'All the money is gone'

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

STATE National Security Minister Keith Bell yesterday accused the former government of using the Confiscated Assets Fund as a “slush” fund using more than $9 million over the past five years.

The Confiscated Assets Fund was established from the proceeds of criminal conduct recovered under a Confiscation Order.

Mr Bell said when the PLP left power in 2007 the fund had an excess of a little over $9.4 million. However, Mr Bell said to date only $115,000 is left.

He said: “All the money is gone. The former FNM administration has made it into a slush fund. I have a document which provides a break down of how the money was spent.”

Mr Bell accused the former government of not being transparent and tabling in the House of Assembly where and how the money was spent.

“I wish to note that under Section 5 of the Confiscated Funds Act it mandates that the auditor general or rather the Minister of Finance at that time, who was the former prime minister ought to have produced records to the auditor general and the auditor general is expected to examine a statement of accounts received by him.

“Under section 53 it states that the minister shall lay before each house of parliament a copy of the auditor general report,” he said.

“I checked and in the five years upon which this fund was used for whatever purpose by the former administration used it, no report, as I am advised, was tabled and therefore there was no accountability.”

However in 2008, then Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest announced the government will utilise nine million dollars from the Confiscated Assets Fund to bolster the Capital Budgets of both the Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Forces.

He said at that time the government is expected to purchase an aircraft for the RBPF, which will serve twin purposes: Firstly, to help reduce the cost of the amount of commercial travel Officers have to undertake in the execution of their duties throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and, secondly, to ensure the safe transport of prisoners throughout the country.

Mr Turnquest said $5 million of the $9 million dollars accessed from the Confiscated Assets Fund would go towards the RBPF Capital Budget with the remaining $4 million earmarked for RBDF’s Capital Budget. The monies will be accessed in accordance with Section 52(3) of the Proceeds of Crime Act (Chapter 93).

Mr Turnquest was not available for comment up to press time.

Comments

concernedcitizen says...

ok bell the campaign is over ,stop making wild accusations and charge someone ,,i have a feeling some real dirtS coming out on the PLP and all this nonsense is to appeal to die hard PLP before the s..t hits the fan

Posted 5 June 2012, 11:16 a.m. Suggest removal

notsogullible says...

Boooooooy, you so right!

Posted 5 June 2012, 11:28 a.m. Suggest removal

242 says...

Muddo you might be right.

Posted 5 June 2012, 2:05 p.m. Suggest removal

:-( ... "dey teef all the money to spend on crime fighting initiatives and we een have none left to stuff in our pockets" ... :-(

is what junior minister is actually saying

Posted 5 June 2012, 11:17 a.m. Suggest removal

Concerned says...

Sounds about correct. They mad because they were relying on that cookie jar and now find out that there is no jar. Oops. Gatta go find a score some place else. HAHAHAHA!!!

Posted 5 June 2012, 10:25 p.m. Suggest removal

242352 says...

Damm,

We told the drug lords that we would be giving their money back to them.

Now what?

The FNM gave the money to the RBPF & RBDF - What were they thinking?

Stupid FNMs

Posted 5 June 2012, 11:29 a.m. Suggest removal

Oh dey scared, dey scared, 90 dem comin' to claim what dey were promised

Posted 5 June 2012, 11:36 a.m. Suggest removal

lol

Posted 5 June 2012, 4:54 p.m. Suggest removal

ok lets see the first 30 days have been filled with wild accusations ,murder rate gone through the roof ,new cars ,oil companies telling us there going to drill, moodys slamming us , men wearing make up ,threatening foriegn companies that have already invested ,,,,blaoted cabinet ,lady P in goverment house ,L Miller insulting black people ,white people ,and the handicapped ,,,,gee i feel better already.................

Posted 5 June 2012, 11:31 a.m. Suggest removal

now lets see this joker got 2 jobs ,senator and being robin to nottages batman,,damm i can hardly find work ,,,and he probably will collect his police pension ,,,,boy its sweet for some that couldn,t find a crook when he was with the police,,,,can you say banana republic

Posted 5 June 2012, 12:06 p.m. Suggest removal

proudloudandfnm says...

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

Posted 5 June 2012, 12:55 p.m.

shortpants says...

You wanted this position from day one so go deal with it and stop all this talking and get to work,What no money for you .You make enough without even having to lift a finger .At least they use the money for the good of the country. Could not wait for this moment. We believe in Bahamians yeah right! Go figure.

Posted 5 June 2012, 2:26 p.m. Suggest removal

Keith Bell is the real life Tal Russel

Posted 5 June 2012, 2:28 p.m. Suggest removal

LOL! LOL! By gosh I believe you hit the nail right on the head! LOL!

Posted 5 June 2012, 3:20 p.m. Suggest removal

Mayaguana34 says...

To say the money is gone is not an accusation and it should not be difficult to find out where the funds were used - Bell says 'I have the document as to how the funds were used,' unless it was used to pay someones mortgage then please explain the scandal? I am more interested in the relationship between the current Minister of State in the Attorney Generals office with a drug lord pending extradition and cant help but wonder about the conflicts that might arise from the PLP Chairman taking over the Airport while having a vested interest in Nassau Flight Services or the new Chairman of BEC owing millions to the Corporation - These are all stories that have been in the tribune - Where is the investigative journalism and commentary on these issues - These are easily verifiable facts - DO BETTER TRIBUNE!!

Posted 5 June 2012, 6:19 p.m. Suggest removal

I absolutely agree with Mayaguana34. Let's go tribune!! Where's the truth about these questionable portfolio assignments at Attorney general's, BEC and NFS? Please continue to exercise the freedom of information so graciously afforded us in recent times. Let's go tribune!!

Posted 5 June 2012, 9:19 p.m. Suggest removal

samadley says...

We all need to pray and hope the country state of affairs turn around quickly,if this government fails,we all fail.The election is in the past we need to work together to better are country.Surely there will be another election in five years,but now is not the time to sit on are hands are nation is in big trouble.SOS all hands on deck.............

Posted 5 June 2012, 11:06 p.m. Suggest removal

and the country got in more trouble when the plp won the election ,,am i partisan .yes ,,,,,

Posted 5 June 2012, 11:19 p.m. Suggest removal

Oracle says...

How did Mr. Bell zeroed in on this account so quickly...was it knowledge now looking for an opportunity but deterred because the Bahamian people's fund was used for their benefit...If a crime was committed you have shown how well-versed with the law you are having been afford top-notch legal education by the Bahamian people whilst you were still employed.

Is this search for funds effort to finance Urban Renewal 2.0.....why arent finance matters restricted to the numerous Ministers of Finance ....so many persons hired in other areas are commenting on "where the money at...well the cookie jar broke sometime between 2002-2007' and the Bahamian people realized they don't need a new one as they the owners never got any cookies....Mr. Bell the bell has rung can you PLEASE focus on fighting crime on the street and maybe new funds will be confiscated to be disburse as the new government deems.....but get to work and quit the talking and start the walking...Mr. Nottage talks enough for the two of you!!

Posted 6 June 2012, 12:23 a.m. Suggest removal