Allyson Maynard-Gibson last night answered claims that her former law practice will be handed a $1 million bonus from the LNG company earmarked to build the Ocean Cay terminal.
The Attorney General issued a short statement to counter charges made from the Free National Movement (FNM) in a “Commentary” document which appears on the FNM’s web site.
In a commentary headlined, PLP Government: A House Divided, the Opposition claimed, “The Attorney General’s former law firm reportedly stands to receive the balance of a very substantial legal fee ﾖ one million dollars! ﾖ when the heads of agreement is successfully concluded and signed.
“To date, $603,000.00 of the agreed fee has been paid, so Ms Gibson’s former firm is looking forward to receiving the balance of $397,000! No wonder she was so anxious to beat out the Minister responsible for LNG, Leslie Miller in making the announcement.”
Asked if her former firm had been offered the bonus, Mrs Maynard-Gibson told The Guardian: “I have no interest in Gibson and Company. You would have to direct that question to the partners of Gibson and Company.”
She added in a written statement, also issued in response to the FNM’s claims, that she was devoting her energy “to her constitutional role as Attorney
General which includes, advising the government, supporting Cabinet conclusions and when required, giving effect to them, whether by way of drafting heads of agreement or otherwise.”
The Attorney General said, “Minister Leslie Miller continues to do a wonderful job in bringing to conclusion, complex negotiations on behalf of the government,” adding, “For the record, as Attorney General, the only thing that I ‘promote’ is swift justice on behalf of Bahamian people.”
On July 25, she announced that the government was negotiating a heads of agreement with Virginia-based AES Corporation, for the construction of a liquefied natural gas regassification terminal at Ocean Cay. She said the plan, which also calls for an accompanying pipeline, stretching to Florida, would likely be approved in this electoral term.
Twenty-four hours later, Mr Miller said the deal would likely be been signed by August 1. But when asked about the deal a day prior to that date, he said, “Ask Allyson Gibson. It has nothing to do with me.”
The Guardian was led to believe that Mrs Maynard-Gibson’s announcement had come as a surprise to her colleagues and created friction within the Cabinet. It is understood that at least two senior cabinet ministers made it clear that they thought the project would harm the tourism industry and endanger the environment.
The announcement, which came, following a period of relative silence on LNG by the government, has reinvigorated the once vigorous lobby against the industry.
Sam Duncombe of the environmental lobby, reEarth, has called on the government to put the issue to a referendum and challenged the Christie administration not to lay the development at the feet of the former FNM government.
“This administration was simply honouring the LNG policy that was put in place by the former administration, which gave agreement and principles to three LNG plants subject to criteria,” the Attorney General said during the announcement.
By: Raymond Kongwa, The Nassau Guardian
