NASSAU, Bahamas — Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell yesterday accused the Minnis administration of the “indiscriminate callous haemorrhage” of the public purse to buy extravagant furnishings and decor for an ambassador’s apartment in Europe,” The Tribune reported on Wednesday, June 15, in an article written by Khrisna Russell and Leandra Rolle.
He said more than $1m was spent on lavish items, including middle chairs that cost nearly $40,000, a rug at $18,475, $14,000 for a lamp and $10,000 for a mahogany scroll, among other costly purchases.
And while the items were being bought as part of a renovation of this ambassador’s apartment, Mr Bell said the official, whom he did not name, stayed in an expensive hotel at a cost of $20,000 per month.
The renovations at $550,000 or 644,161 euros, together with the hotel stay racked up more than $1m in costs, the minister claimed in the House of Assembly.
He made the revelations during his contribution to the 2022/2023 budget debate yesterday.
“Recently I have seen — and I have it here to table, if needed — an invoice for an ambassador’s residence undertaken by the last administration’s term in office and I wonder if the purchases were governed by the same process,” Mr Bell said.
“Remember when I had this figure up, we jumped from 2018 where there was a decline of the $215m in deficit because of the increase in VAT, we jumped to $799m in 2020 and it skyrocketed to $1.38b, which for a grand total of $2.777b. I am submitting that given the contracts I have in my position that in many respects some of the deficit is attributed not to genuine cases related to COVID or the hurricane, but mismanagement and abuse by the former administration.
“Why would the government need to purchase — and let me get it right — a desert modern upholstered queen-size bed covered in shambley damask white orchard print fabric at a cost of approximately $12,000?”
House Speaker Patricia Deveaux then asked for which ministry the bed purchases were made.
To which, the minister replied: “Madame Speaker, I was very clear at the beginning that the honourable (member) for Killarney — unfortunately, he is not here today — but he came in indicating that an incorruptible government came in on an agenda for trust and they were accountable, transparent and prudent in the people’s finances, but how could he justify then the purchase of a Duke polished steel mirror for $14,000 – a mirror!” See complete article in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/15/1m-embassy-makeover-bill/
