GRANTS TOWN
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT,
BRADLEY B. ROBERTS

TOPIC: BUDGET DEBATE 2000/1

JUNE 13, 2000  

The Budget Does Not Balance

Madame speaker, I rise on behalf of the great Constituency of Grants Town to contribute to the debate on what the government is calling a balanced budget. Madame speaker, whilst the government and its supporters are using this catchy phrase called “balanced budget,” I beg to differ and believe that the written text from which the Minister of Finance spoke; was fraught with grammatical error and should have been read as “the does not balance budget.”

Madame speaker, a review of my records will disclose that this will be my 19^th contribution to the Annual Budget of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. I have been able to speak on 19 budgets as a result of the confidence reposed in me by the good people of the Grants Town Constituency.

 I am painfully aware Madame speaker, that this debate will find itself with no television access to my constituents and other Bahamians who have Cable Bahamas and that is solely and wholly attributed to the arbitrary and capricious decision of the Member for North Abaco, who ordered the discontinuation of television broadcast of Parliamentary Debate. In this matter, it was you Madame speaker who accommodated the Member for North Abaco under the guise of there being a lack of decorum in this place. Madame speaker, I ask the lack of decorum of which member? That pretext was patently untrue, ungodly, wicked and undemocratic.

Madame speaker, history will be very unkind to you for the role you played in the removing of the cameras from this place thereby denying access of Parliamentary proceedings to the Bahamian masses. History will record that it was you Madame speaker, who chose to be the front person in the ordering of the glass walls of this chamber to be darkened. What a legacy for one to have. What a legacy.

Madame speaker, the Member for North Abaco gave the impression that Cable Bahamas was available throughout the Bahamas. The truth of the matter is, there is no cable in Cat Island, in many sections of South Eleuthera, in many sections of Long Island, Exuma and other areas in the Bahamas. Madame speaker, one is obliged to ask, why the Member for North Abaco has not ensured that Cable Bahamas fulfill its obligation, rather than attempting to mislead the public, by saying that there was full coverage of Cable Bahamas throughout the Bahamas.

 But maybe that is now a moot point Madame speaker, since that which would be most important to Bahamian people, the viewing of Parliament Proceedings; are no longer visible by way of Cable Bahamas.

Madame speaker, the Bahamian people are vex and rightfully so, that they are unable to watch, observe, and decipher what is going on in this House. The proactive assertions by this Member have obviously had its impact as well as the contributions of my colleagues who oppose the shenanigans of this one-man government. Madame speaker, it is crystal clear to me that the Member for North Abaco’s popularity has gone to hell in a hand basket.

Madame speaker, confirmation of this was quite evident as shown in the big flop that was designated as a day to honor him last month. Madame speaker, the prayer breakfast, I was informed was sparsely attended with many empty tables, notwithstanding that it was free of charge. Then the musical extravaganza at RM Bailey, where the top musical bands and entertainers of this land were in attendance, was reported to have attracted FNM’s including children, reaching numbers between 1000 and less than 2000. These reports have to be disappointing for a maximum leader, not to mention an honorable and distinguished doctor who is the Member for North Abaco.

  Madame speaker, I shall deal with this statement and the several items mentioned, in particular Housing, later on in my contribution. Suffice it to say for now however, that a commitment for decent housing for all of our people can only be a figment of the imagination of the Minister of Finance, as there is nothing in this budget that addresses this pressing issue.

However Madame speaker, in returning to the rapidly diminishing popularity of the maximum leader of the FNM; the Leader of the Official Opposition, the Deputy Leader, other parliamentary colleagues and myself recently attended the official opening of the Workers House in Eleuthera.

 Madame speaker, I could not believe my ears when I heard the Member for North Abaco, with his chest sticking out and with a broad grin on his face, boldly proclaim that the then President of the BHCAWU, Dr. Thomas Bastian, was a man that the Member for North Abaco could do business with. Madame speaker, the Member for North Abaco compounded Dr. Bastian’s dilemma by also stating that all who follow him, meaning the Member for North Abaco, knew to whom they should lend their support.

Madame speaker, history could now reveal that this proclamation by the Member for North Abaco was the instant kiss of death for the now former President of the hotel union, Dr. Thomas Bastian. Dr. Bastian is no longer the President of the most powerful union in the Bahamas. Dr. Bastian now lies in his politically unionized tomb, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Member for North Abaco, the RT. Hon. Doctor. It is noteworthy Madame speaker, for the power-stricken maximum leader to be reminded of the old Bahamian adage that carries a poetic ring to it that says, “When you seek to dig one ditch, you should dig two—because the other ditch is for you.”

Madame speaker, the man whom the RT. Hon. Doctor, by inference said he could not do business with is now the President of the BHCAWU, Mr. Pat Bain, a distinguished Bahamian who hails from East Street. Madame speaker, I embrace this opportunity to warmly congratulate Mr. Pat Bain and the members of his Rainbow Team along with the contributing members who supported the Rainbow Team. I wish them every success.

Madame speaker, the ill fated words of the Member for North Abaco in his support of the former President of the Hotel Union, should give a lesson to other political leaders as to where they should not stick their noses; as it is a fact that fools rush in where wise men fear to tread. But I guess if one is a maximum leader that sees his end and adheres to the adage that misery loves company, then other would-be political leaders will try the same thing.

Madame speaker, I have said that to say this, there is a strong wind of change blowing against this government. The people are fed-up with a dominating political leader who thinks that he is God, when in fact he’s really an Owl. Madame speaker, only a perverse mind could think that he is God, when in fact he himself doesn’t know God. I am absolutely dumbfounded at how a group of grown men and women allow themselves to be dominated by one man.

Madame speaker, I am reliably informed that the vast majority of the members who comprise this government, do not support the withdrawal of the cameras from the Parliament. Yet, Madame speaker, they sit like statues in a church and allow themselves to be dictated to like little children by a Pied Piper, whose tune cannot any longer even draw mice to a food filled festival outdoors at RM Bailey Park. Madame speaker, there are so many examples that I can draw from where the maximum leader has dominated those in his Cabinet, that I would only bore you if I mentioned them all. It is no wonder that the Bahamas finds itself in a state of moral decadence and hopelessness.

Madame speaker, it is still encouraging to know that amongst the many who have bowed down to a tin-god, there are still a few in this place that have refused to surrender their dignity to the maximum leader. Likewise Madame speaker, there are some church leaders that have the power of their convictions to say what even the most prominent of persons in church bodies dare not say. Thank God there are some church leaders that have not sold out their calling and their responsibilities as leaders in the corporate body of Christ.

 Madame speaker, it is these leaders who still speak loud and clear from the word of God to this government by saying such things as; how could the leader of the FNM make a call for prayers when he needs to pray for himself and repent of his sins; that the leader of the FNM refuses invitations to attend church, but seeks prayers at a prayer breakfast; that FNM’s could have a prayer breakfast for a man who doesn’t go to church.

 That is what real men of God are telling this government and its maximum leader. And Madame speaker, one cannot argue with these pronouncements, when it is a public fact that the Member for North Abaco was scheduled to speak at the funeral of an FNM Warrior, former Senator, the Reverend Merline Hanna on June 3^rd, but found it more appropriate to be hanging out with his cronies at a local restaurant. This has been the behavior of the Member for North Abaco on far too many occasions. Madame speaker, isn’t there anyone in the government who can say to the maximum leader, “Thus says the Lord?”

Madame speaker, I would like to hear from those self-proclaimed born-again Christians, who quietly sit in high and low places in this Parliament day after day. Madame speaker, in the name of Jesus, I would like to hear those born again Christians freely express themselves on what true men and women of God, real religious leaders are saying about the maximum leader of the FNM.

 Or will their tongues be forever tied because of after having started out in the Spirit, they now find themselves behaving in the flesh because they are beholden to their maximum leader? Madame speaker, does the same donkey  in the Holy Bible who spoke to Balaam, have to pay a visit to this Parliament, to speak to those self proclaimed born-again Christians to remind them of their calling and purpose?
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 THE BUDGET AND HOUSING 

Madame speaker, in looking at the statement attributed to the Minister of Finance about his government’s concern for decent housing, we shall now look at today’s circumstances and see if there is any honesty in what he considers to be his government’s concern for decent housing.

Madame speaker, the official record of the Central Bank as to the number of residential homes built under the FNM’s watch has been most disappointing. Madame speaker, the number of mortgage loans granted by the Mortgage Corporation is similarly disappointing.

Yet Madame speaker, the Minister of Housing, the legend in his own mind, comes to this place time and time again and talks absolute foolishness. Madame speaker, the Member for Englerston during his contribution had detailed the number of homes built since 1992 and I shall give additional details on the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation in a few minutes.

Madame speaker, when the Minister of Finance announced that there would be an extension for a further period of two years for the Family Island Development Act 1997, which grants exemption from Customs duty to the Family Islands of Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Ragged Island and Cays, Rum Cay, Cat Island, Andros, San Salvador, Long Island, Exuma and the Exuma Cays for building materials and machinery used to clear land; Members of the Majority Party banged on the table enthusiastically, clearly demonstrating their support for this decision.

Madame speaker, I noticed in particular the smiles on the faces of the Members for Bain Town, Fort Charlotte, Eight Mile Rock and St. Margaret’s.

 However, we on this side of the House, the Members for Centreville, St. Cecilia, Englerston, Kennedy and Grants Town waited with baited breath for the announcement that there would be exemption from Customs duty on building materials and machinery used to clear land for the urban areas of Over The Hill and Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama.

Madame speaker, much to their shame but not to my surprise, this FNM Government has again refused to deliver on its promise as outlined in its Manifesto, which states,

Madame speaker, thousands of low income Bahamians from the most densely populated areas of New Providence and Grand Bahama, particularly Eight Mile Rock, where decay, poverty and crime is prevalent continues to cry out for help. But this tone-deaf and heartless government refuses to acknowledge their pleas for help.

Madame speaker, the Members for Centreville, St. Cecilia, Englerston, Kennedy and Grants Town have over and repeatedly with boldness brought to this FNM Government’s attention the pleas for our Over The Hill brothers and sisters.

 The only responses from the Government in the Budget Communication has been the expression of, “The Government’s continuing commitment to shaping a Bahamas in which every Bahamian Citizen is assured access to good education and training, quality health care, decent, business and employment opportunities and a safe and healthy environment.” Empty talk, empty talk Madame speaker.

Madame speaker, one has to wonder what happen to the government’s Nehemiah of Housing who claims to be high up on that wall doing a good work? Is he doing such a good work that he can no longer convince his government to do something for the Bahamians Over The Hill? Is this Nehemiah doing such a good work that he cannot convince his government to get the water running through the faucets in the Penny Bank Lane Government Projects; instead of onto the floors of the apartments occupied by those who are experiencing horrific living conditions?

Madame speaker, is the Nehemiah of Housing doing such a good work high up on that wall, that he doesn’t have time to get the garbage moved from out of the Penny Bank Lane area, which is in his Constituency, so the occupants of those projects don’t have to live in a disease infested environment? Is the Nehemiah of Housing doing such a good work high up on that wall for the people, or is he once again doing a good work for himself in getting deceitful public exposure benefits?

Madame speaker, it is because of things like what has been happening since last week in the government’s Penny Bank Lane Projects that makes the words of the Finance Minister about his government’s commitment to decent housing; only words that ring hallow and are meaningless to the people of the black belt areas of New Providence.

 Madame speaker, like the people of Penny Bank Lane, the people of Grants Town and others know that they do not have decent housing. They know that they do not reside in a safe and healthy environment. Madame speaker, they know that there is a dual healthcare system; one for the have’s and one for the have-nots. They know, because they can feel the gap between the rich and the poor widening day by day.

Madame speaker, they know that the promises made by this FNM Government remains unfulfilled. In fact Madame speaker, as I mentioned before, the people of the black belt areas sent a clear and definitive message to the maximum leader of the FNM on the much-heralded Hubert Ingraham Day. The message Madame speaker was that they were not interested in receiving free food, drinks and music from the maximum leader and his decreasing band of followers.

Madame speaker, this message was loud and clear, as was the results of the affair. This sham public act of blaspheming God’s name by having a prayer breakfast for a man who knows Him not and then having a gathering at the RM Bailey Park turned out to be the biggest flop in the history of this distinguished and noted Doctor, the Member for North Abaco. It must now Madame speaker cause one to wonder if in fact even Satan has turned his back on one of his own.

And yet, Madame speaker, rather than pause, reflect and review the cause for the rapid decline in popularity and attempt to mend his ways, the Member for North Abaco continues on his merry way ignoring the social agenda of the have-nots, which only personifies and proves that ignorance is truly bliss.
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Wooden Housing

Meanwhile Madame speaker, while back at the ranch the self heralded Nehemiah is busy at Housing planning his next public relations stunt. Madame speaker, the Government’s Rebirth Programme for low-income families is moving along at a snails pace, even though the Minister’s public relation gambits are steadily moving forward.

Madame speaker, the number of units built to date under this Rebirth Scheme is only a drop in the bucket. Which leaves one to conclude that the only use for this scheme at Housing is for there to be a rebirth of the Minister’s reputation. Madame speaker, I have raised on many occasions the issue of the cost of the wooden house programme.

Madame speaker, the level of income of many Bahamian families from the black belt areas is at the lower end of the wage and salary scale and therein lies the dilemma for thousands of Bahamians. It is a critical issue that must be addressed. Madame speaker, Customs duty exemption on building materials would have a significant impact on the cost of construction. This type of exemption should also extend to certain household furnishings.

Madame speaker, I have said over and repeatedly that improved housing will go a long way in reducing the level of crime in our land. A person’s surroundings would go a long way to enhancing a positive attitude. Decent housing shows a modicum of self worth by the occupants and a modicum of redeeming value in those occupants by a government that helps those acquire decent housing, who otherwise would have no means to do so.

 This is a fact that clearly comes across in three letters written to the Tribune and its column called, “Why You Vex” dated May 27, 2000. In regards to housing there were some interesting comments made about the government’s wooden house programme, those comments of which I would like to read into the record:

Madame speaker, one K. Darville wrote, “I vex because the government needs to implement a housing project, especially for single mothers, who are earning $800 to $1000 per month. If you have to make $14,000 per annum to qualify for a wooden home, I don’t know what the government calls low cost homes. I know the bank has to get its money back, but the Mortgage Corporation of the Bahamas’ interest rate is too high. If I have to bring in almost $11,000 as down payment for a wooden home, that is not helping single mothers. We single mothers have it hard and that is not fair. This sort of thing doesn’t give you the willpower to vote.”

Madame speaker, another letter writer, who preferred to remain anonymous said, “I vex because much more consideration needs to be given to single mothers. Most of us are trying very hard to make living a bit easier for our families. The Minister of Housing, Mr. Algernon Allen, needs to look into his housing project. Wooden homes are too costly.”

And Madame speaker, another anonymous letter writer said in less gracious terms, “I vex with the FNM Government and the Minister of Housing and Social Development. I need to understand what they mean by low cost homes. The down payment I was told to bring into the Mortgage Corporation and the monthly payments for 25 years are outrageous.

 At the end of the day I would have to pay out almost one hundred thousand dollars for a wooden home. This is not fair to poor Bahamians. I know the banks earn interest but, my God-$100,000 for a wooden home! Remember the year 2002, Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Minister of Housing. There are about 10 people in my household who are eligible to vote.”

Madame speaker, these are but only a few examples of what Bahamians are saying about this Government’s wooden house programme and while the poor people of this nation are clearly saying that they are not pleased with the government’s sham housing programme, what is the tune that this government is dancing to? They dance unconsciously and obliviously to the tune of, “we are gonna balance the budget,” while overlooking that they are doing it at the expense of the masses and their institutionalized suffering under this government.

Madame speaker, it would be interesting to know which special interest group wizard put in this government’s mind that they must preach a balanced budget, because it is only special interest groups that this government listens to and takes its cues from. Madame speaker, will this government respond to the assertions made by these writers in the Why You Vex column? I think not.
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Govt’s Excessive Stamp Tax On Realty

Madame speaker, the government must also exempt low- income homebuyer’s from the various government taxes associated with the purchasing of a house. As an example; stamp tax on a house with a value of $100,000 is at 8% or $8,000. Whereas the down payment on a $100,000 house and land transaction is only $5,000. Madame speaker, it is difficult to fathom the logic of the government extracting more for stamp tax on a $100,000 house that is greater than the down payment. This cannot be justified.

Madame speaker, how can our people progress with the excessive and unjustifiable tax burden of the government. Meanwhile, Sun International gets a reduction on their casino taxes in lieu of building a hotel on the old Holiday Inn site, which by the way was rescheduled to start July 1^st.

  Madame speaker, a caring PLP Government will remove this unfair, indecent and inconsiderate burden from the backs of struggling Bahamians. And a PLP Government would surely stop the practice of bringing sham budgets to this place, where it is the rich special interest groups who are really getting all of the benefits. A PLP Government will make the masses of Bahamians the biggest special interest group in this country, with their concerns receiving top priority.

Madame speaker, on another note concerning housing, the government without the Opposition present in this place, rushed through this House a resolution authorizing the raising of $35,000,000; by way of a bond issuing for housing.
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Bahamas Mortgage Corporation

Madame speaker, the last annual Report of the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation was for the year ended June 30, 1998. Madame speaker, where is the report for the year ended June 30, 1999? The 1998 report was tabled on Feb. 9, 2000 and it disclosed that over the fifteen years of the BMC’s existence, the average annual loans/mortgages have been some 282. Madame speaker, for the fiscal period ended June 30, 1998, some 157 loans were approved at an average of $47,541.00 per unit.

Madame speaker, 157 homes was a rather weak year for mortgage approvals by the BMC, which suggest to me that the corporation failed in discharging its mandate to assist low and middle income home seekers. The record shows that there has been a strong demand for housing for many years and the same strong demand continues.

Madame speaker, $35million may sound like a lot of money, but in the context of the huge backlog and demand for affordable housing, it is a minor effort, if one was to take an average mortgage in today’s low and middle income housing cost. For example, if we were to use a median cost $ 70,000, this amount of money, $35million would assist some 500 new home-owners.

Madame speakers, when one looks at the backlog of applications, one can readily see that 500 new housing units will bring some relief, but will only minimize the impact on the long standing demand. Madame speaker, I have deliberately kept my comments on Housing and the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation to a minimum, as it is my intention to deal in depth with Housing and the Mortgage Corporation when I will seek the appointment of a Select Committee on Housing.  

Madame speaker, however on another note, I have written to the Member for Bain Town inquiring as to when will the much heralded clean up campaign for the Over The Hill area reach the residence of the Grants Town Constituency. All of the great fanfare about this clean up campaign and how it is going to change the faf the urban areas and yet it has not even touched Grants Town.

 I have yet to receive a response from my letter to the Bain Town Member and I ask at this time, when will Grants Town experience this new environment freed of garbage and derelict cars?
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Social Vision 2000

Madame speaker, in the editorial of the Bahama Journal dated June 7, 2000, the editorial entitled, “Budget Off Target” said many things of which a few were, “Months ago, to much fanfare, the government indicated its desire to deal comprehensively with some of the social ills now plaguing our communities.

 At the centre of this proposal was a broad based set of commitments under the lead Social Vision 2000.” Again Madame speaker, it was the Nehemiah of Housing who from high up on that wall, announced that his Ministry would be in the forefront of this social agenda by the government. Whatever happened to that agenda, Madame speaker? Or was it just another bunch of words designed to enhance the rebirth of the Minister’s reputation?

Madame speaker, the Bahama Journal editorial went on to say, “Many people formed the conclusion that the Government had finally decided to embark on a comprehensive plan for the renovation and revitalization of some of our cradle and heartland communities. A perusal of the current national budget proposal indicates that no such initiative is being planned for the next fiscal year.” Now Madame speaker, bear in mind that this is the ultra-conservative, authority-compliant, Bahama Journal saying these things.

Madame speaker, the article went on to say, “This is simply startling and we know for a fact that many right-thinking Bahamians are terribly disappointed that the Government has not enunciated what it really intends to do to make real the promises in its vaunted rhetoric of only a few months ago.”

 The article concluded Madame speaker by saying, “We had really expected that the Government was going to target some of our degraded communities for systematic and sustained attention, as the public was previously led to believe some months ago.”

Madame speaker, the Journal is stating clearly that the government has failed to keep yet another one of its promises and is way off base in what direction they are headed and in fact in their thought process of what a Bahamian Government should be addressing at this time. However Madame speaker, the Journal has not taken into account whom this budget is for and which Bahamas this government feels it represents. This is not a government for the masses. Never has been and never will be.

 Oh yes, Madame speaker, it was the masses who voted this government into office, but it was special interest groups, national and international, who provided the money for those who are now in power to launch their election campaigns.

And in that fact Madame speaker, lies the true motivation for this budget. This budget, as all have been, cannot relate to or supply the small man, because it is not the small man that this government is beholden to and yet, this government led by the Member for North Abaco hoodwinks the masses time and time again by talking about social vision, rebirth, Camelot and oasis. And Madame speaker, they have now added a new word to their vernacular, it is called e-Commerce and e-Government.

Madame speaker, this government is so hog-tied by special interest groups that its focus and attention is on e-Commerce when it is C-Commerce that should have its full attention. Yes Madame speaker, this government is dealing with the sector of society that wants e-Commerce, when meanwhile it is C-Commerce, Crime Commerce that is killing the attractiveness of this country to tourist and killing the Bahamian all at the same time. Which Madame speaker, brings me to the subject of….
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THE BUDGET AND CRIME

Madame speaker, the barbaric scourge of crime continues unabated and unimpeded in our land. Yet this so called balanced budget has offered no hope, nor programs to balance or rescind this monster in our midst.

Madame speaker, it is fashionably being said that the majority of the murders are connected to the nefarious drug trade and gang activity. One has to wonder what the family of the 18-year-old young lady who was recently gunned down at Eddie’s Electrical, would say about that.

Madame speaker, that is not to say however that the drug trade has not definitely played a role in the act of murder, but it is not so in all the cases. Madame speaker, I recently read that the third largest economy in the world is the drug economy. Madame speaker, I would like to share with members an article written by Attorney Maxwell Turner, on the subject “Violent Crime-A Growth Industry,” which appeared in the March 24-26, 2000 of the Bahama Journal

Madame speaker, Mr. Turner said more that a mouth full. It still begs the position of where has this so called balanced budget offered any hope to balance or rescind the monster of crime in our midst?

Madame speaker drug trafficking in and through the Bahamas has increased dramatically under the FNM Government. Madame speaker, I have asked this question before and not for the purpose of using a scatter-gun approach so I ask again; which Government official is it this time around that is mixed up in the facilitation of the drug trade in the Bahamas?

 Back in the 80’s Madame speaker, it was promulgated that PLP Government Officials were at the helm of the movement of drugs through the Bahamas. So which FNM Official is mixed up in the business this time? Madame speaker, I put it before this House with reason, that it was never PLP Officials that were the masterminds of the drug trade in the 80’s.

 It Madame speaker, were those who have now found comfort in being around the helm of power. It was them that was always the hidden face behind drug trafficking, the true enemy of the people. Madame speaker, what else can explain the drug trade being back in the Bahamas and worst than before other than government members complicity, based on some of the revelations that I have made known to this House and the public before the cameras were taken out in an attempt to save the culprits from further revelations of their histories being exposed to the light of scrutiny?

Madame speaker, the Member for Blue Hills and Cabinet Minister of Labor recently said some interesting things about the drug trade in a Tribune front page article entitled, “Drugs making a comeback” dated February 2, 1999 and I quote, ‘Big time drugs have come back, the Bahamas is a major drug shipment point. The Bahamas cannot guard against foreign drug traffickers. Everyone needs to work together to prevent past mistakes from reoccurring.”

Madame speaker, there are several hot spots for massive drug activities in our land. One such hot spot is Long Island, which has been represented in this Parliament since 1977 by the current Minister of Works. This Minister had at one time attacked over and repeatedly a former Member of this Parliament for his alleged ties to a crime figure.

 Madame speaker, the Member for Long Island was relentless in his attack but yet he had the gall to come to this place recently to claim that because of my assertions, he was forced to clear his family’s good name, when the facts would prove that he has more adjudicated criminals in his lineage than Al and Frank Capone, Jesse and Frank James, Ma Barker and her four sons and the five Newton Boys combined.

Oh yes Madame speaker, he was relentless in his attack on others in this place but has never said anything about his own family inundated with criminals, so its no wonder that he was woefully ineffective in attempting to clear his family’s so called good name during what he called a breach of his privilege by me.

Madame speaker, the words and meanings of good and bad are formed in absolutes. There has never been a family of criminals that could successfully convince anyone that they have a good name that needs to be cleared.

However Madame speaker, something even more interesting is that while the Member for Long Island has been forceful in attacking others whom he perceived were mixed up in nefarious activities; the Member for Long Island has not opened his mouth in this place regarding the place of his birth and which he represents, as being overrun with drugs.

And Madame speaker, while only the wicked minded would think that I raised a previous question about the Member for Long Island to cast only an aspersion on him; wiser persons should realize that the questions I asked previously was an opportunity for the Member for Long Island to come clean about what is going on in Long Island. But there was nay a word from him.

 So Madame speaker, I ask again and for the last time, does the Member for Long Island, having been the lawyer of a known drug gang in West Palm Beach and in fact a family member, does he have any connection with the flow of drugs that has engulfed Long Island? Again I ask, is any of the notorious members of his family out of jail and back in operation again?

Madame speaker, I say with all sincerity that these are not questions that government colleagues of the Member for Long Island should attempt to deflect or ridicule, because we know and as the Bible says, one should never give surety for a stranger. If a colleague of the Member for Long Island does not know the answer, then don’t risk your credibility in this matter.

 Madame speaker, I will not ask these questions again, and I advise the government to make the Member for Long Island answer these questions honestly, because if I have to broach this topic again, it will not be to find answers but to bring them.

However Madame speaker, what I don’t have the answers to and what I do find surprising, is that other members in this place whose birth place is Long Island such as the Member for Adelaide, the DPM; the Member for Pineridge, the Minister of Tourism; and the former Attorney-General, the Member for Bamboo Town have not opened their mouths about the proliferation of drug activity in Long Island.

Madame speaker, I can reason why the DPM has nothing to say because he has yet to explain the major crime of $135,000 being hijacked from Bahamasair in a fraudulent plane deal, that by the way has yet to be returned. But the question still stands as to why have these Senior Members of this so-called accountable, honest and transparent government not spoken out on the island of their birth and the drug running going on there?

 Madame speaker, I have raised the matter with one of the Senior Ministers, who wanted to know whether the major drug activity was going on in the North or South section of Long Island? I wondered to myself Madame speaker, what difference did that make where it was going on? If it was the North then would that tell him who is involved? If it was the South would that tell him who was involved?

Madame speaker, what difference does that make, if a government and its members are serious about the eradication of drug trafficking? This is why Madame speaker, that C-Commerce, Crime Commerce, is bigger in this country than e-Commerce, because the Government Members are too busy trying to find out who are the culprits in their government, not to expose them but to protect them.

Meanwhile Madame speaker, while the Government Members are playing politics with the scourge of drug trafficking, I have been informed that the decent and respectable people of Long Island are deathly afraid of their fellow Long Islanders who are involved in the nefarious drug trade.

 The Member for Long Island recently visited Long Island for the Regatta, I wonder if he could report to this place what reactions or complaints he received about the drug trade in Long Island? Will the Member for Long Island confirm or deny that young girls are selling drugs in Long Island from the South end to Deadman’s Cay?  Or do the constituents of Long Island realize that telling him is only a waste of time because it is news that would be old to him and that he is closely familiar with?

Madame speaker, there has long been a view held that  governments can do something about the phenomenon of crime; but when a government itself has criminals within, human nature would dictate their reluctance to do the things necessary to eradicate crime because they would be going against the very fabric of their own personality, character and makeup.
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Proposed Hotel & Marina In Long Island

Madame speaker, I have been advised that Senior Members of the Government have given their support and blessings to the building of a 100 room hotel and marina to be built at the South end of Long Island, located at Cabbage Point and Fords Settlement.

 Madame speaker, on the surface and with the remote possibility of having a government of crime free and honorable persons, this sounds good. But when we take a further look at this project with the knowledge of this government’s penchant to go on public relation blitzes to announce and promote their creativity in bringing investment to the Bahamas; the question then becomes, how come the taxpaying public has not been told about this project?

Madame speaker, I have also been advised that some $3 to 4 million of heavy equipment has already been imported directly into Long Island and of course duty free. Some 25 to 30 acres of land I am advised, have already been cleared for this project.

Madame speaker, the Opposition requests the government to provide forthwith the answers to the following questions:

1.       Who are the promoters and owners of the proposed 100 room hotel and marina?

2.        What is the age of the lead promoter?

3.       Kindly advise to the details on his prior business involvement?

4.       Is the government satisfied as to the owners source of funding for the project as being legitimate?

5.        Notwithstanding that the government maybe satisfied of the legitimacy of the funds, is the source of funding and the people involved in fact legitimate?

6.        Will the government inform the House as to who are the beneficial owners of one Krem Investments Ltd., the company proposing this project which is seemingly well on the way without the knowledge of the public?

Madame speaker, the depressing news about Long Island and the serious implications of complicity by Government Members is only one case of when a government by its very makeup and the personalities within are unable to do anything about the crime crisis we presently face. Madame speaker, the increasing level of crime since 1992 speaks for itself. There are many more examples that I would like to state only a few of them.

Madame speaker, when a country that has as its precept the tenets of God and it proceeds to put persons without the true knowledge of God in positions of power over its country, we should expect the worst to happen and even that which we could never imagine. That is just the way it is Madame speaker.

 When a government continues to rage against God, while holding only as trophies, those so-called born again Christians in their bosoms to appear to have some godliness in their confines, anything can happen. Fore God can never be mocked.

Therefore Madame speaker, it should come as no surprise to anyone that a man would run a D8 tractor into cars and buildings on Nassau Street last week. And Madam speaker, it should really come as no surprise that a respected and venerable Archdeacon of the Anglican Diocese would now be fighting for his life in an intensive care unit, because he was shot and left for dead at the hands of a would-be robber. While these things are sad, they nevertheless should come as no surprise.

 And by the way Madame speaker, why has no substantial or any reward been offered for information that leads to the capture of the assailant of the Archdeacon William Thompson? Why has not the Member for North Abaco rushed to hold a press conference about this heinous crime, while assuring that a reward would be offered for information?

 Why hasn’t the Member for North Abaco replete with his Commissioner of Police hat come to the public and assure us that he is in full charge of this investigation? It cannot be Madame speaker, that he is unfamiliar with this type of behavior, because he did it so ably and nit-wittingly when two tourist where murdered on Paradise Island.

 Notwithstanding the obvious message that the Member for North Abaco sends when a Bahamian, especially one of color, is gunned down as opposed to when someone gets even a splinter in their hand while over on Paradise Island, what can we in this place decide to do in way of a reward to find the assailant of the Archdeacon? Or are we to just hope the Police in their diligence garner enough information to make an arrest?

 Ladies and gentlemen of this place, lets start the ball rolling and make donations toward a substantial reward sum for the capture of the assailant, because I fear the circumstances of who was assaulted and where he was assaulted won’t allow the Member for North Abaco to give even two hoots much less two cents about closure to this barbaric crime. It is just not in his makeup to care about a Bahamian considered as one of the masses.

 Madame speaker, it would seem to me that since we refuse to admit that Satan is in our midst and ruling over this nation, God has to allow the volume to be pumped up, so we can hear what He is saying. But most importantly so we could do Madame speaker, what He would have us do to return to a state of righteousness.

 Madame speaker, I fear that our abilities to be appalled by the rate of murder in this country has yet to reach its zenith and I guess if it takes some of us in this place having to be gunned down, in order for this country to see the absolute need to be rid of the demon spirit engulfing us, then we should also not be surprised if and when that happens.

 Madame speaker, if God’s anointed can be assaulted by a gun with bad intentions, certainly no one is protected, for it is the priest, the pastor, the reverend who is designated to lead us in corporate prayer for our nation.

Madame speaker, the fact of the matter is this government is scornful towards the things of God that guarantees blessings and love for our brothers, as we love ourselves. It seems Madame speaker, that the perversity of mind has no limits when it comes to this government in its efforts to make sham pronouncements about its intentions towards a relatively crime free society.

For example Madame speaker, on October 23, 1999, five inmates broke out of Her Majesty’s Prison on the heels of some 70 illegal immigrants finding their way out of the prison. Madame speaker, in an October 26, 1999 Tribune front page story, which read, “Govt. to hold inquiry into escape,” the Member for North Abaco promised that an inquiry was going to be held into the escape of the five prisoners. Madame speaker, I ask the Member for North Abaco, the Honorable Doctor, the honorary physician who believes he can heal everything but cannot even heal himself, to tells us what has been the outcome of that investigation?

Likewise Madame speaker, in a Tribune front page story of March 13, 2000 entitled, “Bahamians turn to gun running,” CID Chief Marvin Dames said, “There is concern that Bahamians are engaging in trafficking in small arms from the United States. What we’re seeing is the proliferation of firearms among young people who in most cases have no respect for life. These young persons cannot comprehend their actions. We have to now identify those individuals and isolate them.”

And as if that isn’t bad enough Madame speaker, in a Tribune byline story on the front page edition of the April 20, 2000 entitled “High crime rating could hurt tourism,’ it was stated that, “The Bahamas has been placed in a high crime category by the US State Department, the second highest category under the department’s rating system.”

 Madame speaker, I would not have you or anyone believe that murder is the only serious crime that we experience. The number of robberies, rapes, domestic disputes and acts of incest have become so voluminous that many are not even reported any longer.

 Madame speaker, in a Nassau Guardian front page byline that read, “Griffin calls on government to act swiftly on crime,” dated April 20, 2000, Senator Melanie Griffin said amongst other things, “The fact that not even senior citizens or children are safe from the rapists hands is indeed a sad commentary on us as a people; that there are those among us who would dishonor our seniors in this way, in the very sanctity of their own homes and that there are those among us who would break the covenant that God has placed between a child and an adult, wherein an adult is expected to be the protector and not the abuser of children,” was a statement she made in calling on the government to get off of its laurels and do something about crime.

Madame speaker, these few examples of the status of crime in this country bespeaks of this government’s concentrated and myopic efforts to please those who financially support them by focusing only on the e-Commerce of the country, while ignoring the C-Commerce, the Crime Commerce, which when left unresolved will eventually bury us all, including e-Commerce.

And to think Madame speaker, that in January of this year, the Member for North Abaco claimed to be relieving the DPM of the portfolios of Bahamasair and Batelco so he could focus solely on his National Security Ministry. In the wake of that decision; the $135,000 still unaccounted for at Bahamasair; and the continuous proliferation of crime to where it has now reached into the sanctuary of God and one of His servants; there is now a view that the DPM should no longer be the Minister for National Security but more appropriately, a resident in a national security facility.

Madame speaker, it seems to me that the crime presently before us during this debate that we should give top priority to is the criminal act of this renegade government bringing what they call a balanced budget to this Parliament, while just over a mile away, a frustrated Bahamian was busy trying to see how many people, places and things he could destroy with a D8 tractor.

Madame speaker, there are those in here who consider warnings from the Opposition as akin to yelling fire in a crowed theatre. There are those in this place who believe that warnings from the righteous are only people trying to be alarmists. Well Madame speaker, this member advises the government to accept that if they don’t wake up soon about the crime problem, the chances are probable that they may not wake up at all one day.

Madame speaker, whether this government on behalf of the people, is prepared to deal with the crime problem or not, all the signs show that crime is prepared to deal with us, because it has been doing so effectively since the day the FNM Party by way of the Member for Yamacraw said that, “if the people get rid of the PLP, they will get rid of crime.”

 The Member for Yamacraw never found it as the Christian thing to do by apologizing for her deliberate deceit, after having been reminded of it on numerous occasions in this place by this member. This spirit of stubborness only shows how stiff-necked this government is toward admitting that criminal behavior has finally decided to work against them.

Madame speaker, I cannot imagine that any Government Member in this place has plans of demitting office by way of a body bag. But if they don’t see that as the culmination of this crime crisis, then again Government Members may take this as an act of shouting fire in a crowed theatre. Madame speaker, one Government Member already has demitted office by way of body bag and it was not a pretty, festive or ceremonious affair. So we do have a precedent that has already been set and concretized in history.

Madame speaker, I appeal to this government again to please stop the cries of bloody murder and wipe away the tears of despair on the part of Bahamian people and do something about this crime crisis, or resign from office forthwith.

 Madame speaker, too much irreversible damage has already been done and the Bahamian people will find no comfort in something having been done about crime, only after yet another prominent member of this one-man government is gunned down by the same crime machinery he ignored when it was wreaking havoc on average citizens.

In this regard Madame speaker, this what we are engaging in today is correctly labeled by myself as the does not balance budget, because this budget does not balance e-Commerce and the urgent need to eradicate C-Commerce, Crime Commerce.

Madame speaker, I noticed that in this budget that does not balance, that the Police Officers are getting an extra raise in salary. Madame speaker this is commendable because the honest and hard working members of the Police Force deserve such a raise. But they also however, deserve to be paid their overtime pay.

Madame speaker, as I said, while this is commendable, this extra pay raise likewise proves in a smaller way, why I call this the does not balance budget, because I have heard no talk of an extra payment being afforded to the likewise honest and hardworking members of the Prison and Defense Force Staff.

 Madame speaker, Her Majesty’s Prison is bursting at the seams with an overflowing number of inmates and the pressure to maintain some type of civility and sanity is extremely taxing on the Prison Overseers. Madame speaker, the Prison is akin to a can of worms with inmates residing literally on top of one another and the men and women who are forced to work under these conditions deserve not only some consideration but also some tangible indication that their valiant services are appreciated.

Madame speaker, these are the kind of things that this budget does not take into account nor address, which makes me wonder how this government can really talk about a balanced budget, when in fact this budget does not balance the concerns of the masses with those of the special interest groups that this government seeks with reckless abandon to satisfy. Which leads me to address…
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THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY & THE FINANCE MINISTER  

  Madame speaker, the Minister of Finance has been described as having performed a miracle by his cousin, the Minister of Housing, for having presented a so-called balanced budget for the year 2000/1.

Madame speaker, after the FNM Government came to power in 1992, almost 8 years ago with much fanfare, they spent millions of dollars of the peoples monies on an audit of the Public Treasury. Madame speaker, one of the main reasons for the audit was an attempt to prove that persons in the PLP Government were stealing from the Treasury.

Madame speaker, the audit was unable to support or confirm that any member of the previous government could be labeled as a thief, much to the chagrin of the present government. The much heralded allegation that the “Chief is a thief” was proven to be without foundation.

Madame speaker, this government went on to promise to fix what was wrong with the Public Treasury. But what has really happened, Madame speaker? We now know that this FNM Government allowed over a half a million dollars of the Bahamian taxpayer’s monies to walk out of the Public Treasury. To date Madame speaker, no one has been convicted of the theft of this enormous sum of money, the taxpayer’s money.

Madame speaker, the so-called miracle worker, Minister of Finance, has not yet provided this Parliament with audited accounts of the Public Treasury for the years 1996/97-1997/98-1998/2000.

Madame speaker, the failure of the Minister of Finance to provide timely audits on the Public Treasury sends up a red flag and causes even a junior accountant to be suspicious as to the validity of the Minister of Finance’s claim of a balanced budget for 2000/1.

 Madame speaker, if one does not have the relevant trends and numbers for preceding years, how can one predict what the budget will produce for a future year? Or is the Minister of Finance basing his prediction on figures of his imagination, without taking into account what were the actual figures for the preceding budgets?

Madame speaker, I cite as an example the fact that here we are some three years after the 1997/98 Budget presentation and the Minister of Finance is unable to provide  Actual Revenue and Expenditure Figures for the year 1997/8. Madame speaker, I repeat, after three years, some 1095 days, the Minister is unable or unwilling to provide provisional Actual Revenue & Expenditure Figures.

Madame speaker, this is absolutely unacceptable and he is unworthy of being held up to be a miracle worker. Rather Madame speaker, he should be more correctly called a bundle of mismanagement wrapped in a box of incompetence.

Madame speaker, this same Finance Minister and his colleagues have been unable to provide audited statements on Bahamasair for donkey’s years. Bahamasair, Madame speaker, that bottomless pit for the taxpayers money, the pit that the Finance Minister has not provided audited statements for; and that wall-jumping Nehemia of Housing had the gall to call the Minister of Finance a miracle worker.

Miracle worker my foot Madame speaker. Not unless of course the Housing Minister meant that it would be a miracle if the Finance Minister ever does any work. Madame speaker, again I say that the Minister of Finance is incompetent and if you are ever looking for the exact definition of inept, all you have to do is look in the dictionary and you’ll see the Minister of Finance’s picture.

Madame speaker, another example of the Finance Minister’s gross negligence is cited in the Central Bank’s Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the year ended December 31, 1999, where it is disclosed on page 9 that the hike in government’s revenues had not yet been distributed among the appropriate classifications.

Madame speaker, shouldn’t the Minister of Finance be doing other things all day except waiting on the Member for North Abaco to summon him to his throne, so the Minister of Finance can say over and over again, “Oh great king, live forever?” What else could the Minister be doing that he cannot get the things in his portfolio done? Madame speaker, if I was the Minister of Finance I would be deeply embarrassed at such a disclosure by the Central Bank of revenues still not having been distributed.

Madame speaker, and yet there is still other examples of this Finance Minister’s incompetence. For example, on October 6, 1999 I gave notice of seven questions for the Minister of Finance regarding the International Financial Services Sector.

Madame speaker, a Bahamian friend of mine in the Offshore Sector sent me a few clippings from the June and July 1999 publication known as, “Money Laundering Alert.” This publication projects itself as “The Leading Authority On Money Laundering.”

Madame speaker, the contents of these articles were most revealing and I discussed these articles with a colleague and subsequently I crafted my questions and tabled them.

 Madame speaker, I would be most surprised and dumbfounded if the Minister of Finance and his advisors were not aware of the disclosures in the publication “Money Laundering Alert” and why the Minister of Finance was not moved to anticipate such questions that I posed, knowing that those questions hit me right in the face when I perused the articles? Why couldn’t the Minister see the oncoming train that was coming once he became aware that such information had been disseminated to the public? Was it Madame speaker, another case of the Minister’s arrogance, incompetence, lack of true finance knowledge, or just general apathy?

Madame speaker, I shall now read into the record of the House excerpts from the June and July 1999 edition of “Money Laundering Alert.” (Read From Articles)

Madame speaker, I now return to the 7 questions tabled by me on October 6, 1999 and the answers provided by the so-called miracle worker, the Minister of Finance on February 24, 2000.

Madame speaker, I am perplexed by the Minister’s answers to questions 6 and 7, when one reads and absorbs what the Minister’s disclosures are on pages 22-27 of his 2000/1 Budget Communication. Madame speaker, does this not beg the question as to the veracity of the Minister of Finance being touted as a miracle worker by his wall-jumping cousin the Minister of Housing, the self proclaimed Nehemia?

Madame speaker, it is an accepted fact that the Member for North Abaco swears by his Finance Minister, and in the normal case of the blind being able to lead the blind, the Member for North Abaco has subsequently crowned him a Knight with the nomenclature of KCMG, which some persons obviously believe it stands for Kindly Call Me God.

 In this case Madame speaker, I do not beg to differ; on the contrary I demand to differ because I call the Minister incompetent and it would be unparliamentary for me to tell you what I think the title of KCMG stands for in his case.

Madame speaker, where there is no vision a people perish and clearly this government has no vision and that is why they can bring their deluded budget to this House and find nothing wrong with calling it balanced. That is why Madame speaker, they can arrogantly brush aside all of the things that real experts are saying about finances and money laundering, because they have no vision at what lies up ahead of us.

Madame speaker, Ms. Nicky Kelly in her column in the Tribune on June 6, 2000 entitled “More laws, Less enforcement” said and I quote, (Read Quotes).

Madame speaker, in view of the Minister of Finance’s erratic behavior following the pressure brought to bear by the OECD Countries, The Financial Stability Forum and his failure to brief the Opposition, the question now becomes, is the Minister of Finance presiding over the demise of our second industry, the international \ financial service sector?

However Madame speaker, there is another problem which this government is either deliberately ignoring or truly have no vision about, and that problem, that this so called balanced budget does not balance, is the enormous influx into this country of blood money, which now turns me to the reality of …
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NARCO DOLLARS

Madame speaker, during my contribution on the Speech From The Throne, I gave a miniscule overview of the economy. I spoke of the Central Bank Report Volume No. 9 dated February 2000, where I cited certain aspects of that report which simply failed to support the growing self-adulation which the government continues non-stop to heap upon itself. Madame speaker, last Thursday in this place the Minister of Housing blew so much smoke in this place about the government’s success that it was nauseating and it is a miracle that the fire alarms did not go off in this place.

Madame speaker, I pointed out that total tourist expenditure in 1998 was lower than 1977 and even lower than 1996. I further pointed out that some economic growth came from other sectors such as real estate, the financial services sector and construction.

Madame speaker, I stated that in view of the cold hard statistics, one must wonder if the evidence of an increase in the drug trade throughout the Bahamas had in fact boosted the economy of the Bahamas?

Madame speaker, I also stated that one thing was for sure and if what the FNM said as the Opposition about the PLP turning this country into a drug haven was in fact true, then the statistics we are seeing today support my contention that this supposed boom in the economy is attributed to the drug trade. It is just a fact that large sums of money is parallel to large quantities of drugs. And Madame speaker, it is no coincidence that this country is far more inundated with drugs than before while the economy is being boasted as being better than it was before.

Madame speaker, this government cannot have it two ways. If the economy was false under the PLP because of drugs and the statistics of today shows that the economy is doing far better than the numbers can support and that drugs are here in far more abundance than before; then this government stands self-condemned by its own analysis of what was going on under the PLP, as they are faced with the same dilemma of drugs but this time even worse.

Madame speaker, they have a worst dilemma as international interdiction agencies are now saying that the world has never been under such a serious assault from drug traffickers as it is presently today. More drugs, more of a boost in a false economy.

Madame speaker, I can remember as if it was yesterday when the Member for North Abaco, the distinguished doctor, was relentless in his charges that the PLP Government had allowed and in some cases played a part in propping up the economy with narco-dollars.

 Well Madame speaker, contrary to what some journalist would have us ignorantly believe that everything that is wrong with this government is because of PLP’s who are still in the government system; I ask who in this government is now facilitating the propping up of the economy with narco-dollars?

Madame speaker, as I said before and as history and truth will one day bear me out to be correct, I submit to this House that contrary to the calculated and scandalous rumors that PLP Government Officials had inundated this country with drugs in the 80’s; it was not in fact PLP’s but those who enjoy power today, those who prior to 1992 had no outlet to government power.

 And to that Madame speaker and the reality of the role narco-dollars presently plays in this economy, I say yesterday it was me, today it is you, when you dug one ditch you should have dug two.

Madame speaker, after I made my remarks on the economy and narco-dollars during the Throne Speech Debate, the Member for Holy Cross followed me and made a weak attempt to discredit my charges of narco-dollars boosting the economy. Madame speaker, bear in mind that he is the junior Minister of Finance, so either he is ill-suited for that job or he has something also to hide on this subject.

Madame speaker, I say that because a few weeks after the Member for Holy Cross, made his thoughtless comments in his attempts to discredit my valid assertions, along came the assertions of the Asst. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Reginald Ferguson.

Madame speaker, the Asst. Commissioner said, “Money laundering and the proceeds from drug trafficking has distorted the Bahamian economy with the result that it now appears to be healthier that it really is. This same crime impact has gone to the extent where it has insulted our free market system and frustrated our economy, crimes related to drug trafficking and money laundering has taken full advantage of our free market enterprise.”

Madame speaker, this brutal and factual honesty on the part of this law enforcer leaves me hoping that he hasn’t invoked the wrath of the maximum leader upon himself, for we know that the Member for North Abaco has no compunction about firing police persons who don’t say what he wants them to.

Madame speaker, the Asst. Commissioner went on to say about narco-dollars that “indirectly it has provided jobs for people, patronized businesses, donated to the poor and cultivated in some parts a criminal minded environment comprised of persons indirectly but knowingly living off the proceeds of crime. Madame speaker, I wonder what members like the one from Marathon and Long Island, would know about this reality?

Madame speaker, the Asst. Commissioner went on to say, “too many of us entertain criminals who create seemingly prosperous legitimate businesses to conceal illegitimate operations. They’ve flaunted extravagant lifestyles and use this attractiveness as a recruitment program for criminals.  These illicit acts paint a false picture ladies and gentlemen, a false picture of our genuine job percentage, the steady growth of entrepreneurship in our country and the rapid growth of our economy.”

Madame speaker, the last part of the Asst. Commissioner’s statement is likewise on target, but may not apply to this government and its intentions. The Asst. Commissioner ended his statement by saying, “with such a blurred picture, a country is unable to accurately determine the true measure of its development and in this regard can cripple any government’s bona fide attempt to make proper adjustments.”

Madame speaker, I said this last part of the Asst. Commissioner’s statement may not apply to this government because if they consider this budget before us today as being balanced when clearly the economy is not only supported by legitimate means, then we have to seriously question, as the Asst. Commissioner said, “any government’s bona fide attempt to make the proper adjustments.”

 Madame speaker, when it comes to the masses and the government making proper adjustments in any area, there is nothing bona fide about them or their intentions as the persons elected to run this country.

Madame speaker, someone had better tell this government to become honest with themselves, because the jig is up and they are only fooling themselves. Madame speaker the position of the OECD Countries, the Financial Stability Forum and the United States Government have all pointed to the level of drug trafficking and the flow of narco-dollars in and through the Bahamas as being of a major concern.

Madame speaker, in a fact sheet released by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs dated April 17, 2000, it was stated that, “Although the Government of the Bahamas made considerable progress in developing a comprehensive anti-money laundering program in 1998, continued supervision and enforcement of the offshore banking sector are still necessary.”

Madame speaker, the report went on to say, “The Government of the Bahamas appears to be moving too slowly in reaching its target of training all financial sector employees in their responsibilities under the anti-money laundering law. Although the number of suspicious transaction reports increased in1998 compared to 1997, the number is still very small, given the size of the Bahamas financial services sector.”

Madame speaker, if we have an aversion to a foreign analysis of our lackluster attempts at covering up the reality of narco-dollars in our country; one has only to look at what Ms. Catherine Kelly said in her column in the Punch Newspaper on June 5, 2000 entitled, “Are we really running a clean jurisdiction.” Ms. Catherine Kelly said, “How does a country with a booming drug trade convince the developed world that its offshore banking sector is squeaky clean? That’s the dilemma facing the Bahamas as it fights to save its second largest industry from extinction.”

Madame speaker, she went on to say, “ Government and the financial community argue that big bully-boy nations are simply trying to squash competition from small offshore upstarts. That’s true up to a point.

 But what they fail to understand is that our offshore activities are not being judged in isolation, separate and apart from the rest of our economy or society. We can have money laundering laws and intelligence units up the yin-yang, but we won’t convince anyone we’re running a tight ship if we can’t keep the rest of our system clean.”

Madame speaker, all of this above information, the government has at its disposal and yet this FNM government still fails to acknowledge that narco-dollars are propping up this economy. Meanwhile, they brag about bringing a balanced budget to this place, when this budget does not balance and cannot do so as long as Bahamians are bound and held tight worse than before, by the demon spirit of drugs and all the other immoral and illegal activities that come along with it.

Make no mistake about it Madame speaker, Satan is alive, well and flourishing in this country because when this government was voted into office, the dungeons of hell was opened and now he’s on the loose allowing narco-dollars to prop up our economy, while having us believe that he can balance our budget at the expense and misery of human lives. Under these circumstances and at that price, this budget does not balance. Madame speaker, there is another area where this so-called balanced budget hasn’t seemed to reach. And that area is….
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THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Madame speaker, the Opposition has a number of concerns regarding our healthcare facilities and services, but regretfully time does not allow me to address these concerns today. However as I mentioned earlier we are seriously concerned about the dual healthcare system at our medical facilities. Madame speaker, there is a system for the haves and a system for the have-nots.

Madame speaker, I should like to bring to this Parliament’s attention a case involving one of the have-nots, who happens to be a resident in the Grants Town Constituency. This resident is a proud, decent and hard working Bahamian mother, a true Christian Bahamian, unlike some in this place.

Madame speaker, this lady gave birth to a baby boy via C-Section in July of 1996. At the time of the birth, the doctor told the mother that the baby would be alright, but had a breathing problem, as the baby was not fully nine months upon delivery. Madame speaker, the baby was placed in the Special Baby Care Unit at PMH. The mother of the baby was informed the next day that the baby had a seizure but had stabilized. The baby died 4 days after birth.

Madame speaker, the mother of the deceased child agreed to and gave authorization for an autopsy to be done, but was unable to obtain details of the said autopsy after making several inquiries on several occasions. Madame speaker, by coincidence, the deceased baby’s grandmother died due to complications of diabetes around the same time.

Madame speaker, the baby’s mother requested that the deceased infant be buried with its grandmother. This request was never fulfilled as the authorities at PMH were unable to find the remains of the infant. The mother was given no plausible explanation. Madame speaker, the mother was grieving on two fronts over the death of her child, whose remains were missing and the death of her mother.

Madame speaker, I was aware of the acinetobacter organism outbreak in 1996 and when the matter was brought to my attention by two mothers including the one I have just mentioned, my advice to them was to await the results of the investigation by the Center for Disease Control Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.

Madame speaker, you may recall that the Opposition made numerous request for a copy of the report and following the receipt of the same, I wrote to the Minister of Health on July 3, 1998 . In that letter I advised that I was requested to seek compensation on behalf of both ladies, one of whom had since died in June 1998.

 Madame speaker, in the same letter I brought to the Minister’s attention that I was aware that his predecessor had provided compensation to at least one mother, who had lost a child as a result of the outbreak by underwriting the cost of the funeral and providing the mother with a government job.

Madame speaker, I received no reply to my letter. As a result I submitted a follow-up letter dated November 4, 1998 wherein I advised the Minister that I was saddened and disappointed that poor Bahamians continued to receive second class treatment from a government who continues to represent that it treats all Bahamians equally.

Madame speaker, by coincidence, I received some 10 days later a letter dated November 5, 1998 acknowledging receipt of my letter, dated July 3, 1998. The letter said that “The matter is being reviewed and that the Ministry would communicate with me further as soon as possible.”

Madame speaker, December 1998 to March 1999 went and there was no further word from the Minister. My third letter to the Minister was dated April 9, 1999. I reminded the Minister that his promise to communicate had turned into one-half of a year. I advised that if a realistic offer is not made within 7 days, the mother would take her plea to the press to be followed with legal action against the government.

Madame speaker, I received a reply dated May 18, 1999 and was advised that it had been determined that the mother who had died, that her baby’s death was not as a result of the acinetabacter organism. Regarding the case of the other baby, the letter stated that, “While a significant part of that case assessment had been completed, some work remained to be done to complete that case.” The letter concluded that the Ministry hopes that this matter would come to closure in the very near future.

Madame speaker, as there was no further word from the Ministry, I wrote again on August 13, 1999. I brought to the attention of the Minister that I had seen a letter dated January 26, 1997 from the Office of the Attorney General, wherein $10,000 was offered inclusive of costs to another family with similar concerns, as full and final settlement of all claims in the Common Law action #1309/1996.

Madame speaker, I advanced the position on the basis of that what is good for the goose, must surely be good for the gander. I advised that the mother concerned would be receptive to a settlement, if an identical offer is made. I concluded by asking that this opportunity be embraced to bring closure to this long outstanding matter without further delay.

Madame speaker, my letter of August 13, 1999 was acknowledged by letter on September 24, 1999 with a one-line sentence, “I shall write to you shortly on this matter.” Madame speaker, October to the end of 1999 came and went. On January 31, 2000, I wrote again to the Minister on this matter, there was no reply until the 13^th of April 2000 which stated as follows; “I am directed to refer to previous correspondence with respect to this matter including our letter dated the 18^th of May 1999.

 The medical opinion received in this matter is that there was no evidence of negligence in the neonatal case of  Ms. **’s infant. Also there was no evidence that the infants death was in any way connected with the outbreak of the acinetobactar organism in 1996. The delay in reply is regretted” signed Sincerely E. Garraway, Permanent Secretary.

Madame speaker, you will recall I mentioned that I first raised this matter in a letter dated July 3, 1998 after numerous letters and conversations with the former Permanent Secretary. Madame speaker, I received a reply dated April 13, 2000 stating that medical opinion determined there was no evidence of negligence.

Madame speaker, a first year legal student would find the response of the 13^th of April 2000 to be an insult. What could possibly be in the heads and hearts of the hierarchy of the Ministry of Health? All the records were there and available from the first day I raised this matter and it took the Ministry almost 2 years to provide the so-called answer they had finally given in their letter of April 2000? And by the way Madame speaker, what ever happened to the remains of the infant?

Madame speaker, if the Ministry had properly reviewed the records, they would have found that the infant’s remains were never delivered to the family for burial. There was not even one single reference to that mind-boggling turn of events. Why would a government seek to cover up and not come clean with an ordinary Bahamian citizen?

Madame speaker, this is a disgrace and there can be no justification for what has happened in this instance. Madame speaker, I demand that the Ministry provide the records of this sordid affair in its entirety and that the same be tabled for the full viewing in this Parliament. I will not let this matter rest until I am satisfied and that proper compensation be made to the family of the infant.

Madame speaker, far too many times average Bahamians are overlooked and in most cases scorned by this government when it comes to their needs as should be provided by the government. Madame speaker, it is not only the most heinous of cases such as the case of the missing remains of a baby that died clearly from negligence at PMH.

There are even smaller but nonetheless important cases where other poor and average Bahamians are likewise neglected while this government focuses on balancing a budget, that in fact does not balance out the needs of the masses with the wants of special interest groups. One such other case Madame speaker, is the plight of….
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 The Pensioned Police & Prison Officers Association

Madame speaker, I was recently approached by several members of the Pensioned Police and Prison Officers Association, who gave an outline of a number of grievances which they have sort to have addressed by the government without success. They have had a number of meetings with Minister’s of the Government, which again has come to no avail.

Madame speaker, I seize this opportunity to make a strong plea to the government to try and accommodate as best they are able, the concerns of this group of former Civil Servants, many of whom have rendered outstanding services to their country.

 One of the dilemma’s of Senior citizens is that they hear all the talk of the economy booming and they seek to have longstanding and overdue matters addressed and for the most part they are being asked to go from pillar to post. Madame speaker, I again ask the government to negotiate in good faith and tell the members of the Association where they can assist them and where they are unable to assist them.

 There is however one area that not only senior citizens, but all Bahamians, need help in having balanced; which this budget does not balance and that area is…

 
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DOMESTIC BANKING

Madame speaker, profits earned by domestic banks continue to escalate due mainly to increases in the net interest spread, which is the spread between average deposits and loan rates. Madame speaker, notwithstanding the reduction in the prime rate which came into effect from July 1, 1999, the net interest spread during the course of 1999 widened from 6.76% to 7.34%, an increase of 58 basic points.

Madame speaker, I wish to repeat that the domestic banks interest spread/margin in 1999 was 7.34%. However Madame speaker, the United States commercial banks and savings institutions had a net interest spread of 3.74%. Madame speaker, domestic banks in the Bahamas during the same period was 96.2% higher than that in the United States.

Madame speaker the IMF brought to this government’s attention in 1994, the excessive profiterring by the banks in this country. Madame speaker, despite the promises of the maximum leader of the FNM to change this process, not a single thing has been done about it. Madame speaker, this burden imposed by the banks, are pushed onto the backs of the poor people. Yet Madame speaker, this government claims to be a friend of the poor, but has not lifted a finger to correct this evil of raping the people.

Madame speaker, the total domestic loans and advances as of December 31, 1999 stood at over three billion dollars. In applying 58 basic points on 3 billion dollars gives the domestic banking sector additional profits of $17, 400,000 with the stroke of a pen. Madame speaker, this is how Bahamians are being raped by domestic banks. Domestic banks likewise have increased profits as a result of their additional varieties of fees and charges, which includes life insurance, etc.

Madame speaker, despite the reduction in the prime rate over the past four years, there has been no reduction in the rate of interest charged on credit cards,. The largest growing sector of consumer credit.. In at least one case interest rates have increased from 18% to 19.8%. Madame speaker, in the June 5, 2000 edition of the Miami Herald, it gave an outline of the best credit card deals nationally in the USA.

Madame speaker, the range of the rates were 7.99% to 9.50%, 10%, 10.95%, 11.50% to 12%, 13.90% to 15.62%. The lowest rates in Florida ranged from 9.50% to 16.24%. Madame speaker, I am obligated to ask why are credit card rates in the Bahamas fixed so high at 18-19.8%, when the prime rate of interest is 6%. The profit spread is between 12-13.8% basic points. Madame speaker, does this form of lending practice fit the Chairman of the US Central Bank’s profile of predatory lending?

Madame speaker, a few months ago, Mr. Allan Greenspan described loans with high interest rates and aggressive debt collection practices as abusive treatment of vulnerable sectors of the population. Is this not what we in this Bahamas are allowing to happen via the practices of the domestic banks?

Madame speaker, whilst on the subject of domestic banks, I was pleased to see for the first time, the publication of the Royal Bank Of Canada’s Bahamas branch’s operation balance sheet. I am looking forward to the publication of Barclays and Citibank’s Bahamas branch’s balance sheets. Madame speaker, I must again raise the question as to why it has not become mandatory for domestic banks to publish statement of income commonly referred to as the Profit and Loss Account.

Madame speaker, can the government justify why banks should not be obligated to publish their statement of income? Several of the banks have Bahamian shareholders and are obligated to provide audited financial statements. Madame speaker, again time does not allow me to expound on my many concerns in the domestic banking sector. Hopefully there will be an opportunity in the immediate future to so do.

Madame speaker, I have noted that the provision for two demand-loans totaling $800,000. To Gulf Union Bank, which was placed in liquidation, has now been fully provided for according to the 1999 audited statements of the Central Bank of the Bahamas. When one adds to the $2.8 million written off by the National Insurance Board on Certificates of Deposits at Gulf, the grand total of $3.6 million plus interest was loss to the Bahamian taxpayers due to mismanagement by the Central Bank and an incompetent Minister of Finance. The same Finance Minister, who instead of being fired was given a knighthood.

 When you add to that figure the $500,000. stolen from the Public Treasury, the super grand total is $4.1 million and the person responsible gets an award of a KCMG. This is the man that said he was the Financial Comptroller for all of the national stores in the US named JC Penney’s. Madame speaker it’s a miracle that JC Penney’s is still in business, if the Member for Montague was truly an employee who was even remotely close to any money belonging to JC Penney stores. Only in the Bahamas would a serial finance bungler be awarded a knighthood for anything other than his incompetence.

Madame speaker, on another note and a different aspect of this budget that does not balance, columnist Nicky Kelly said in a recent column of the Tribune newspaper, “That if the Public Treasury is so flush with cash, how come three of Nassau’s leading businesses, two of them in stationary and the third in building supplies, are refusing to accept Government Purchase Orders?” Madame speaker, that is a good question that lends credence to this government’s desire to balance the budget at all cost. Madame speaker, before concluding there are a few miscellaneous however equally important things that I have noticed that this so-called balanced budget has not addressed. One such process is…
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PRIVATIZATION

Madame speaker, it is beyond a doubt that the Member for North Abaco’s handling of the privatization of Batelco was a massive failure. In light of the government’s terrible experience with Batelco, would the government inform the House of the current status on the privatization programmes of the following:

1.      Bahamas Electricity Corporation

2.      Nassau Flight Services

3.      The remaining hotels of the Hotel Corporation

4.      Batelco

Madame speaker, I am likewise concerned that once again the Member for North Abaco is spitefully ignoring the plight of…
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SOUTH ELEUTHERA

 Madame speaker, I have strongly criticized on many occasions the Member for North Abaco’s handling of economic matters regarding South Eleuthera. The Member for South Eleuthera made a passionate plea for economic help for his Constituency. Madame speaker, I feel for the Member for South Eleuthera and his Constituents, however not a single Member from the Majority Party including the Member for South Eleuthera have challenged my strong criticism of their maximum leader concerning South Eleuthera because they know that my charges are truthful.

Madame speaker, the maximum leader has openly acknowledged that it was due to his culpability that nothing has happened for South Eleuthera. Yes Madame speaker, the maximum doctor is quick to say “mia culpa,” but after having admitted it is his fault, why hasn’t he made a conscious effort to correct it? Or is it through his patented perverse thinking, that he believes its okay to admit its his fault that South Eleuthera is starving economically, but that doesn’t mean he is going to do something about it?

Madame speaker, I wish to make a sincere and honest plea to the Member for North Abaco, to remove himself as an impediment to the present initiative currently on the front burner, that can bring long overdue and meaningful employment activities for South Eleuthera. I say to the Rt. Hon. Member for North Abaco to please avoid the risk of being labeled the cause for any future failure for the good people of South Eleuthera.

Madame speaker, I ask the Member for North Abaco to avoid the risk of having Mr. Disavory sit outside his office for 3 ½ hours as was the case of Dr. Samiento, who likewise has good intentions for South Eleuthera. I implore the Member for North Abaco to assign one of his more, even if not much more, sophisticated Ministers to handle and conclude the negotiations with the Disavory Group. It is my prayer Madam speaker, that any impediments are wisely removed so that the people of South Eleuthera can finally testify to progress under this FNM Government. Madame speaker, on yet another but similar note that this budget hasn’t mentioned toward balancing is the concept of …
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E-COMMERCE AND THE PARLIAMENT

Madame speaker, last year I raised the subject of the Parliament establishing its own web-site. There has not been any further word from the Majority Party on this matter. A Parliamentary web-site would allow citizens to read legislation, e-mail their representatives and submit complaints on-line.

Madame speaker, if there is no provision in this 2000/1 Budget, does that mean that the people’s parliament web-site will not materialize in the next twelve months? Or am I really asking a rhetorical question, when communications has gone backwards instead of forwards, since you Madame speaker, took the blame for having the television cameras removed from the Parliament?

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CONCLUSION  

Madame speaker, I end as I began by saying that in fact this is not a balanced budget, because it does not balance the government’s obsession to please their political and financial masters with the needs of the masses that mistakenly elected them for two terms.

Madame speaker this budget does not balance when we take into consideration the realities of life in the Bahamas in juxtaposition to the delusional remarks made by the Finance Minister, in his attempt to give this government more character and morals than it could ever have or deserve.

Madame speaker, in a paragraph during his communication on the budget, the Finance Minister said, “his FNM government is committed to shaping a Bahamas in which every Bahamian citizen is assured access to good education and training.”

 Madame speaker, don’t take my word for it because you will say I am playing politics, but lets ask the students at BTVI and COB if they are afforded good education and training, when the staff is always at odds with the administration because of their less than honorable and moral ways of dealing with the legitimate concerns of the teachers, who must be tangibly and otherwise rewarded in order to motivate the students to learn and succeed.

Madame speaker, I won’t even bother to mention the stupidity of the Finance Minister along with the Minister of Education in considering this government as being committed to good education and training when it could brag of almost failing grades on the BGCSE’s as a victory over the failing grades the year before. One has to wonder if the taxpaying parents feel the same way about this so-called good education and this so-called balanced budget?

Yes, Madame speaker, ask the students at these institutions if in that regard the budget is balanced. And if Madame speaker, you or anyone else might say, don’t ask those students or teachers because they are all PLP’s; then lets ask the parents, citizens and children of Colonel Hill, Crooked Island. In fact Madame speaker, no one has to ask them they have already provided the answers in advance.

Madame speaker, I wish to read into the record a letter sent to the Member for North Abaco on March 27, 2000, from the resident’s at Colonel Hill accompanied by the signatures of all concerned of which there are quite a few.

(READ LETTER)

Madame speaker, it would be interesting to hear what the people of Crooked Island would say or are saying about the government having a balanced budget when in fact it is not balanced for the people of Crooked Island.

Madame speaker, the Finance Minister continued by saying, that, “his government is committed to quality health care.”

 Well Madame speaker, while it is beyond human possibility to find out now, it would have been interesting to know what the victims of the Oncology & Associates Ltd. Scandal thinks about the FNM’s commitment to quality healthcare, when we know Bahamians died and no one to this day, knows who are the owners of the company, nor who doctored the contract between the government and the owners of the company, when the Opposition exposed the killing of Bahamians.

Oh yes Madame speaker, documents were doctored in an attempt to try to cover up this government’s criminality and lack of quality healthcare. Who Madame speaker, doctored that contract between Oncology and the government? Maybe that was the kind of honorary doctorate bestowed upon the maximum leader, the Member for North Abaco?

 Nonetheless, the victims of that Oncology Scandal, nor of the babies that died in the Special Care Unit, nor as I mentioned before, the infant whose body hasn’t been found yet, nor those who are being medically murdered everyday because if you can’t pay, its time for you to check out of this life; none of these victims can tell us how they feel about this so-called balanced budget, because they are dead and in most of the cases because this government is interested in money not people.

Madame speaker, the Minister of Finance in his one paragraph statement, went from the ridiculous on his merry way to the sublime when he continued by saying, “his government is committed to decent housing.”

Madame speaker, I guess he sort to help the helpless, his wall-jumping cousin, the Nehemia of Housing, by deceitfully asserting that which he and that wall-jumper knows is not true. But don’t ask me Madame speaker, lets ask the occupants of the Penny Bank Lane Projects, ask those people of Deveaux Street who are now living in dilapidated rebirth housing. And ask those who find the government with its Mortgage Corporation, to be in the same business as the commercial banks, who has the art of piracy down to a perfect science.

Let us not forget Madame speaker, to ask the victims of last year’s hurricane season about the Minister’s words of his government’s commitment to decent housing. Let’s ask those Family Islanders who had been promised supplies and at one time manpower to rebuild their communities in the Family Islands. Oh yes, there was big talk by the maximum leader about how much money is in the hurricane fund and what all this government was going to do.

 Let’s ask Family Islanders if this budget is balanced for them, when we know that all the government is doing is getting a high off of telling people how much money is in the hurricane fund, but not spending any on the people. I guess Madame speaker it is more important to this government that they can show their masters and benefactors how well they can hold their money, instead of spending it on the people.

Likewise Madame speaker, what were glorious promises of manpower to help the hurricane victims has now turned into, “get your own help and we’ll supply the lumber.” Madame speaker, ask the hurricane victims of last year whether this budget is balanced for them and they will tell you no. Not unless of course they feel that with another hurricane season upon us, the government can be early for the possible ravages of this season, through their neglect of the last season.

Yes, Madame speaker, don’t ask me. Ask those average and struggling Bahamians if in their concerns, whether the budget is balanced.

Madame speaker, the Finance Minister went on to say that, “his government is committed to business and employment opportunities.”

Now Madame speaker, the masses of Bahamians know the government is not addressing this belief to them, because clearly all the business opportunities are going to those who will obviously be prepared to help the government politicians get on with their personal lives and finances when they are forced to demit office in 2002 or before.

Madame speaker, obviously the business opportunities in this country are going to those who are willing to agree to straighten the government officials later, when they will be in dire need of favors from the business community for deals given during their time in office. It’s called I give you what you want today and you give me what I will need for tomorrow. Deals, deals, deals all over the place.

Likewise Madame speaker, the Finance Minister said “his government is committed to employment opportunities.” Which brings me to the young man I mentioned in this Place before, who over four years ago was charged with murder, was given bail and went to San Salvador to work, where he was told to leave town by the police. This young man is still in limbo about having his case heard and as a result finds himself without any employment opportunity.

Madame speaker, I wonder if he finds this budget to be balanced, or if he finds this government’s focus of pleasing its master’s as another avenue available for him to be generally harassed by the police because of this case hanging over his head. This young man finds himself in a dilemma but this government is focused on balancing the budget. But for whom?  Certainly not for this young man.

Madame speaker, when I mentioned the plight of this young man recently in this place and advised that I would be willing to give the relevant authorities the needed information to facilitate the speedy expedition of this case, as the young man said, in one way or the other; not one member of the government asked me one thing about this situation. But if I were to bring reports to this place that King Sol has a splinter in his finger the Member for North Abaco and his court jesters would literally break off running across the P.I. Bridge because they wouldn’t believe their cars could drive them there fast enough.

Madame speaker, the Finance Minister mercifully ended his statement by saying that, “his government is committed to a safe and healthy environment.”

Madame speaker, at this time the only one we can ask if he feels that this budget is balanced in this regard is the Venerable Archdeacon William Thompson, because Chuck Virgill is dead; two Paradise Island visitors are dead; four police are already dead for the year; one elderly woman is dead and another elderly woman traumatized for the rest of her life; and an eighteen year old female is dead and now two young children have had their throats slashed along with the other ninety-plus who have been murdered since January of 1999.

 So Madame speaker, it is only the Archdeacon who can tell us if he thinks this is a balanced budget and I believe he can speak for all of those who have been rushed home to the Lord, by this government’s concern about a balanced budget. Don’t believe me Madame speaker, ask those persons who have lost loved ones to murderous acts assisted by this government’s obsession to please its financial masters.

 Ask those average Bahamians if they feel that the Finance Minister is serious about his government providing a safe and healthy environment; and whether this budget or any of their budgets have yet to do that. And to think Madame speaker, the Member for Yamacraw actually said that if you get rid of the PLP, you’ll get rid of crime. From what we are seeing today after 8 years of FNM Governance, it would have been more appropriate for her to say; Madame speaker, in the face of these needs being neglected and this government focusing on balancing the budget if you get rid of the PLP, then crime will flourish under the FNM. For crime has never seen better days; but this government is pleased that it is balancing the budget.

Madame speaker, this government has labeled this obscene budget as being balanced, but I say it is the does not balance budget because these numbers reflect the neglect of the school system. This budget reflects the neglect shown to the Prison System. This budget reflects the neglect shown toward those who have no independent means of acquiring adequate housing.

 This budget reflects the neglect shown to those who look for employment and business opportunities to be made available by means other than groveling at the feet of this government and their supporters who believes that black Bahamians must be eternal drawers of water and hewers of wood.

Yes, Madame speaker, we need better equipped and financially satisfied teachers in the school system; but this government instead is balancing the budget. We need a more improved, healthy and spacious prison; but this government is balancing the budget. We need an obsessed plan to meet the need for adequate housing, not talk about it; but this government is instead obsessed with balancing the budget. We need quality and ownership-vested jobs; but this government is balancing the budget.

 We need law enforcement that is motivated and Defense Force boats that actually work to full capacity; but this government is balancing the budget at the expense and suffering of the masses, I told you in the beginning of my contribution that besides being the does not balance budget, there was an even more salient name for this budget; and that name Madame speaker, is the blood-stained budget because the Member for North Abaco and his Finance Minister is hell bent on balancing this budget, notwithstanding the spilt blood of Bahamians dripping from their hands onto what they call a Communication to Parliament for a Balanced Budget. Yes Madame speaker, this is a blood stained budget because this government is ignoring the needs of the people and this attitude of money before people is killing us everyday.

Madame speaker, I thank God that he is not like man and understands that Members of Parliament cannot vote against a government’s budget because it would in effect be voting for the country to be closed down. For if God was like man then we would see His absolute wrath and judgement toward this murderously neglectful budget before us today.

But Madame speaker, I find comfort in knowing that God recognizes that though man will stumble, woe to the one by which that man is caused to stumble. And on that note Madame speaker, it is this government with its concept of money before people that is causing Bahamians to stumble. To those who do such things to cause persons to stumble, God says, it would be better for them if they put a millstone around their necks.

 With this being God’s judgement of what lies ahead for this government who by its policies have caused and continue to cause Bahamians to stumble, I say this already pronounced judgement couldn’t be given to a more deserving group of government officials. A political millstone around this government’s neck is all they deserve. AND ON THAT NOTE MADAME SPEAKER, I THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF GRANTS TOWN.