Does anyone remember Ishmael Lightbourne and how the entire country thought he was completely unsuitable for the post of VAT Czar, collecting large sums of money while he owed hundreds of thousands of dollars to creditors?

All I am saying is FNM supporters speak up while it's early, a different colour won't shield the country from persons in compromised positions who will use their post to benefit themselves or ease the pressure from their creditors.

That situation was a standard audit red flag, I wonder if the auditor general should have had an input.....

Marlon Johnson must be given the boot. Minnis made a colossal mistake in allowing Marlon to be appointed Financial Secretary.

"The proceeds from the $250 million loan will initially give a boost to the Bahamas' external reserves, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week described as "below traditional adequacy benchmarks" in providing 2.4 months' worth of import coverage."

Have we yet been told how these monies are to be repaid or are we to assume we will have to relinquish further Bahamian assets when the loans cannot be repaid on a timely basis?
I see no signs of curbing of spending on the part of either government officials or the civil service contingent, but the lack of expenditure for many public necessities and substandard public service continues unabated.

Our nation's finances is too important to risk a novice like Marlon Johnson in the financial secretary seat.

Lets all saddle up for this ride.

Marlon Johnson is not a novice by any stretch of the imagination. He has worked alongside both former Financial Secretaries, and was well groomed for this position before leaving the Treasury for BTC. Stop wishing bad on the guy before he even get started. Ye know not of what ye speak!

Actually... Many people know, if Dr Minnis doesn't we are in deep deep trouble. We just came out of five years with persons using the treasury as a personal piggy bank and contract handout haven. They said the next five years would be different...I really had to scratch my head when I heard the news and I came up with two options, Dr Minnis knows the details or he doesn't know the details, both options are equally ominous.

as an aside, would be interesting to hear what the financial secretaries would have to say about his "wealth of experience".

"groomed"-lol

Liking someone's personality and reviewing their suitability for a key role are two different things.

I don't know Marlon Johnson personally, and have never engaged him in a conversation. However, as a Bahamian who keeps abreast of local upwardly mobile professional talent, I have paid very close attention to his work. Not only is he a policy wonk, but can stand shoulder to shoulder with any of the past financial secretaries. Academically, he is light years beyond most of them. The Treasury needs to go in a different direction, and I believe that Mr. Johnson is just the person to chart that course.

It is so sad that many of you chose to bash the good gentleman without even researching his background. That just seems to be the order of the day in the Bahamas. Because he doesn't have a household name, or the requisite political pedigree, he must not be up to the task? What backward thinking!

This is not about personality Or political pedigree CatIsland. This is about the Bahamas. At this time in our history, the most important position in the country is the financial secretary, more so than the Minister. He runs the Ministry of Finance. He has control over 2 billion dollars. That position should have been filled by the best person available in the country. This is no time to "give anyone a chance", some people shouldn't have a chance. I am saying FNM supporters need to speak up and quickly. I don't know him either. FNM supporters need to speak up. If you want to give him a job find another slot for him, not FS.

Btw, I've also said I don't think KP should be there and I don't know him either.

There are some real funny goings on with these appointments. I'm starting to wonder what is the real objective. Is it really "a new Bahamas" or is it the same old Bahamas with better pictures and a new Marketing strategy. The other day Henfield said he had a meeting with Minnis and KP to speak about the Spy Bill, then he says, "*I haven't read it, but I told them to let the GB Human Rights association review it*". I'm not sure if many people picked up on thatp. Minnis appointed Henfield to the Senate. What is the only role of a Senator? "To review legislation as a final check before bills are passed". He sat in a meeting with the PM and the Deputy PM, told them he hadn't read a bill they were about to table and he knew someone who was more qualified to do his job. And he says "they listened". And he's still a senator.

Thisisours you say KP and MJ are not suitable for their positions is based on what? and I have not seen you suggest suitable replacements. Why not?

Here's what I consider minimum criteria for a person in that role managing issuance of contracts for ALL government business and with responsibility for. 2 billion dollar budget. (Btw, whatever happened to that JUNIOR employee Johnson fella who stole 0.5 million dollars, all by himself, from Ministry of Finance in six months anyway?)

1. 7 years experience minimum functioning as an economist. As I'm not an economist I can't break down the specific skills an economist should possess, the interviewers should have the details or hire someone who does to conduct the interview

Background Due Diligence:
2. No instances of theft at prior jobs
3. No instances of misappropriation of funds at prior jobs
4. No instances of abuse of contracts awards system to the benefit your friends or yourself through shell companies at prior jobs
5.. Manageable personal debt levels
6. No webshops loans
7. No addictions, drugs, gambling, sex etc

Now I can't have that information, the only people who can get it are the persons offering the job with releases from the interviewee (unless you're one of the creditors and you take them to court). If the interviewee refuses to give the necessary releases, they're not suitable for the job.

Marlon was never in charge of the treasury at BTC, they never trusted him that much..

As a past Marketing Director with sales in his porfolio (at BTC) , Marlon has no experience in public finances.

His theoretic understanding through his studies has never been tested for practicality. Our nations finances is too great to gamble on Marlon in the FS seat!

Gee you must have read my mind

You obviously know nothing about Marlon Johnson and all of the undesirable baggage he brings with him to the Financial Secretary post. When you think of Marlon Johnson, just think of Anthony Ferguson. Enough said.

The fact that the $200 million is a syndicated loan speaks volumes. Back in the days of Hubigetty, the Royal Bank thought nothing of giving him $250 million. A syndicated loan means that the risk is such, that a single lender doesn't want to underwrite it because of risk of default. $200 million is pretty much peanuts to syndicate for someone like RBC, however our degradation to junk status makes them want to lay it off with partners. That means that we will be paying higher interest.

I am totally dismayed that Turnquest and Minnis have not put a moratorium on spending. I am dismayed that Minnis is moving so slowly with a situation that requires resolve and speed.Where is the transparency? Where is the FOI? Honeymoon is over. They need to get on with it.

Do more with less?????? When you have a $2 billion budget with 80% of it as personal emoluments??????? ......... How much more skinny can you get??? ........ Except - you cut the civil service by 20%?????? ......... Can government run efficiently if you cut 20% of its budget/workers?????? ........... That should be the issue ......... case in point: Is BTC better off now than before its pre-Cable & Wireless lay-off/sale????????

General statement: As an aside, I wish companies would stop the practice of hiding people who either misappropriate funds by way of employment or use their positions to send business to their own shadow companies. There should be a section in every paper with names and position of shysters, yes a "National Shyster List". Because these people continue to move from job to job continuing their path of misconduct unbeknownst to their current employers.

People deserve second chances, but you must work your way there and re-earn trust along the way. This secrecy is doing so much damage to the country, these business believe they are maintaining their image and public trust by keeping silent, but they must also exist within the country where the people they allow to repeat their schemes over and over again.

I 200% Agree.