The Official Opposition this week welcomed the concept of electronic commerce, but repeatedly attacked the country’s state of readiness to successfully forge ahead with what government officials say would be the third pillar of the economy.
Montagu Member of Parliament Brent Symonette agreed that e-commerce is one of the most vital links to furthering the country’s economic growth. However, he charged that the government must have a will beyond simply going to parliament and passing laws.
“This leadership is indecisive,” Mr. Symonette charged. “The leadership is weak and the present administration is frustrated…The backbench can’t deal with the indecisive and weak leadership of the Cabinet’s frustration.
“Mr. Speaker, we have 16 Cabinet Ministers, 15 Parliamentary Secretaries, [many] Chairmen and we have dogs biting people in Harbour Island and can’t even enforce the dog law and we talking about e-commerce. We have to deal with the laws we have on our books and a will to enforce them.”
Mr. Symonette reiterated that the government’s leadership is less than desirable.
“Tuesdays is Cabinet, Wednesday and Thursday are the House. They don’t have much time in their offices to deal with the business of the day and the business of government isn’t getting led, but is being driven by those (in the public sector) who need to be reformed,” he claimed.
Mr. Symonette then lambasted the government for what he considers to be foot-draggingin the disclosure of accounts regarding Junkanoo sales.
“We ought to have known how many tickets were sold by now and for how much,” he said. “We need that information faxed down here by email or e-fax,” he said.
In defense, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Neville Wisdom, who has responsibility for Junkanoo, revealed that on Wednesday, accounting firm Deloitte and Touche, requested additional time to conclude the accounting of Junkanoo ticket sales.
Mr. Symonette told House Members that the only thing that is ‘e’ about the government, is the “failure of the government’s performance.”
Member of Parliament for Yamacraw Melanie Griffin said that Mr. Symonette was making a mockery of e-commerce.
But Mr. Symonette said, “If we’re ready for e-commerce, I’m behind the government 1000 percent. But let’s not say this is going to create the savior, the third pillar of our economy. Let’s be serious about this. Let’s get our government in action, not inaction.”
By Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
