“We stand here today asking all Parliamentarians to step down because they are in violation of the law,” charged the leader of The Bahamas Democrratic Movement, Cassius Stuart on Wednesday.
While parliamentarians were meeting in the House of Assembly, Mr Stuart and his deputy leader Omar Smith were in Parliament Square alleging that from investigations “lackadaisical” parliamentarians and senators have not made public disclosure of their finances since April 9, 2002. According to Stuart and Smith, the law requires parliamentarians to make financial disclosure before December 31 of each year with a three-month grace period until March 31. The deadline has since expired.
Two years later, not one member of parliament or senator has made disclosure and according to the law, they are all guilty and are subject to a $10,000 fine or two years in jail,” Mr. Stuart said, adding that presently, the Bahamas is being run by an ‘illegitimate government’ and his party demands that the House of Assembly be dissolved.
“We are calling on the Governor General to step in and dissolve the House and declare this government illegitimate because they are all in violation of the Public Disclosure Act and they must step down now,” said an irate Mr. Stuart.
Chapter nine of the Public Disclosure Act – section four, outlines that every member of parliament must furnish the Commission with a declaration of assets, income and liabilities before December 31. Section 13 of the Act outlines that those who fail without reasonable cause to furnish the Commission with a declaration in accordance with the provision of the Act, shall be guilty of an offense and shall on conviction on information, be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.
The BDM leader said this law was passed to ensure that Mp’s and senators do not rob the Bahamian people…if disclosures are not made, “the public does not know who is stealing, or who is bankrupt.”
Source: Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
