Read the entire Contribution attached below:
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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