Since it came to power three years ago today, the Progressive Liberal Party Government has been rocked by a number of controversies that have called into question or raised doubts about the honesty and integrity of some of its members.
Several matters have engendered much public criticism from the Official Opposition, other political groupings and commentators, with many persons questioning Prime Minister Perry Christie’s leadership capabilities.
Much has been made of Mr Christie’s “slowness” in arriving at decisions and a perceived inability to reprimand some Party members for their actions.
Some persons have expressed the view that – inconsistent with the Westminister system of Government – the work of the Government has been deterred as a result of the inordinate amount of time spent defending certain individuals, who whether culpable or not, should have “honorably” stepped aside.
A number of the more widely reported controversies, or in some cases, what may simply represent errors of judgment, embarrassing blunders and personality clashes, include:
* Alleged Victimization at BAIC (July 2002)
Six employees of The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation were fired shortly after the PLP took office. However, the Corporation said it was carrying out a downsizing exercise.
* BAIC Chairman said to be in conflict of interest (October 2002)
Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) Chairman Sidney Stubbs was accused of overspending the Corporation’s funds through the excessive use of the Corporation’s credit card. The claim was made in the House of Assembly by South Andros MP, Whitney Bastian, who alleged that Mr Stubbs paid then-BAIC Consultant Earlin Williams over $40,000, which was used in pursuit of “indecent immoral carnal lusts and delights.” He also claimed that Mr Stubbs amassed a credit card bill in excess of $15,000. Mr Stubbs denied the allegation.
* Million-dollar Junkanoo bleachers – or ‘What price for culture?’ (December 2002)
Culture Minister Neville Wisdom spent $1million to contract bleachers from the Canadian Tower company for the 2002/03 Junkanoo parades. He said his Ministry contracted the company after being faced wtih various issues that arose at prior parades. However the prices of tickets were hiked and at both parades, most bleachers were empty. A Junkanoo Report tabled in the House of Assembly showed a loss of $1,189,562.
* Korean Fishing Boat Scandal (October 2003)
A controversy surrounding 16 Korean vessels came to a head in October 2003. The boats were brought into the country by Netsiwill Holdings Ltd, purportedly a Bahamian company owned by Earlin Williams, a former BAIC consultant. It was reported that Mr Williams secured a $2.5 million mortgage from Koreans for the vessels, and the Koreans turned ownership of the boats over to him for $1. The Customs Department revealed that the full duty of an estimated $675,000 was never paid by the boats’ owner, and they were detained for months. The company’s permit and registration certificate for the vessels were also revoked by the Department of Fisheries.
The boats were eventually ordered out of the country by Prime Minister Christie, but Mr Williams said the government did not put in writing the authority under which it was acting when it said that his boats had to leave the country. An Independent Member of Parliament suggested that the boats be sold to Bahamian fishermen; however they remained docked in Morgan’s Bluff, North Andros for almost 10 months, long after a removal deadline had passed.
The matter was finally brought to a close last August when the boats were taken out of the country by the original Korean owners. Before being totally removed, the rightful owners had to satisfy the court and the government with an invoice to prove that they actually owned and brought the 16 boats. It was reported that some of the boats were shipped to the United States, with some being sent to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
* PLP Senator Edison Key Resigns (January 2004)
On Jan.10, 2004 Progressive Liberal Party Senator and Stalwart Councillor, Edison Key, resigned. After being affiliated with the PLP for 34 years, the Abaco businessman accused the government of “lacking direction” and “blacklisting” him after he discovered certain matters suggesting corruption within the Party. However, that March, Mr Christie dismissed Mr Key’s claims as “absurd.”
* Sidney Stubbs declared bankrupt (March 2004)
Already allegedly caught up in matters of victimization at BAIC before resigning as Chairman in 2003, a bankruptcy order was slapped on Holy Cross MP, Sidney Stubbs. It was found that Mr Stubbs owed a nine-year-old debt of $55,000 to Gina Gonzales, the daughter of deceased businessman, Cecil Gonzales. And after filing and exhausting several appeals, Mr Stubbs’ bankruptcy order was annulled last Tuesday by Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall. His case is expected to be heard before the Privy Council tomorrow (May 3).
* Harajchi ‘tells all’ (August 2004)
Allegations made by Iranian business tycoon Mohammad Harajchi against the PLP government last August.
Holding a “tell-all” press conference at his palatial Paradise Island home, Mr Harajchi alleged that he funded the Party during the 2002 election campaign to the tune of $10 million; however he produced only a canceled cheque in the amount of $100,000 to support his claims. He also made allegations against the Minister of Works and Utilities, Bradley Roberts, Deputy Prime Minister, Cynthia Pratt and the Minister of Housing, Shane Gibson, and claimed that he offered assistance to 90 per cent of the PLP Cabinet.
Mr Harajchi said in addition to financially assisting the party, he helped the PLP strategically and assisted with renovating the PLP headquarters on Farrington Road. He claimed that he also funded campaigns and paid for fireworks and entertainment, providing the media with copies of documents to support his claims.
The PLP acknowledged that Mr Harajchi helped to fund its election campaign, but the amount of the donation was far below the $10 million figure announced by him.
It was lawful for any Party to accept donations and such a trend had been carried out for generations, Mr Christie said. He said that campaign finance reform was included in the Party’s agenda.
* Rape allegations against Government Minister (December 2004)
With the House of Assembly being adjourned for the Christmas holidays, a rape claim against Grant’s Town MP Bradley Roberts brought politics back into the forefront.
The Punch, a bi-weekly tabloid, named Mr Roberts after stories circulated that a 47-year-old woman had been raped by the high-ranking and outspoken Cabinet Minister. Staunchly denying the allegations, Mr Roberts said he was offended by the absurdity of the claim that such an act ever took place. Mr Roberts was never taken in for questioning, but he later presented himself to the Criminal Detective Unit to be interviewed.
The police recommended that he not be charged in relation to the rape claim made against him. Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson said that based on their collection and assessment of the evidence in all of the circumstances, Mr Roberts should not be charged. The rape charge against Mr Roberts was also later dropped by his accuser.
* Ron Pinder breaches NIA security (January 2005)
What some may call the “arrogance” of a Member of Parliament was put on display earlier this year when Marathon MP Ron Pinder breached security at the Nassau International Airport. Mr Pinder boarded a U.S. Airways flight without being pre-cleared by U.S. Customs. He also reportedly drove directly onto the tarmac to access the airline. He subsequently told The Guardian that these actions were being “blown out of proportion” and were “no big deal.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell attempted to clarify Mr Pinder’s actions in the House of Assembly, stating that the entire ordeal resulted from “miscommunication.” A week later, Mr Pinder apologized for his actions in the House of Assembly. “This incident caused inconvenience and embarrassment, which I deeply regret. I accept full responsibility and I can assure that it will not occur again,” he said.
* Bradley Roberts and Senator C.B Moss clash over Bain and Grant’s Town seat (March 2005)
Last month, Senate Vice President Rev. C. B. Moss said that he was deeply disappointed that Bain and Grants Town MP Bradley Roberts had broken a promise to give up his seat at the midpoint of his five-year term. Rev. Moss’s statement came in a letter to Bain and Grants Town constituents.
He said that his plan to represent the people had been postponed and the agreement made with Mr Roberts had been broken, as the incumbent had announced his intention to stay in office for the remaining two years of the present parliamentary term.
Mr Roberts said he found Mr Moss’ letter to be “surprising, appalling and patently untrue” in the full context of the situation. He said he was surprised that Mr Moss did not convey in the letter that Prime Minister Christie had a conversation with both of them in mid-2004, where the Prime Minister made it absolutely clear that he was not prepared to allow Mr Roberts to resign his Cabinet Post.
Rev. Moss had expected to get the nomination for Bain Town in 2002, but after boundary changes, that constituency was combined and Rev. Moss’s intended constituency was eliminated. He was given an appointment to the Senate and had been waiting for Minister Roberts to step down to give him an opportunity to run for the seat.
* Leslie Miller clashes with foreign investor in Cat Cay (March 2005)
A fiery argument that erupted last month in Cat Cay between Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller and President of the Cat Cay Yacht Club, Manuel Diaz, is said to have left a bitter taste in the mouths of many investors, while many Bahamians felt that Mr Miller acted improperly as a Cabinet Minister.
The argument erupted as a result of the proposed construction of a liquefied natural gas pipeline at Ocean Cay.
During a scheduled meeting with Cat Cay investors and officials of The Bahamas Environmental, Scientific and Technology (BEST) Commission, Mr Miller reportedly walked out during a film on LNG and returned afterward only to get into a shouting match with the producer of the film, Tim Riley, the dock master on the Cay, Patrick Rolle and later Mr Diaz. The men questioned Mr Miller’s actions while the film was being aired and a shouting match ensued. The back and forth wrangling and finger pointing ended with Mr Diaz calling Mr Miller an “idiot” who was acting childishly.
Both men, obviously carried away by the heat of the moment, later apologised.
By TAMARA McKENZIE, Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter
