North Abaco candidate accused of false claims

As of Wednesday, October 3, 2012

By PAUL G TURNQUEST

Chief Reporter

pturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FNM candidate for North Abaco Greg Gomez has denied charges that he has incorrectly filed his asset declarations on nomination day, stressing that all the information entered was done after consultation with the party’s lawyer and certified public accountant (CPA).

Greg Gomez is nominated.

With no National Insurance contributions logged for 2011, Mr Gomez said that his declared income of $28,000 came in the form of “love offerings” from

travelling and preaching at various churches.

“I, in filling out my declaration sought counsel from the FNM’s lawyer and the FNM’s CPA. Now, on there we were discussing I am an educator right, yes, but I am a minister, and I said ‘yes’. They asked me if I am ministering at this time, I said ‘no I am not ministering at this time because I am in full time campaign’. So he said, ‘yes, just put it as an educator’ and that is what I did based on the legal advice that I received.

“Because I am not currently operating, all I am doing now is campaigning and that is what I am doing. But what I did explain to the lawyer was that I am an educator and a minister. But at this current time I am not ministering full-time because I am on the campaign trail full-time,” Mr Gomez said.

If Mr Gomez is found to have intentionally or unintentionally misled the Parliamentary Commissioner in the declaration of his assets he could be subject to having his nomination voided, sources in that department have revealed.

As for 2012, the FNM’s candidate could not answer as to what his income was.

“Well earlier in the year I worked a part-time job with my brother-in-law for several weeks as long as the job lasted. Then I worked at the Administrators Office, and earlier in the year I was preaching. I was travelling and preaching. So that was my income. Now, my income is different from most people’s income. Because as a minister when I go to minister I get something which is called a ‘love offering’ and that varies and changes. So, everything is in estimation and that is exactly what I did, and as per the advice that I received from the FNM’s lawyer and CPA.”

Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis also chimed in on the matter, stating that the FNM has done a “disservice” to Mr Gomez by even running him in the upcoming by-election.

Mr Davis said that his party might pursue the matter further, as it now boils down to the integrity of the individual and his party for running him.

As for Mr Gomez, he believes the matter to be of little significance, claiming that the people of North Abaco are more concerned about who they feel will represent them more effectively in the House of Assembly.

He said: “It’s the people in Abaco who are going to vote. The people in Abaco are concerned about, can Greg Gomez represent them better than Renardo Curry. Is Greg Gomez an Abaconian? Yes I am. Can Greg Gomez represent Abaco better than Renardo Curry? Yes I can.”

pilgrimagerock 12 years, 1 month ago

The PLP must be really desperate to accused Greg Gomez of false claims. How many of their cabinet ministers have disclosed erroneous assets declarations on nomination day? It takes a lot brass to accuse a guy of doing what your party has previously done.

Jessemo 12 years, 1 month ago

I think in this article it was The Tribune that was asking...and only one PLP candidate is running against Mr. Gomez and he's no Cabinet Minister....focus!

pilgrimagerock 12 years, 1 month ago

Who benefits from this article? Only the PLP.

Get_it_Right 12 years, 1 month ago

Which only shows how poorly he sounded, considering the Tribune is pro FNM. Even they couldn't help this embarrassment.

pilgrimagerock 12 years, 1 month ago

I do agree with you but despite how bad his interview was, I still think he will pull off a surprising victory. Keep in mind that most family islanders do not think like new providences.

TalRussell 12 years, 1 month ago

Comrades at the Triibune, happy that even your newspaper cannot dare ignore the truth of what goin on up in Cooper's Town by-election.

Believe me over my years i done hear them all from politicians, and ministers of da gospel, but mixing up ya occupation's income with somthin he called 'love offerings,' is proving this out of nowhere mystery hand-picked recruit for the red shirts, by the Cooper's Town lawyer/fisherman, to be an excellent candidate fit for them deserving of more hell red shirts approach........of exceptional people, who work well together at ... blaming others for they own damn mistakes and failures. Soon he will have to reach far back to the dead, like his sponsor did with Pindling, to start blamin someone from the PLP side, directly from the graveyard.

This man cannot even answer the reporters on-air questions as to exactly 'where' he taught? Did he teach in Bahamaland, USA, Haiti, England, Cuba .. cause his only answer is umm, ummm, ummmmmmmmm.

I is gonna ask The Tribune to let me write a weekly column titled; "Simple questions that make you go ummmmmmmmmm?"

Comrades I ain't saying this man gotta have real coin to sit in the House...but the minimum financial standard should be, ya in a financial position to buy 'ya-own-self' a full slab of boloney sausage ... even if not the loaf of white cheap bread at same time?

Trust ya former leader to mess up you red shirts, even more...if that's possible. Should've know better, afterhow he left you back in 2002, and more recently on Decision Day 2012?

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…

spoitier 12 years, 1 month ago

I see what this is about, a person have to make a certain amount of money to be able to run for a seat. I think an educational qualification should be more of a standard than a financial one, I understand that a broke man isn't really in a position to empower people financially but this man has only been home for a year and it seems like he have a formal education, why would the PLP be so afraid of someone if they think he doesn't measure up?

Jessemo 12 years, 1 month ago

But it 'aint the PLP or DNA who asking the question. It's our free and independent 'mainstream' media...all of them (even this one who unabashedly supports the candidate's party). He just can not give a straight answer...

pilgrimagerock 12 years, 1 month ago

And neither does Perry Christie nor Brave Davis, they cannot give a straight answer on their personal involvement in Bahamas Petroleum Company.

spoitier 12 years, 1 month ago

Not giving straight answers is a prerequisite for a politician, so he will fit in good.

pilgrimagerock 12 years, 1 month ago

If memory serves me right, there were a whole bunch of candidates from the PLP, FNM, DNA and others who had very little money, and since money talks and everything else walks, cherry-picking the next all for me baby MP takes precedence over someone who is genuinely empathic towards others and their country.

Get_it_Right 12 years, 1 month ago

My suggestion is you listen to his interview with Candia Dames. Even FNM's had to cringe at how bad an impression he gave of himself, and them as the party he represents.

pilgrimagerock 12 years, 1 month ago

I did listen to his bad interview and since time heals all wounds, he will make a good politician.

jackflash 12 years, 1 month ago

I think that Papa gave the FNM a dud with this guy.

North Abaco might being turning yellow....

BaystreetTrader 12 years, 1 month ago

Did anyone hear Mr. Gomez phone interview with one of the radio stations? This candidate could not remember the schools he taught at in the US and how long he was away from the Bahamas. If anyone heard this interview, it was clear from the lack of confidence and hesitation that Mr. Gomez's response is questionable.

I hope everyone is watching the US Presidential debate tonight. When will we in the Bahamas have similar debates?

pilgrimagerock 12 years, 1 month ago

Not knowing what school he taught at in the US is unbelievable. Grey Gomez will make a good politician because he doesn’t know much, he cannot tell the truth, nor give a straight answer and he is a child of God.

TalRussell 12 years, 1 month ago

Comrades who is this Gomez. Why is he in Cooper's Town. Why is he running ?

A growing number of Comrades at the very top in the red shirts are embarrassed. Many more are steaming at they mouth's over the inadequate answers to the media in response to such simple, general background questions.

It's no minor misstep when you have a party's candidate who is not only now attracting such 'negative' close scrutiny, by not only Bahamaland's two Daily Newspapers, but the daily Talk Show Hosts are now telling their listeners that they too have their own questions at the ready for this 'drafted' red shirt?

There are no longer any reasonable grounds for anyone to continue to hide their misgivings about why is it that some stranger, exhibiting such behavior was sprung on Cooper's Town, by a man who has lost not only the trust of the nation, but of so many in Cooper's Town? An elected representative who within three hours of the polls closing, abdicated his elected office?

Cooper's Town needs to ship Comrade "Ain't Even Got No Loose Change" Gomez back to he Papa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKpX-5jQ…

pilgrimagerock 12 years, 1 month ago

To be fair TalRussell, Ryan Pinder was not a Bahamian citizen while he was candidate for the Elizabeth by-election. Unlike Ryan Pinder, Grey Gomez is his own worst enemy and I am not defending his actions. Why these guys and gals run for public offices are what the electorate wants to know, I say it all about gaining wealth at the taxpayers expense. Until we have a system in place similar to the US for scrutinizing political candidates for offices, we will continue to have these embarrassing moments.

As an FNM supporter, my party and the PLP should be ashamed of themselves. This practice is outdated for the 21st century Bahamas. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it benefit the two major parties not the Bahamian people.

spoitier 12 years, 1 month ago

The U.S is worst, because insider trading is legal for politicians and also lobbyist pay politicians to vote in rules to favor themselves.

TISM 12 years, 1 month ago

I listened to the interview for myself as opposed to adopting media commentary on it and realize that the man is very nervous and unprepared to deal with the media. If he was quick on his feet - which it is evident he is not by virtue of the number of "ummmms" and "ahhhhhs" he used to speak - he would have said the letter was back-dated to reflect the date of his employment to facilitate his payment. This is common in government because they are inefficient in hirings just as well as firings. He would have also explained he was a substitute teacher in the states - which became apparent during the interview - these teachers are moved around so much they can hardly claim a specific school as one where they taught for any significant period of time. The only thing he did wrong was not being prepared for media scrutiny. He did not answer clearly, he became frustrated and flustered. He needs more preparation. Does this mean he would not be a good candidate? Well, that is for the people of North Abaco to decide.

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