The prime minister’s spokesman last night insisted that “sensible people should not draw any conclusion” from the claims on an Internet website that Perry Christie was invited to an NBA Basketball game and given hospitality by an energy company seeking government approval for a controversial LNG terminal and pipeline in the Bahamas.
Every business executive contacted on the matter yesterday said it was inappropriate for the prime minister to have accepted a seat in Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) skybox to watch the Miami Heat vs LA Lakers basketball match last week, since it would create a perceived conflict of interest for Mr. Christie when it was time to decide whether the consortium an FPL subsidiary is part of, should have government approval for its liquefied natiral gas (LNG) proposal.
One source, with knowledge of corporate governance procedures said, “That is poor judgement from the PM”.
Underneath a Bahamas Information Services photograph showing the PM and his son, along with the Bahamas Miami-based consul-general, at the game the caption on the website read: “The Florida Power and Light Group, anxious to get the approval for their LNG gas project in the Bahamas, and the Miami Herald, both invited the PM over to watch the Miami Heat and LA Lakers game come head-to-head”.
Sam Duncombe of the environmental group, reEarth, which has opposed the controversial LNG projects said, “I don’t see why members of the government should be accepting gifts from anybody.”
“They should be doing their jobs for people”.
Ms. Duncombe added that the Bahamas should also never have accepted the hurricane relief donation from Tractebel which is also seeking approval from the government on an LNG terminal and pipeline.
Source: The Tribune
