Amid controversy surrounding the government's Urban Renewal Small Home Repairs (SHR) Programme, Minister of State for Works and Urban Development Arnold Forbes said the initiative is a "noble" one and called on the government to expand it. The program received considerable attention following an auditor general's report which raised serious issues with the handling of public funds in the program.
The auditor general found that there is a lack of accountability, transparency and due diligence in the management of the SHR Programme, its execution and the quality of work done. During his contribution to the 2015/2016 budget debate in the House of Assembly, Forbes expressed his disappointment that the program had become the subject of controversy.
"It saddens me to see how Urban Renewal has turned into a political football," he said. "There are thousands of Bahamians living in deplorable conditions. Surely we don't want our assistance to be a matter of national debate."
Forbes said he fears that Bahamians who desperately need the help will shy away from applying for assistance out of fear that their cases will be published.
"We have to be careful that we do not allow political expediency to cause people to be disenfranchised," Forbes said. "Urban Renewal and small home repairs in particular are sorely needed in our country. It doesn't have the government bureaucracy that is involved in getting most things done in government. It is something where you can get a quick fix."
The auditor general's report into the SHR Programme revealed that 11 contractors were paid $171,000 for work that was either incomplete or never done. The report also lists a litany of issues discovered in the issuance of contracts, contractor requirements and the lack of a competitive bidding process associated with the program. But Forbes, who steered away from directly addressing the contents of the report, said he doesn't understand why people have a problem with the program.
"Any idea that is put out there that helps the poor, it almost invariably ends up in some controversy because it does not affect those people out there," he said. "These are poor people that we are trying to help.
"Why do we have a problem with this? Why do we want to draw a negative light on something that is so positive and so noble? Urban Renewal is a noble, noble program."
Forbes encouraged the government to introduce Urban Renewal in the Family Islands. Just before Forbes aired his concerns regarding Urban Renewal, House Speaker Dr. Kendal Major advised members against addressing the auditor general's report in the House. He said until the report is tabled it should not be discussed. His advice stemmed from an earlier ruling on the matter.
On May 13, Major asked the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to "stay its hand" in relation to any investigation surrounding the report. Major made his decision after an opinion from the Office of the Attorney General said the PAC's investigation into Urban Renewal is "legally improper". A copy of the opinion was given to Major on April 22. Major encouraged government members to table the document without delay, however the report has yet to be tabled. The PAC was looking into the SHR as a part of its wider probe into Urban Renewal.
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