Cassius Stuart
04-15-04, - 04:44 PM
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The Bahamas Democratic Movement
On March 30th, 2004, Sidney M. Stubbs, the Member of Parliament for the Holy Cross Constituency was declared bankrupt by the Supreme Court being unable to pay off a loan of $55,000 which he negotiated in 1997.
This has given rise to a national debate as to when and how his seat should be declared vacant, in accordance with the Constitution.
While the FNM is calling for him to voluntarily step down, the PLP is hunkering down looking for the best way for the party to disassociate itself from Stubbs. Stubbs, meanwhile, is refusing to acknowledge the difficult situation he is in and to carry out the honourable act that is expected of him, by the conventions of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.
We in the BDM have looked carefully at the situation and have listened to all that has been said on all sides so far; and we have come to the conclusion that while it is true that some serious constitutional issues have been raised, the more important point is that Sidney Stubbs did not disclose this debt on April 9th 2002, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Disclosure Act which requires full disclosure of all assets, income and liabilities.
In addition, we have carried out investigations to determine whether Mr. Stubbs might have disclosed this debt some time after April 9th 2002. We have found out that he has not in fact made any Public Disclosures since April 9th 2002, although the law required him to do so by March 31 of 2003 and 2004.
Further, and more seriously, we have found out that not one Member of the House of Assembly or of the Senate has made any declarations whatsoever for the past two years concerning their assets, income and liabilities.
As a result of this, we have today made a written complaint to the Public Disclosure Commission in relation to the summary published on April 9th regarding Sidney Stubbs’ declaration and in relation to the non-compliance by all PLP Members of Parliament and the Senate regarding declarations due on the 31st March 2003 and 31st March, 2004.
So, while we await the execution by the Commission of the law, as laid out in Section 7, we, as a political party are bound by our mission to bring good governance to The Bahamas, and to bring this matter to the attention of the Bahamian people in the most forceful way.
So, we demand the Public Disclosure Commission carry out its statutory duties and charge every Member of Parliament with violation of this most important act. As a result, the Bahamas Democratic Movement calls for the dissolution of Parliament because all of the members are in default and in contravention of laws governing parliamentary democracy.
Cassius Stuart
Leader
BDM
==================================================
The Bahamas Democratic Movement
On March 30th, 2004, Sidney M. Stubbs, the Member of Parliament for the Holy Cross Constituency was declared bankrupt by the Supreme Court being unable to pay off a loan of $55,000 which he negotiated in 1997.
This has given rise to a national debate as to when and how his seat should be declared vacant, in accordance with the Constitution.
While the FNM is calling for him to voluntarily step down, the PLP is hunkering down looking for the best way for the party to disassociate itself from Stubbs. Stubbs, meanwhile, is refusing to acknowledge the difficult situation he is in and to carry out the honourable act that is expected of him, by the conventions of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.
We in the BDM have looked carefully at the situation and have listened to all that has been said on all sides so far; and we have come to the conclusion that while it is true that some serious constitutional issues have been raised, the more important point is that Sidney Stubbs did not disclose this debt on April 9th 2002, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Disclosure Act which requires full disclosure of all assets, income and liabilities.
In addition, we have carried out investigations to determine whether Mr. Stubbs might have disclosed this debt some time after April 9th 2002. We have found out that he has not in fact made any Public Disclosures since April 9th 2002, although the law required him to do so by March 31 of 2003 and 2004.
Further, and more seriously, we have found out that not one Member of the House of Assembly or of the Senate has made any declarations whatsoever for the past two years concerning their assets, income and liabilities.
As a result of this, we have today made a written complaint to the Public Disclosure Commission in relation to the summary published on April 9th regarding Sidney Stubbs’ declaration and in relation to the non-compliance by all PLP Members of Parliament and the Senate regarding declarations due on the 31st March 2003 and 31st March, 2004.
So, while we await the execution by the Commission of the law, as laid out in Section 7, we, as a political party are bound by our mission to bring good governance to The Bahamas, and to bring this matter to the attention of the Bahamian people in the most forceful way.
So, we demand the Public Disclosure Commission carry out its statutory duties and charge every Member of Parliament with violation of this most important act. As a result, the Bahamas Democratic Movement calls for the dissolution of Parliament because all of the members are in default and in contravention of laws governing parliamentary democracy.
Cassius Stuart
Leader
BDM
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