Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Sidney Collie is accusing the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) of “passing the buck” onto the Opposition party and not being accountable.
“Every day there is another scandal, and everyday another denial from the PLP. Over and over they prove – with both their actions and words – that you can’t fix problems when you choose to ignore them,” he said in a statement.
“This is a government of smoke and mirrors, broken promises and empty rhetoric. Where is the accountability in the Road Traffic Department? Bahamian people won’t accept ‘passing the buck.’ They want the problems to be fixed and their hard earned taxes accounted for. Sadly we never get that from the PLP, just a steady rush to deny any responsibility for the problems and scandals that are happening under their watch.
“We need action, we need accountability and we need a plan to move this country forward. These are things that our citizens deserve and these are the things that won’t happen when this government continues to ignore the problems and deny responsibility.”
The Auditor General’s report tabled in the House of Assembly earlier this week revealed that the funds were lost in vehicular license revenue which resulted from employees and motorists circumventing rules and regulations.
The audit, which covered the period of July 1, 2012 to June 30 2015, also highlighted cases of fraud involving employees throughout the department.
The report further revealed that there was possible duplication of vehicular licenses issued.
Earlier this week, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts called on Auditor General Terrance Bastian to provide the public with “greater clarity” on the criterion used to arrive at the “huge” figure of $47 million in operating losses at the Department of Road Traffic.
Mr. Roberts said he is of the view that in light of the “huge losses” incurred at the department, this is a matter which must be investigated by the police, as he said “let the chips fall where they may”.
“The Bahamian tax payer deserves that much because after all, the losses incurred were tax dollars and more importantly, public confidence in our public institutions is at stake here,” said Mr. Roberts.
“I further note that similar management systems and processes are being upgraded and updated to 21st century standards at the Department of Social Services with the R.I.S.E. program; at the office of the Registrar General, the National Insurance Board and the Ministry of Finance in response to the IDB audit,” he added.
“These positive steps promise to improve the delivery of public goods and services, streamline the operations, reduce operating costs, build public confidence in our public institutions while creating a greater level of accountability and transparency. The government is to be commended for these initiatives,” he continued.
Mr. Roberts added that while he fully accepts that there are challenges and deficiencies at the department, and that the government is addressing the same, the public interest will be greater served.
