The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday refused to comment on allegations in US court filings about an unnamed Bahamian politician unless he had evidence to do so, as he defended his past handling of allegations against former Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest and accused the opposition of making unsupported claims against Finance Minister Michael Halkitis.

The Prime Minister’s interventions came during another fiery House of Assembly debate.

Long Island MP Dr Andre Rollins accused Mr Davis of double standards, questioning why he relied on court material involving Mr Turnquest while the government has resisted the opposition’s attempt to table a separate US criminal complaint it has described as “untested”.

Mr Davis said he would not make statements in the House about anyone unless he had a factual basis grounded in evidence.

“I think I’m an honourable person,” he added. “I’m not going to say anything in this House about anyone unless I have a basis upon which to do so and a basis on that is grounded in facts.

“On the basis that there's a contextual connection between the conduct and the consequences to which I believe that conduct should be dealt with, I do not want to get into this.”

Mr Davis said he was disappointed that the opposition had returned to Mr Turnquest’s case during the debate.

While in opposition, Mr Davis laid a writ of summons alleging a more than $20m fraud involving Mr Turnquest. The FNM has accused the government of double standards for relying on that document while blocking its attempt to table a criminal complaint linked to the US case.

In defending his past action, Mr Davis said his request involving Mr Turnquest was based on a judgment issued by a court in Washington, DC, which he said addressed the conduct in question.

He brought the document to the House yesterday, though he did not formally table it, and offered to share it with opposition members.

“That’s the difference,” he said, responding to opposition criticism of his position then and now.

Dr Rollins challenged how the document could be accepted at face value without being formally tabled.

“I can give you any document to tell you something on it, that doesn't mean that's what's on it,” he said.

“It really is irresponsible for the member for Cat Island, Rum Cay and Salvador to do what he did, because the information that we have on this side is that Mr Turnquest was not a party to the action involving that matter In Washington DC.”

He said Mr Turnquest was a witness and questioned how a witness in the case could be portrayed as if he were a defendant, calling the suggestion “dishonest.”

Earlier, Dr Rollins pointed to Mr Davis’ past calls, as opposition leader, for Mr Turnquest to resign after he was accused of being a conspirator in an alleged fraud scheme.

Mr Turnquest was not named as a defendant and was later vindicated in the court case.

“According to the member for Cat Island, it was a very bad look for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to have a civil matter, not even a criminal matter, you know, a civil matter between two litigants, not a criminal matter as we are dealing with here now,” he said. “This is a matter that is before the criminal courts of our most important trading partner, the United States of America. ”

Dr Rollins accused the government of treating its partner “as though they are insignificant and they mean nothing to us” and warned that a deterioration in US relations could have serious consequences for The Bahamas.

“Let something happen tomorrow where we have a poor relationship with them, and let's see how we survive as a country,” he said.

House Speaker Patricia Deveaux stood by her decision not to allow the opposition to table the US criminal complaint, saying she would not besmirch the country’s character because of an allegation.

She said she would issue a statement when the time is right, after her legal team gives guidance on the matter.