The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Digital Editor

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PINEWOOD MP Myles Laroda yesterday denied receiving financial contributions from convicted drug trafficker Eric Gardiner during a heated House of Assembly exchange over political donations and government contracts.

During debate on amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, Long Island MP Andre Rollins questioned whether Gardiner had contributed to the Progressive Liberal Party, claiming that companies linked to him had received multimillion-dollar government contracts.

Mr Laroda, Minister of National Security, said he did not recall ever meeting Gardiner and challenged the suggestion that political patronage was unique to the PLP, pointing to contracts awarded under previous Free National Movement administrations.

"For the record, I don't ever remember meeting Eric Gardner. I didn't get any contributions from him," he said.

He continued: "My point is, don't act as if what is happening in terms of patronage or the awarding of contracts only happen on this side, you know? We are not talking pittance either. We are not talking pittance."

Mr Laroda said the FNM had served four terms in government during which it could have introduced campaign finance reform.

"The FNM has had four terms in government of which they could have changed campaign reform. We played by the rules. When we came into power for 2021, we played by the rules that we met in place," he said.

Mr Laroda said: “I have lived long enough in this Bahamas to hear a former prime minister sanitise a former drug dealer of being reformed, campaigned with them, and was very influential. Everybody have receipts, you know.”

Mr Laroda cautioned against repeatedly raising the names of individuals connected to criminal proceedings, warning that politicians on both sides had family members and associates whose actions they might not support.

During his contribution, Mr Rollins also demanded the disclosure of all recipients of government contracts through the Beaches and Parks Authority, and also urged contractors to report any demands for kickbacks from politicians.

"Anybody who receives a contract, who is told by a minister of the government or a member of parliament to give them cash underneath the table, a kickback, record it, and report it. Record it and report it," he said.

"It's your money if you have a contract. It's not the minister's money, and it's not a member of parliament's money."

Mr Laroda maintained that political supporters received contracts under successive administrations and disclosed that he had benefited from government contracts under the FNM.

"When it be building buildings, you could tell the administrations in power who get contracts for building government buildings. Whether be schools, there are some supporters, but don't act as if you are victims. To the victors goes to spoils, they said in politics. It is no difference under this government as under yours," he said.

Mr Laroda added: "I'll tell you this, FNMs would probably be more likely to get contracts under us (PLP), and I have been a beneficiary of contracts under the FNM, so I would not say lie and act as if I did not. But I would say that I was the anomaly."

Gardiner, who is facing drug trafficking charges in New York, was arrested following a May 12 plane crash in the Atlantic while travelling from Abaco to Grand Bahama.

US authorities said he was carrying $30,000 in Bahamian currency when rescued. His attorneys later produced a bank slip they said accounted for $20,000 withdrawn from his business Top Notch Builders, a company linked to major government construction projects, including the Eight Mile Rock administrative complex and Carmichael Village housing development. Gardiner previously served a lengthy US federal prison sentence for cocaine importation offences.