parliamentarians

Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard condemned the perpetration of “falsehoods” by the opposition. During the Mid-Term Budget Debate, Pintard said it is wrong to spread misinformation at a time when the country is faced with a crisis.

“When persons are sharing false information around health, we can’t be serious about getting out of this crisis.

“…Let’s try to be intellectually honest. There are enough issues for us to compete for the next election cycle as oppose to us becoming fabricators…fabricators of information.

“Some of the people that are the least qualified to make certain assertions are the main ones who are the chief fabricators.”

Pintard then hit out at Centerville MP Reece Chipman, who last week presented a chart during his debate, comparing the salary of parliamentarians to his constituents. Chipman asserted that his constituents make 83 cents while parliamentarians make $7000 monthly. Though pressed by parliamentarians, Chipman did not show how he calculated the amount.

Today Pintard said, “…I just don’t know where that figure came from. I believe that every Member of Parliament can pay their light bill, can pay their water bill, can pay their mortgage and there are a couple (of parliamentarians) who are still paying rent.”

“Mr. Speaker, the people out there need us to be in a position to help them. And to dumb down information to deceive the people who you wish to lead, is inappropriate. No matter who is doing it. It’s bad.

“To seek to raise the misery index as the mains of making myself more attractive is a lack of vision and the inability to share a vision that people would be attached to.”

He called on all parliamentarians to work in tandem for the good of the country.

Pineridge Member of Parliament Frederick McAlpine gloried that his popularity on social media trumps those of other members of parliament.

In a shouting match with National Security Minister Marvin Dames in the House of Assembly, McAlpine contested, “Every speech I put up gat 10,000 views, 10,000 views, 10,000 views. I’m waiting to see your page. I’m going to your page.”

What happened that caused the outburst

McAlpine jumped on an issued raised by Englerston Member of Parliament Gleny Hanna-Martin, claiming that police reservists were not paid the overtime for their work in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. Dames refuted that claim, stating that officers were paid overtime based on his conversation with Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle.

Dames Response to McAlpine

Dames said, “Whenever I stand, and I speak to something, I have factual documentation to prove it. We’re taking advantage of this honorable house to mislead the Bahamian people, constantly, some of us. We have to move beyond that. We talk about we speak on behalf of the people. What people?”

Dames then asked McAlpine to bring his facts to the house instead of making baseless claims.

“That he’s speaking on behalf of the people. I have yet to see the people he’s speaking on behalf. Time will tell which people on whose behalf you speaking, because I don’t see [anyone] following you.”

Parliamentarians will debate the continuation of the Emergency Order when they return to the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis sought to extend the COVID-19 Emergency Order to May 23, as he presented a resolution to parliamentarians when they returned to the House of Assembly for the new year on Monday.

The big picture

The emergency order was extended three times since the onset of the coronavirus. In November of 2020, parliamentarians voted and passed the resolution to again extend the public state of emergency to January 31, 2021.

Now that this order is near expiration, and the pandemic rages on around the world, Minnis is seeking the order’s extension once again.

Why it matters

The Bahamas has seen the number of COVID-19 cases lowered, over recent months, officials fear that cases could rise as people become relaxed.

The country still has not accessed the COVID-19 vaccines but it is expected to be available in the first quarter of the year, which will guarantee a safer return to normalcy and a full reopening of the country.

What PM Minnis, as the competent authority, says

In defense of the extension to May 23, Minnis said if the Bahamian people become too relaxed, the country may lose control in the handling of the infectious disease.

“… yes we are doing well, however, we are letting our guards down, which could have devastating effects on our country moving forward as we look around and see the number of funerals in violation of the order,” Dr. Minnis said.

“There are a number of memorials in violation of the order and even Junkanoo groups engaging in rush outs in violation of the order. I want to remind the public that we should all be vigilant because it only takes one individual to become infected and the virus can have catastrophic and devastating effects on our society placing us in a similar position as seen in the north.

“I recognize how individuals feel especially about their loved ones and want to participate in funeral activities and I recognize that in many instances this may sadden families and hurt families, but I want to remind individuals that I myself experienced this when my brother had passed away during Hurricane Dorian and though both myself and my family were grieving and hurt, we kept that internally because we felt that the country came first.”

Minnis acknowledged the pain that many would have experienced because of the lockdowns and curfews, but he said they were not intentional as his objective is to save lives and the country.

Parliamentarians attended the Annual Parliamentary Church Service, Monday morning, after meeting in the House of Assembly. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis is pictured centre, following his presentation of a resolution to extend the emergency order.  (BIS Photos/Ulric Woodside)

Governor-General and parliamentarians gathered in Rawson Square to honour the life of Former Parliamentarian, Hon. Darrell E. Rolle. The national flag was presented to the family. Hon. Darrell Rolle lies-in-state in the foyer of the House of Assembly.

Who is he?

• A former cabinet minister in the Pindling administration.
• Darrell Rolle died at his home at 77 years of age.
• He represented the Mangrove Cay constituency in Andros from 1971 until his retirement in 1997.
• He was elected to the House of Assembly at age 28 after a bye-election.
• Rolle served as minister of transport, minister of home affairs, minister of labour, minister of education and culture, and minister of works and utilities, among other posts.
• Rolle’s last appointment was minister of national security, a position he held from 1990 until August 1992, when the PLP was voted out of office.

(BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna and Letisha Henderson)