PM dismisses Dubai row as ‘political mischief’

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis. (File photo)

As of Friday, January 21, 2022

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says he views the backlash his administration received over the decision to carry a delegation to Dubai as nothing more than “political mischief”.

He told The Tribune yesterday that if the country did not go to the United Arab Emirates, it would have been viewed as “ungrateful” in response to the country spending nearly $4m on The Bahamas’ behalf.

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In addition to the $3.5m spent by the United Arab Emirates, The Bahamas’ price tag for the event was up to $1m while private sponsors put up $500,000.

The Davis administration has been the subject of much criticism over the trip which saw more than 100 people travel to Dubai to participate in Expo 2020.

“You call it pushback,” Mr Davis said in response to a question from The Tribune. “I just call it political mischief and you would expect political mischief in these times, particularly when you are doing good.

“As the anecdote goes now and the popular song goes ‘dogs ain’t ga bark at a parked car.’ This government is moving and so I expect to hear barks.

“So, I am not surprised that you will hear the political spin on whatever we do, but I can say that we had quite a successful trip and it would have been very ungrateful for us not to have participated, particularly after the host country invested near $4m in building a pavilion and investing on our behalf to ensure that we are there.

“It would have been an ungrateful act on our part not to participate.”

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis with his wife Ann Marie in Dubai.

He said despite the criticism, the trip yielded successes, adding Public Service and Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell remained there to tie up loose ends.

“We entered into several (memoranda) of understanding. We just didn’t go for the event, but we took the opportunity to speak to the government of the United Arab Emirates and we have entered into at least three (memoranda) of understanding.

“The minister of foreign affairs I left him there to wrap those up and as soon as he is back more will be made known of what the other successes (are), but the more particular success is that we introduce ourselves to the world.

A Bahamian performance during events at the Expo.

“Many Bahamians went on their own and they were surprised to appreciate that a lot of people don’t know about The Bahamas and they found that surprising.

“So, we had the opportunity to not just introduce ourselves to the world, but let the world get to know the best of us and I think the best of us was on display.”

He spoke to reporters on the sidelines of an event last night.

Mr Davis said earlier this week while in Dubai that the presence of a Bahamian delegation at the expo was a chance to develop friendships and tourism.

“We consider expo fundamentally to be about the relationship between the peoples of the world, the promotion of friendship and co-operation through culture, and the unyielding capacity of human beings to pursue a higher order of civilisation, through innovation and adaptation,” Mr Davis said earlier this week.

“It is a chance for countries to get to know each other better or perhaps, introduce themselves to each other for the first time. Many Bahamians here in Dubai have been surprised at how many people have never heard of The Bahamas. Our presence and participation are opportunities for both friendship and tourism.

“We want you to come and visit: to stay awhile, and experience how life can still indeed be ‘Better in The Bahamas’. And as you get to know us, we relish the opportunity for us to get to know you. At Expo, each of us wants to show the best of us.”

birdiestrachan 2 years, 3 months ago

FNM roc wit doc and the tribune editorial page mischief. doc is concerned that they were eating steak and lobster.

doc is free now to eat his stew fish.

stillwaters 2 years, 3 months ago

Brave is the grand master of political mischief. Between him, Clint, and Fred, I don't know who should get the award for grand master.

bahamianson 2 years, 3 months ago

No someone has to answer to the fact that we have a national choir and the national choir represents us on a national level. Yet, Clint and his church choir represents us? Hogwash. First you say Shaback paid for their trip , now you say the government paid for travel and accommadations . What is going on? You say one person caught covid. So, did that one person have roomates? Did the government have enough money to give each person a room? Surely , that positive person had roomates. If so, are they in quarantine and still in Dubai?

tribanon 2 years, 3 months ago

Davis is showing both his arrogance and his disdain for the Bahamian people. He's one and done without even having done much of the one.

TalRussell 2 years, 3 months ago

De Nassau Town, has now fallen apart, first with a clandestine hooded premier, scootin' about negotiating de final, best, best price his last minute December 23rd, 2021 jewelry shopping.
And, It's official, no need wait formal announcement by De Guardian's Talk Radio station's management...Anthan is now firmly hooded, as de show's phone-in's co-host uphill at De Revolution with Mr. Carmichael. Can you imagine de turmoil, would've surfaced, had de killer of Comrade Griff, shifted de local de murder to de Jewelry's side entrance door? Mr. Carmichael' pocket book, just took an Anthan participation Fifty-percent, hosting pay cut,...And, where is de whereabouts our beloved Starkly, ― Yes?

stillwaters 2 years, 3 months ago

He should have said that he was at this store when the news first broke ...probably admitting it because police will see him on the camera during the investigation.

stillwaters 2 years, 3 months ago

Or......they already saw it and he wanted to get ahead of the breaking of that news

ThisIsOurs 2 years, 3 months ago

I for one want this administration to succeed. I've also said I believe Brave has an opportunity to be a transformational leader. He has that leadership quality to influence people and he has some good people around him. Im not on board with all of them, but he has enough.

That said, I think they totally missed the objective on Dubai. Just doing good things isnt good enough. This is no time to be non-strategic. They showed up at this event with no earthly idea of the objective and just did "something". Now they want an A grade for just doing what they did. Its like having a coconut festival, someine making pumkin tarts and wanting you to judge them on their fabulous usage of pumkin.

This is how we "used to" do things, seat of the pants, we can no longer hope for good results. We have to plan for the results we want. Stop saying this was a good showing. It wasnt.

If you continue to call bad good, no one will do better

For all they talk about "making friends" if they had "innovated" they would have made a much bigger splash. How do I know that?. Look at the two man team from The Bahamas who won Prince Harry's award. Did you see how much buzz they got? 2 people! and we send ONE HUNDRED people and 5 MILLION dollars and between them we couldnt produce a single innovative thought? You see how crazy it sounds?

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