PM Davis and Other Senior MP’s Declare Finances Ahead of Election

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – How transparent are politicians about their finances?

Have sitting MP’s met the March declaration deadline?

Our Joshua Williams caught up with several of them outside of the House of Assembly this morning to find out.

He told us more in this report.

March 1st has come and gone and by now and all Members of Parliament should have declared their finances, as mandated by law.

So who’s completed the assignment and met the deadline?

We posed that question to several MP’s, including Prime Minister Philip Davis, as they entered Parliament on Wednesday morning.

Philip Davis – Prime Minister

“Did you declare on March 1? I did”

Glenys Hanna-Martin–MP, Englerston

“Yes I did”

Jobeth Coleby-Davis –MP, Elizabeth

“Yes I did, on time”

Central Grand Bahama MP, Iram Lewis, along with Freetown MP, Wayne Munroe, confirmed that they’ve declared…

Others didn’t respond verbally, some offered a thumbs up or a smile.

On Tuesday morning, former Prime Minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis, who’s running in Killarney as an independent, questioned what he describes as unexplained jumps in politicians’ declared assets compared to when they first entered politics.

Dr. Hubert Minnis – MP, Killarney

“Individuals enter politics with a net worth of $50,000 and four years later if not sooner the net worth is over $2 million. I’m not on anybody but what I’m saying is if nothing is going on they are very very intelligent and those individuals should be hired within the Ministry of Finance.”

St. Barnabas Member of Parliament, Shanendon Cartwright, said he too declared and sees no issue with a probe into MP’s finances.

Shanendon Cartwright – MP, St. Barnabas

“Any issues of transparency, or where you can enhance transparency, along with holding the line on present laws and so far the Bahamian people are always interested in getting more transparency “

It’s reignited talks about campaign finance reform legislation…Something
Successive governments have promised, but none have delivered on…

However, Munroe said it can still happen.

Wayne Munroe – MP, Freetown

“You’re limited to spending $20,000. That’s all you can spend nothing else and then another model is you can spend x amount of dollars and the government gives it to you and no outside interest gives it to you and there’s another model that they use in some states in the U.S. where foreigners can give you money, but it’s limited it’s limited armored in the petrol can give you so you would have to have that discussion”