Resignation Statement - Minister Sidney Collie
Published: Monday June 30th, 2008
MR. COLLIE: Mr. Speaker: During its previous term in office the Free National Movement took steps to satisfy a desire on the part of the people of our Family Islands for effective democratic local government. That hunger for elected local representation had remained unsatisfied though promised for decades.
My Ministry and I were responsible just recently for the conduct of local elections in accordance with legislation passed by The Bahamas Parliament.
I regret to say that mistakes were made in the process which led to a court action and the consequent frustration of many Family Island voters who were looking forward to exercising their democratic right to vote.
I should like to say to Honourable Members and to the Bahamian people that I take full responsibility for what happened and I apologize to Parliament and to the Bahamian people, especially those who were directly affected.
Mr. Speaker:
It is central to our system of cabinet government that Ministers should accept responsibility for ministerial action or inaction, so having regard to the order of the mistakes made in this matter, I have decided that it would be in the best interest of the people and the Government for me to relinquish the office of Minister of Lands and Local Government.
I have so informed the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and, accordingly, I have today tendered my resignation to His Excellency the Governor General.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
