MINNIS SAYS PM IS ‘OUT OF DEPTH’ AS MINISTER OF FINANCE

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Min - ister Dr Hubert Minnis threw darts at Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis yesterday, calling the Davis administration a “do-as-you-like” government amid frequent inconsistencies in governance.

He questioned Mr Davis’ competency in his role as Minister of Finance, following his recent misstatements about the deficit.

He described the Prime Minister as “out of touch” and “out of depth”.

“This issue raises serious questions about the Prime Minister in his role as Minister of Finance,” he said yesterday.

“It raises serious questions about the credibility of what he says publicly and in the House. Instead of initially accepting responsibility he blamed his speechwriter and he blamed a newspaper.”

He continued: “This seems to be a pattern — duck responsibility and blame someone else. Big people accept responsibility for their errors. If he could get this figure wrong and come in here and read it out to the House of Assembly, what other numbers has he gotten wrong that may have slipped by?”

Earlier this month, Mr Davis clarified in the House of Assembly that the government’s fiscal deficit actually decreased by $5.3m in the first half of the fiscal year when compared to the same period in the previous year. He conceded that his earlier comments on the deficit were not accurate. However, at first Mr Davis singled out The Nassau Guardian and said its headline, which stated “Revenue Rises but Deficit Up” was not accurate. However, when he was later reminded by East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson that his previous speech contained the figure about the reported deficit increase, Mr Davis then admitted that his speechwriters made an error when writing the figures in his speech.

Dr Minnis suggested yesterday that the Prime Minister resign from his post, saying that the country is far more deserving of a “capable, serious and hands-on” Minister of Finance.

He noted that Chester Cooper, Glenys HannaMartin, Alfred Sears or Obie Wilchcombe would be better suited for the role.

During his contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday, Dr Minnis said that the Davis-Cooper administration has implemented a “tax crusade”.

He called out the DavisCooper administration for “falling by the wayside” as they have failed to adhere to the many promises in their blueprint for change.

“In their Blueprint for Change they promised action on immigration, crime, a revolution in education, a master plan

“Our procurement laws must reflect this priority.”

Mr Davis told parliamentarians the legislation, among other things, will lower the threshold for establishment of a tender committee to review bids and award contracts from $50,000 to $25,000 which he said will allow for greater transparency.

With respect to the Public Finance Management Bill, Mr Davis said it allows the strengthening of the Fiscal Responsibility Council, greater flexibility for budgetary reallocations, and the establishment of a Public Sector Audit Committee.

He said: “Madam Speaker, the Bills before us are the product of deep consultation with public sector financial management and procurement experts who have communicated great concern about the lack of practicality in the existing legislation. We must let common sense reign as far as effective policy making and legislating is concerned.”

East Grand Bahama MP and Shadow Minister of Finance Kwasi Thompson said the opposition did not support the proposed legislative changes, telling parliamentarians that many of the changes are “aggressive” and do not move the country forward. for each island, and many other lofty initiatives.

“In fact, with respect to the amendments to the public financial management act, it completely decimates the previous standards that the Acts provide for,” the FNM MP said. He said the bills passed by the Minnis administration had wide consultation and told MPs that he was disappointed that the government sought to make changes particular to the public financial management without getting the input of several industry stakeholders.

“Madam Speaker, I must submit also that we must continue to raise this standard of care when it comes to management and transparency of managing the people’s money. If there is a standard that the bill or the act provides, we must adjust ourselves to meet that standard and not bring that standard down to meet us,” he also said.

“Since winning the last election, these plans seem to have fallen by the wayside. There has been a crime crisis in New Providence throughout their term. Illegal immigration is at record levels. There has been no revolution in education.”

He continued: “Where are the master plans to develop each island? What has emerged as the governing ideology of this PLP under this Prime Minister is ‘Tax the people and give to PLPs.’”

According to Dr Minnis, Bahamians no longer trust the “new day” administration to act in the best interest of The Bahamas.