Tuesday, March 25, 2014
THE inappropriateness of Prime Minister Perry Christie to intervene in the saving of the home of VAT coordinator Ishmael Lightbourne was raised by the DNA yesterday who questioned if the nation’s leader had done the same for the countless other Bahamians who are also facing similar financial hardships.
While acknowledging that he can appreciate the Prime Minister’s desire to help his friend, Democratic National Alliance leader Branville McCartney said the PM’s pledge to serve the interests of all Bahamians must, “in all cases” trump his personal inclinations.
“As leader of the country and the substantive Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister had to be aware that any request which he made of that financial institution would carry significant weight. For the Prime Minister to feign ignorance of this fact is disingenuous and insults the collective intelligence of the voting public.
“Who, if anyone however is intervening on behalf of that single mother who has been evicted from her home because she was unable to meet bank payments? Who is intervening on behalf of the countless struggling families who have been forced to move in with friends or other family members just to keep a roof over their heads?
“Mr Lightbourne’s inability to meet his own financial obligations should serve as further proof to this government that the implementation of new taxes in this difficult economic climate is not the answer. The DNA contends that if Lightbourne – who is arguably in a better financial position than the average working Bahamian – could not pay his real property taxes, it will be even more difficult for already struggling families to do so.”
Mr McCartney said rather than continuing to encourage this culture of “nepotism”, the government must now move to create an economic and social environment that benefits the majority interest and not just those of their friends, family members or political cronies.
“In the real world, a Prime Minister who admitted to such conflict and/or abuse of power would have been asked to resign the minute those words were uttered from his mouth,” he said.
Mr McCartney added that history appears to continue to repeat itself for members of this PLP administration who, “yet again, have failed to recognise and address blatant conflicts of interests and abuse of power” that have been created by the culture of “nepotism which has been allowed to develop in all aspects of governance”.
“So central to the PLP is this culture of nepotism, that the Prime Minister himself seems unable to recognize the obvious conflicts of interests and/or abuse of power; the most recent involving Chief Value Added Tax (VAT) Coordinator Ishmael Lightbourne. During his wrap up of the mid-year budget debate, the Prime Minister attempted to justify his actions, portraying himself as a man simply trying to help a friend.
“According to the Prime Minister’s own account, he placed a personal call to the General Manager of a private banking institution to inquire about the financial status of his friend and made arrangements to ensure that his friend would not lose his home. In the days following, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) watched as a slew of government ministers rose to their feet in Parliament to defend the Prime Minister’s actions; calling him a ‘Good Samaritan’. The only thing apparent from the Prime Minister’s story though, was that he abused his position as the country’s top executive to call in a favour for his buddy.
“The inappropriateness of the Prime Minister’s actions is only further highlighted by the fact that thousands of Bahamians continue to lose their homes, but do not have the luxury of the Prime Minister’s friendship to secure that same level of intervention on their behalf. Did this very administration not campaign and win on the promise that they would prevent hard working men and women from losing their homes? Perhaps their promises should have included a disclaimer: ‘only friends of the Prime Minister need apply.’”
Mr McCartney said unfortunately for those Bahamians who trusted in the PLP’s promise of mortgage relief, the plan proved to be an “epic failure”. This, he said, was just one of many initiatives added to this administration’s “long list of broken promises”.
Comments
birdiestrachan says...
Mr.McCartney It would be really nice if you as the Leader of the DNA can stop just one single person from loosing their home it would be a good thing. Mr.. Christie can not stop every one from loosing their homes. but if he can stop just one and others like yourself can stop one we will really be on our way.
Posted 25 March 2014, 12:20 p.m. Suggest removal
BDN says...
Boy that Kool-Aid must taste good!
Posted 25 March 2014, 12:46 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Mr. Lightbourne must have a plan as to how he will pay off his mortgage. Also he Lightbourne must have paid off his errors. No one knows. and they will do well not to tell you guys. Because you all will have a self righteous party. Remember Mr. Christie said he asked what he could do to help Mr. Lightbourne to stay in his home. The bank manager told him and that is why he is still in the home. I know of a person whose property was in the papers. Some one paid it off and did not even leave their name.
Banks do not allow persons to stay in homes unless they have a plan as to how they intend to pay you all know this. But you choose to use this situation as a political football and to incite persons who do not know any better. If this is the best you can do. it is to bad for you.
Posted 25 March 2014, 12:52 p.m. Suggest removal
BDN says...
Even better after a second cup!
Posted 25 March 2014, 1:15 p.m. Suggest removal
realfreethinker says...
The whole damn pitcher
Posted 25 March 2014, 1:55 p.m. Suggest removal
GrassRoot says...
ha, if someone does not pay the mortgage repossession will occur. what is so earthshattering about that? This is a matter of contractual law.
The point is more that Mr. L. has clearly shown total lack of willingness and intent to pay the taxes. As I understand when he decided to become delinquent on this taxes, he was employed and must have made good money (pre-2008) and his friends were in charge. So he intentionally and willingly cheated on his taxes. This is a matter of criminal law. If you want criminals to continue to rule the country, go on and hang the Pirate Flag on top of the Bahamas one.
Posted 25 March 2014, 1:50 p.m. Suggest removal
jlcandu says...
Excuse me, but the issue is not saving someone's home from repossession -- the issue here at hand is the PM used his position as PM to influence the bank to not proceed on repossessing a home that Mr. Lightbourne did not pay the mortgage on for one reason or another.
This was not proper on the PM's part -- if he felt that bad for Lightbourne, he should have acted as a private citizen. This is a gross use of power and the PM should resign, since he does not know better. And MP Alfred Gray should also resign or be fired since he doesn't seem to know the difference either.
Who knows what other things the PM has used his position to thwart or impose his will upon institutions or persons. In any other country, he would have been forced to resign.
Posted 25 March 2014, 1:15 p.m. Suggest removal
GrassRoot says...
Maybe PM can use some of the funds of his pension plan being filled by all the leading business men of the country and the JVs with foreign companies to help out the Bahamalanders that are a dime or two short.
Posted 25 March 2014, 1:53 p.m. Suggest removal
Reality_Check says...
The PM's self-confessed abuse of power in intervening in the foreclosure of Ishmael Lightbourne's seaside mansion speaks only to PGC's warped sense of right and wrong. Rather than devoting much time to helping all of your crony political operatives like Lightbourne with their financial problems, you should be very busy Mr. Christie formulating and adhering to sound economic policies for the country that will help all Bahamians (not just PLPs). Doing that may be too taxing for your apparent limited abilities when it comes to finances, but you can start with something simple to help out many elderly and young Bahamians who are getting sicker by the day: Put out the Public Dump fire rather than try shuffle the blame for it to anyone but you!
Posted 25 March 2014, 1:16 p.m. Suggest removal
jlcandu says...
If any of the PLP MP's were sharp, they would act on a "no confidence" vote in the House to get rid of Christie as leader.
There is no way to unseat Christie as leader with all the stalwart councillors he appointed over the years. The only way to rid him of leader is when he decides to step down.
The time is NOW to act, before the PM destroys what little left there is to salvage in this country.
Posted 25 March 2014, 2:32 p.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianpride says...
I watched vedios of McCartneys behavior in Parliment & lost a lot of respect for him.. I was hoping he would be a statesman of some sort but he turned out to be just another loud mouth arrongant individual hungry for power.. We are in desperate need of new quality leadership, not the same fools running this country into the ground...
Posted 25 March 2014, 2:58 p.m. Suggest removal
baclarke says...
I am not concerned about the cheap politics which might be feeding off of this issue. However, what I am concerned about is this obvious case of nepotism. The politicians are keeping "their own" fixed up by waving their bills and paying little to no taxes. As a citizen, I am fed up with our leaders. They have no integrity, no moral character, and no regard for the Bahamian citizens and at the same time are "Lording it" over us from the high hills. No taxes or paying bills for them, but hey, we will be disconnected at the slightest delay in payment. This example only proves once again, that while we the average citizens will be taxed to hell and penalized when we are delinquent in paying our bills, the politicians and their family members and cronies, will be avoiding all of the above as they are on the "preferred customers" list.
Posted 26 March 2014, 12:43 p.m. Suggest removal
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