By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie remained defiant as he faced public criticism for his attempt to help Mr Ishmael Lightbourne, government’s VAT co-ordinator, with his financial problems.
Mr Christie said he will “not apologise” for his attempt to help Bahamians who were hurting. He was criticised for calling the bank to find out what he could do “as prime minister” to help Mr Lightbourne save his West Bay Street home.
Mr Christie told reporters yesterday that no one will ever stop him from doing what he has done for the last 40 years of his political career. That is, Mr Christie explained, intervening with bank managers and leaders on behalf of young professionals.
He said that during that time, he has had to speak with executives as far away as those headquartered in Toronto, Canada, for Bahamians needing assistance.
Mr Christie said he has not been in touch with the managing director of First Caribbean Bank since his first call last month to find out how he could help Mr Lightbourne with his financial difficulties.
Mr Lightbourne was seen with boxes, leaving his western New Providence residence on Wednesday after the bank had the locks on the doors changed. In addition to his banking problems he has failed to pay his real property taxes for the last decade.
“Forever, for the rest of my life,” Mr Christie said, “I will never compromise on my efforts to help people.
“Nobody will ever get me to apologise for it and nobody will ever get me to deviate from being able to help people. I never do it in a coercive manner. I do it on the basis of the outcome being in the best interest of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and any institution I am dealing with.
“I have for 40 years been making interventions with bank managers and leaders. Some of whom are headquartered in Toronto. We have a wonderful relationship. It has never been adversarial or coercive.
“Mr Lightbourne and I have no social relationship, none. I have not spoken to Mr Lightbourne since I made the intervention. He is somebody who I have learned to respect as a Christian person in this country, an educated person who has made a big mistake in his life. All of us do.”
When he spoke in Parliament last month, Mr Christie said his only regret when it came to Mr Lightbourne was that he “significantly” underpaid him compared to foreign consultants.
It has been said that Mr Lightbourne has made arrangements with the tax office to settle his liabilities within a reasonable time.
Comments
carlh57 10 years, 8 months ago
So, where does the line start out side your door for help Mr. PM? There are thousands of Bahamians needing some "help" from ya.....
Honeybun 10 years, 8 months ago
Someone please tell him to stop talking...just digging deeper and deeper
CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 8 months ago
lol...no boy let the man talk...LMAO
realfreethinker 10 years, 8 months ago
The more he talk the deeper he sink in the crap he spews out. Foot in throat disease
Honeybun 10 years, 8 months ago
I'm telling you. Does he have a PR person? If so they need to be fired!
Cobalt 10 years, 8 months ago
From where I'm standing... the more he talks, the more idiotic Bahamians vote for him.
GrassRoot 10 years, 8 months ago
We should ask Sacha Cohen to film a sequel to The Dictator in the Bahamas.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 8 months ago
All Perry has to do is fire the tax cheat man. Damn dude it aint that hard. Call him in, tell him he has embarrassed you and the country enough. Fire his ass....
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
Comrade PM it was the poor who had your back and made you PM again. PM you know I wanted you to defeat your former law partner in 2012 and I still want you to work toward bettering the daily struggles of the poor but why the contradictions? The truth is not one single colleague around you seems to care. Could be they are plotting their own leadership agendas. PM you never had watch your back with the poor but you sure as hell do with some of your most 'trusted' colleagues and strategy advisers. I tell it like it is PM.
Honestman 10 years, 8 months ago
The PM's ego won't allow him to admit that he made an error of judgment. This continual rationalizing of his mistake just diminishes him as a leader.
realfreethinker 10 years, 8 months ago
you are so right. had he dismissed him and apologize,this would have gone away long ago. Macho Macho Man
Bahamianpride 10 years, 8 months ago
People there is a way out of these llegalitie & PGC blunders. I Propose hiring a double, a man to pose as PGC until 2017, one who is smart, articulate & does not suffer any from delusional psychosis.. This should be a bipartisan matter for the sake of all Bahamians, Its cheaper to pay him to go away & retire to some secluded location, the country should consider this for us all.. In the main time someone please keep him away from the Mic..
Honeybun 10 years, 8 months ago
Hey sounds like a good idea...why didn't I think of that...kml
realfreethinker 10 years, 8 months ago
This is a super idea. I will chip in aa couple pennies and pay a little VAT to see that happen
GrassRoot 10 years, 8 months ago
only if we don't have to pay for TWO PM Residences.
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
What in hell happened after the voting ended Comrade PM? The PM's PLP party won the 2012 General Elections hands-down, by having two important factors weighted heavily to their favor. They turned out more poor boots at the polling stations than Hubert's regime and they attracted wealthy peoples and corporations monies to finance their every campaign need. Tis' obvious the monied influential have or are on course to being nicely reward but not the poor "forgotten" Comrades boots on the ground. The only thing they got from this PLP government is them holes in they boots, from all walk'in around they did for this PM and his House MP's. And, the PM and his House MP's know tis' all true, not a lie anywhere in what I just said.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 8 months ago
It is good to see that Tal has had a change of heart from blindly following the PLP rhetoric. I have observed a total transformation in your perspective in the past three months, Tal!!!!!!!!!!
You need to pass this view on to more blinded comrades.
242 10 years, 8 months ago
Until the music start playing again n she'll be moving like Bernie behind that yellow flag
banker 10 years, 8 months ago
You're wrong. Nygard got his stem cell clinic. He got his reclaimed land. All the gravy-sucking sycophants got their Obie contracks. Shane gittin more money to give to his relatives. Fweddie gits to travel the world. Picewell gets a job. The Potcake don't have to beat up the vimmins who give out the smelly shoes at Marios. Web shops be legal. Bank of The Bahamas be writing off bad loans to party faithful. It's a wonderful world and this is paradise. Doan fergit to cash in your 3% GDP growth and take it to the bank (but not BoB). Hallelujah, my brothers and sisters, we are saved.
JohnDoes 10 years, 8 months ago
I would say something, but I think I have said enough on previous articles in relation to this issue.
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
PM I speak to you with all the love in my heart on behalf of all Bahamalander's "Granny D's. I need not remind you, even before Hubert was forced by he remaining constitutional days left in office to rung the 2012 General Elections bell, there was no love lost between me and many of your PLP candidates. PM, my question to you is, how could you have forgotten all the thousands of "Granny D's" across Bahamaland who were ready to walk even more miles in their worn and tattered boots, all with but one purpose in mind, to make damn sure Hubert was sent packing back to Cooper's Town. PM, many them "Granny D's" never would have put another hole in their boots for lots your PLP candidates, if they had ran for a seat to the House without your endorsement. The "Granny D's" would have done to them like Bamboo Town did to Comrade Bran, when he ran without he Papa's endorsement. They are not about having the PM call-up special people to avoid their obligations. PM all they ask is to give their children and grandchildren a fair shot at decent paying paychecks. To live in a Bahamaland where they can go to the store without the criminals robbing them of their grocery monies. PM do you get what I am saying?
Granny D. Goes To Washington (Bullfrog Films clip)
.......///http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6yv5uapBIo
realfreethinker 10 years, 8 months ago
Tal Russell you are gropung in the dark my brudder. All that you are saying may be wise counsel ,but alas it falls on deaf ear
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 8 months ago
as far away as Toronto Canada?...sounds like the bank needs to reevaluate their risk model. Any politically affiliated person should be charged triple interest on all loans to insure against "Default by the PM of the day"
an educated person who has made a big mistake in his life. All of us do.” Yes, and every educated person knows that when you make a mistake you pay for it in currency akin to the severity of the mistake.
CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 8 months ago
"PEP" POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSON are considered "high Risk" in any Risk assessment....but what do I know...
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 8 months ago
You know about PEPs! In the Bahamas we have Super Duper PEPs
The_Oracle 10 years, 8 months ago
“I have for 40 years been making interventions with bank managers and leaders. Some of whom are headquartered in Toronto. We have a wonderful relationship. It has never been adversarial or coercive."
Hmmm, about the same period of time the country has been going down the toilet..... Indicates they define the job as license to meddle everywhere.
John 10 years, 8 months ago
THE VULTURES ARE CiRICLING OVERHEAD and they are hungry. Can't wait for a Bahamian casualty to occur before they swoop down and start tearing at the flesh...flesh not yet dead. Usually when things get tough citizens rally around each other and lend their support to each other. O but not in the Bahamas..everyone is hungry for a pound of flesh from nearest the heart. And the same persons who are crying for mortgage relief are some of the same who lash out at the PM for rendering assistance to his friend..albeit short lived. Is there something in the wind that is causing people to claw at the government with such ferocity? Everyone seems to want to deliver that deadly and fatal blow. Well around the middle of 2013 I predicted that if this economy starts to turn around by June 2014 (this year) and Bah Mar is open in December and becomes successful, and the government does its part to stimulate the economy further and create additional jobs, regulate the de facto web shops and tax them, this country can experience full or near full employment by the middle of next year. If they can hold the economy steady, and pay down the national debt over the period 2015 thru 2016, there will be funds available to spend on capital developments in 2017 and grow the economy even more. Then it will be almost impossible for the PLP to lose that election. Once Bahamians are making money they forget the past and don't want things to change.
GrassRoot 10 years, 8 months ago
you seem like a good person and I hope that all your wishes come true.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 8 months ago
Your premise is correct, if people are happy, are able to supply their basic needs there is less complaining. Unfortunately this government seems to think the recipe to happiness is in more holidays and national festivals...party till 2017. Hmmm have to reread the S&P article on a possible second downgrade...seems more than a few grumbling Bahamians are losing confidence
GrassRoot 10 years, 8 months ago
everybody can keep their houses, just chase all the banks away. problem solved.
John 10 years, 8 months ago
The real reason for the economic problems we face:
"It is a unique endowment. There are similar aragonite drifts scattered here and there in the warm shallows of the world, but nowhere as abundantly as in the Bahamas. In exchange for royalties, the Dillingham Corporation has exclusive rights in four Bahamian areas totaling 8,235 square miles. In these areas there are about four billion cubic yards—roughly 7.5 billion long tons—of aragonite. At rock-bottom price the whole deposit is worth more than $15 billion. An experienced dredging company like Dillingham should be able to suck up 10 million tons a year, which will net the Bahamian government an annual royalty of about $600,000.
SP 10 years, 8 months ago
Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham both will be seeking asylum in Canada or the U.K. after we get rid of the PLP & FNM and hold commission of inquiries into several matters.
Please don't ask "who we ga put there"......We cannot continue to rely on proven failures.
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
Comrade SP while I want to believe both PM's are honest men, there is no doubt both have have played-out some bad politics. I am willing to take a closer look at Comrade Business owner Allan Bain, 37, the leader of Democrats Party, or any other man or woman will step forward to serve Bahamaland.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 8 months ago
Allan Bain cannot be serious...who announces they are throwing their hat into the ring by telling you who they related to?
Greentea 10 years, 8 months ago
The PM suffers from verbal diarrhea. His intervention on behalf of Lightbourne was wrong the more he talks, the dumber he sounds. Is it possible to put out a cease and desist order against that mouth? What is perhaps even worse is that if the good accountant was in fact seen packing his boxes in recent days as this article seems to indicate, it meant that the PMs intervention was meaningless. He has zero power here. The emperor has no clothes.
SP 10 years, 8 months ago
Fearless bold leader and champion of the people.....
Or...
Another proven true JACKASS in a suit and tie?
sheeprunner12 10 years, 8 months ago
SP & Friends
This is the price you pay for being a citizen of a small black banana republic.......... despite the political rhetoric. At least SLOP/HAI recognized it and tried to deal with its realities......... Perry is too delusional, arrogant and small-minded ............ thats why we are here now
242 10 years, 8 months ago
Say he had to speak with people as far away as Toronto Canada. That's one phone call one email one skype convo. It's 2014 it ain't that far. Perry act like he speaking to children "Listen boys and girl, had to speak to people as farrrrrrrrrrr away as Toronto Canada".
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
What, where, is that "alliance" Bran assembled at Cable Beach to great fanfare? "Alliance" with whom? Comrade ThisIsOurs, leader Allan Bain is smart to have avoided the lavish media spotlight Cable Beach launch of the DNA. The many Comrades who were present when Bran launched "his tailored made political "alliance" all but abandoned Bran and his Greens.. Even the Tribune have lost all hope of finding "DNA launch" survivors, willing to sit down be interviewed to tell their personal stories of, what went wrong with Bran and "his" much promised "alliance?"
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 8 months ago
Preparing a plan says nothing about whether you can actually execute it (a la Manifesto 2012). However, not coming up with any plan at all speaks volumes in and of itself
SP 10 years, 8 months ago
Politicians are being found guilty of corruption and treason all over the world. It is only a matter of time before the PLP and FNM run out of what little rope they have left.
Lets see that penguin shuffle and hear one man band tunes from behind bars!
http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/calif…
John 10 years, 8 months ago
Most majority Black nations around the world that are rich in natural resources are riddled with corruption, are led by dictators who hoard the wealth to share with a chosen few, foreigners even, while the natives struggle to make ends meet,engage in wars with each other or are otherwise distracted. NATiONS that share their natural wealth among their citizenry have amongst the best standard of living, long life expectancy, a culture of generosity and are among the happiest and most crime free people in the world
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