Prime Minister Perry Christie is “too quiet” with regards to issues of significant importance in The Bahamas, according to Leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Branville McCartney.

Mr. McCartney said over the last quarter of a century, The Bahamas has decayed and experienced corruption, cronyism and conflict continuously.

He pointed out that recently the junior attorney general alluded to the fact that there is systemic corruption in government, past and present and suggested how corrupted persons can be legally dealt with.

“We have not heard a word from the leader of our country in response agreeing or disagreeing to the minister’s most valid suggestion. Indeed, this is the same prime minister who in 2002 touted the introduction of a code of ethics that never materialized. But that is not surprising for our prime minister. He has yet to answer the Bahamian people on the issue regarding the letter of intent. The prime minister has not answered the Bahamian people regarding disclosure, pursuant to the Public Disclosure Act, of his colleagues, inclusive of himself.”

Mr. McCartney scolded the prime minister for not speaking out against the wrongdoings of cabinet ministers, an issue Long Island Member of Parliament Loretta Butler-Turner blasted Mr. Christie for last week.

“There has been not a single word from this prime minister on the interference of justice by one of his cabinet ministers,” he said.

“This same prime minister seems to condone Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis misleading Parliament on the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) and has failed to reprimand a sitting MP who publically bragged about abusing women. The prime minister has not answered to date whether he or any of his other Progressive Liberal Party colleagues have interest and benefited by way of contracts and leases, directly or indirectly from Baha Mar.

“Further, the prime minister remains silent as a lamb as to whether he knew of the attorney general’s indirect involvement in Baha Mar prior to appointing her as chief negotiator on behalf of the government. The silence by the prime minister indeed remains deafening. I guess we cannot expect anything more from a prime minster that said he did not have a horse in the race regarding the Gaming Referendum!”
Mr. McCartney said the country lacks a vision which is needed for progress in the country.

“We find ourselves as a country without vision. We are stagnated and seem to be moving backwards,” said Mr. McCartney.

“In his book, ‘The Principles and Power of Vision,’ Dr. Myles Munroe stated, ‘a visionless life is a poverty-stricken existence.’ We seem to be poverty stricken compared to what The Bahamas use to be. Where is our Bahamas? Transparency and accountability in government seems to be non-existent. The blatant disrespect for the Bahamian people by the leaders of this country borders on arrogance and we as a people allow it!”

The DNA leader said his party recognizes that the system of governance is not working in the best interest of the Bahamian people, but he is prepared to make the necessary changes.

“As your government, the DNA will ensure that there is an independent attorney general,” he said.

“We will also implement a proper Freedom of Information Act and Whistle Blowers Act, amend the Constitution to limit the powers of the prime minister to safeguard against the abuse of power, enact legislation to limit the length of service of the prime minister to two terms only, strengthen and enforce the Public Disclosure Act to require disclosure up to five years after leaving office, amend the constitution by way of referendum to allow for the creation of a recall system for non-performing Members of Parliament, create and enforce a Code of Conduct Act for public officials, introduce local government to New Providence and establish the Office of the Ombudsman.”

Mr. McCartney used the words of Bishop Drexel Gomez who said, “I think that there is no question that the next generation of Bahamians would have to insist that there is change. People who offer themselves for political service must offer themselves to serve and not to be served.”

Mr. McCartney says the DNA has offered to serve.