The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Chairman Charles Maynard yesterday said he is not startled by threats of a forthcoming defamation lawsuit against him over comments made regarding the appointment of the PLP’s key spokesman to the board of directors for the Water and Sewage Corporation (WSC). 

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts who was appointed chairman of the WSC’s board, insists that he will sue Mr Maynard if some scathing remarks that he called “sick suggestions” were not retracted.

“Everything that I have said has been in the public realm and is public knowledge,” Mr Maynard said. “Furthermore these same things have been said before many times. He has no grounds to sue me. Mr Roberts is trying to intimidate me, but it will not be that easy.” 

The FNM chairman recently told the media that he believed Bradley Roberts was a bad fit for the chairmanship of the Corporation as he had been pinpointed in controversy surrounding a reverse osmosis plant during the PLP’s 2002 term in office. 

In 2010 the matter had reached an Industrial Tribunal where a former senior WSC employee alleged that Roberts had been a part of that conspiracy.

When contacted for further comment, Mr Roberts said he would not make anymore remarks as enough had already been said.

On Tuesday Mr Roberts released a press statement “categorically denying” involvement in any suspicious activity while serving as the minister of works and utilities.

He said that Mr Maynard’s comments were merely a part of the FNM’s failed long-standing agenda to use smear tactics.

“Charles Maynard and the FNM had five years to review and examine all events of my former ministry and to present facts to substantiate any bogus allegations and to date they have failed to do so.

“I demand that Charles Maynard unconditionally retract his bogus allegations or face a defamation lawsuit,” Mr Roberts said.

This latest spat comes amid concern that board appointments came too long after the PLP won office. Prime Minister Perry Christie has since stated that the announcements were delayed due to the sickness and later death of his mother-in-law Trixie Hanna. A full listing of all boards was published on Monday.

Since then the opposition has criticised the government for only appointing recycled politicians on those boards and committees. Mr Maynard questioned the absence of South Andros MP Picewell Forbes in any of the appointments and commented on the appointment of William Thompson as new Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas and by default ZNS.

The chairman hinted that the new appointment could possibly be based on party loyalty rather than on bringing new faces to serve the public.