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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Nassau, Bahamas - The following is a press statement by independence candidate for Elizabeth, Terneille Burrows:
While the Attorney General admonishes Bahamians to trust the Prime Minister in regards to the details of the latest Baha Mar agreement, I say that the citizenry should mobilize every tool available to us to demand the information be revealed. The billion-dollar question is whether the electorate agrees.
According to the July 2015 winding up petition initiated by the Bahamas government and filed against Baha Mar, "The government of The Bahamas and its entities have provided an estimated $1.2 billion worth of concessions to the respondents to facilitate the development."
Since the current (and previous) government administration of The Bahamas sought fit to grant such generous allowances to this development over the years, will we the people demand transparency to be able to better scrutinize the transactions of those negotiating on our behalf?
The concept of, “Red carpet for foreign direct investors, but red tape for Bahamians” comes to mind. In our fragile economy, the powers that be should consider the long term benefits substantial investments in Bahamian ventures could yield. Local brands of many types have exhibited the ability to thrive in our market, and could possibly be expanded into the export realm. Bahamian fashion line Bahari, for example, has catapulted to success in a matter of a few short years. Changing the economic culture of dependency and jobs to one of industry and ownership will take funding and concessions.
Our government does not seem to realize that in 2016, The Bahamian masses expect actual transparency and accountability rather than just talk of such. Unfortunately, there is no active Freedom of Information protocol available to ensure government accountability in our country.
The general public depends on entities like The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation to assess potential economic impact on these types of major dealings, but without access to the full details, such entities are prohibited from conducting proper evaluations. We also want fiscal responsibility. Past Baha Mar deals have made allowances for 8,100 non-Bahamians workers, with a maximum of 5,000 at any single time during the life of the Project. This 2010 resolution was agreed to unanimously in the House of Assembly under the Ingraham administration.
Bahamians have grown wary of our crown land being allocated, cays being sold, aragonite mined without our knowledge, understanding or support. There can be no accountability without transparency. There will be no transparency without the masses applying pressure, forcing the government to implement and uphold relevant laws.
It's time to put an end to the closed door deals made on our behalf. It's time to stand up and demand better negotiations. It's time our governments invest more in the development of our natural talents and resources and less in foreign agencies that overwhelm the possibilities of our own competencies as Bahamian innovators. It’s time the Public Accounts Committee, lead by members of the official opposition, do their job and demand immediate access to the full details of the Baha Mar agreement. It’s time for true anti-corruption reform, and past time for the implementation of a proper Freedom of Information Act.
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