Friday, February 28, 2025
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
DEFENCE Force Commodore Raymond King wants senior defence officers, particularly those involved in logistics, maintenance, and procurement, to be required to disclose their finances as part of efforts to combat corruption.
He told The Tribune yesterday that he recommended the proposal to the Davis administration, noting legislation is needed.
He said the measure would help identify unusual financial transactions linked to service members and their bank accounts and serve as a strong deterrence against corruption and receipt of kickbacks.
Under the Public Disclosure Act, parliamentarians, senators, and senior public officers must submit their financial disclosures to the Public Disclosure Commission by March of each year.
The requirement applies to the police commissioner and deputy police commissioner but does not extend to senior defence force officials.
Commodore King has said the RBDF has worked closely with the US Northern Command to develop ethics regulations to address corruption.
He said the regulations outline ethical standards, cultural awareness, and training while incorporating enforcement measures.
He said the regulations were submitted to the Ministry of National Security for consideration to strengthen existing laws.
For his part, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said he had yet to review the recommendations and would need to understand the rationale behind it.
He said no senior RBDF officer other than the commodore can award contracts.
Commodore King’s comments came as the business dealings of senior law enforcement officers have attracted attention and debate.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Rolle faced scrutiny recently after it was revealed that the government awarded a nearly $1m contract to a company he founded.
Comments
ExposedU2C says...
THE PEOPLE NEED TO CRY OUT LOUDLY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF DAVIS AS PM AND COOPER AS DPM. THESE TWO ARE BY EXAMPLE SETTING THE TONE FOR THE CORRUPTION THAT NOW EXISTS THROUGHOUT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND WHICH IS LITERALLY KILLING OUR COUNTRY BY GREATLY GROWING THE HUGH DIVIDE BETWEEN THE VERY FEW "HAVES" AND THE VERY MANY "HAVE NOTS" IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY.
Posted 28 February 2025, 2:58 p.m. Suggest removal
Porcupine says...
I agree.
Yet, it is The People who continue to fall for the nonstop lies from these politicians. If Bahamians read the papers, were educated, and able to critically think, we may have a chance.
Somehow, since it seems we simply do not care, none of this corruption will cease. Words mean nothing in this country.
Absolutely nothing. Further, there are no consequences for bad behaviour of the political, and millionaire class.
Just read the papers.
Posted 1 March 2025, 7:17 a.m. Suggest removal
ExposedU2C says...
Sadly, the point in time is fast approaching when the trampled and stomped on impoverished masses decide to take matters into their own hands.
Posted 2 March 2025, 1:41 p.m. Suggest removal
whatsup says...
AGREED
Posted 1 March 2025, 10:10 a.m. Suggest removal
bogart says...
In a country where the second largest sector is based on banking and host of other associated financial business, the required disclosing of financial dealings is unlikely to reveal any wrong doings as persons unlikely to leave a track record including the asue draw in bank account which already examines by law suspicious transactions -----
The population should at the first things required is investigations of the alleged financial irregularities on the excessive massive overruns on contracts and/or agencies of govt.-----. Some of investigations start on financial institutions, --- on works of the Baseball Sports still not opened?--- Whatever happened to the Gladstone water treatment plant with the costs at around double when started?--- Whatever happened to the first post office plan on Gladstone rd. bought building that must at first be examined to be post office? .--- whatever happened to the audit of tens of millions in the Road Traffic area years ago? --- , Massive failure and bancruptcy of Hotel involving Bahamians birthrights in lands and concessions involving billion plus dollars and somehow manage to get correction in billions of dollars in courts of another country, --- how can population be aware of NIB buildings in Goodmans Bay not turning over money but yet is asked of population to fund NIB more money. -----
Unfair to have any govt employed person to have finances investigated when their big boss the various govts still need to also investigate itself an host of financial matters of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Posted 28 February 2025, 4:29 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
**Not certain if the readiness of our Forts cannons** falls under Defense Force Commodore Raymond King? ---- After our American neighbours are only now discovering **who the two really are** which they've sent to the White House -- along with an self-adopted Exumaian who just showed up at the White House gates. -- Yes?
Posted 28 February 2025, 9:32 p.m. Suggest removal
whatsup says...
good luck with that, we can't even get Politicians to disclose their finances, yet they are required to do it.
Posted 1 March 2025, 10:12 a.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
First off, what if we **kick off** by asking if the Comrade Commodore has led efforts to combat corruption **by not waiting** to be required to **self-disclose** finances? -- **Secondly,** was there something of which the Commodore observed, was told or has first hand knowledge or suspicion of corruption *has spurred** the call to disclose finances'? -- Yes?
Posted 1 March 2025, 3:14 p.m. Suggest removal
bogart says...
Kudos to the Commodore as a leading security chief who has a very hard job in protecting our national waters and sovereign nation along with the assistance of the US Coast Guard from drug smugglers, human traffickers, illegal commercial fishing boaters raping our fishing resources destroying ecosystems, illegal activities and helping those needing assistance.
All efforts to assist our Commodore guarding the Bahamian sovereign nation should try all options to improve the duties to better the protection of Bahamian sovereign nation.
Posted 1 March 2025, 7:35 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
**Was it sometin' corrupt acts** big enough to have **jolted** Comrade Commander King for it took him almost 6 years to now only be callin' to make **RBDF** leaders to disclose their finances’? -- Yes?
.
Posted 1 March 2025, 9:16 p.m. Suggest removal
bogart says...
First, the Bahamas govt policy from around April 2016 to current time of some 9 to 10 years has been to instruct new employees to open their bank account at the Govt. majority owned bank and any issues on compliances and Defence Force employees would easily be undertaken. -----
Secondly, the very recent changes in the world and with the utmost tightening of the borders of the most powerful friend and neighbouring country the US, there is more determination to stop illegal human trafficking, criminals, drugs smuggling and to the extent of taking very proactive efforts to stop the illegal drug cartels or terrorists. -----
To anyone it would appear that the illegal activities and illegal lucrative activities would try to be taking alternative routes possibly through the Bahamas. The Bahamian Commodore looking at all measures he can muster to counter illegal matters and protect the Bahamian sovereign nation, its people and assist our friends and neighbours with this side of the borders.
Posted 1 March 2025, 10:41 p.m. Suggest removal
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