The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie’s bid to assist embattled tax consultant Ishmael Lightbourne has not threatened the integrity of the banking industry, according to RBC Bahamas managing director Nathaniel Beneby.

Mr Beneby, who has oversight of Royal Bank of Canada Bahamas, Cayman and Turks & Caicos Islands, said he felt controversy over Mr Christie’s intervention was politically motivated, adding that his own bank was governed by local and international regulators.

“The prime minister doesn’t make policy or change policy for banks, etc.  We have our standards, we have policy guidelines, we are part of a global bank with international best practices and we don’t compromise policies,” Mr Beneby said. “I would say once he intervenes and makes the request then it’s up to the individual bank to say what they can do from what they can’t do. So in my opinion with him acknowledging that a request was made by a Bahamian and he’s responded, I think it’s a normal thing.” 

“I think,” he added, “a lot of that was politicised a lot but that’s neither here nor there. Fundamentally a citizen asked him for help, he endeavoured to help as best he could and the matter is finished with.”

Last month, Mr Christie revealed that after learning about Mr Lightbourne’s financial situation, he called the managing director of First Caribbean Bank and asked her what he “as Prime Minister” could do “to stop (Mr Lightbourne) from being put out of his house today?”

In response, critics and opposition members condemned his intervention as an inappropriate “abuse of power”, one that has not been done by him to help other Bahamians who also face home repossession for non payment.

Last week, Prime Minister Perry Christie said he would “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 added that he had not been in touch with the First Caribbean since his first call last month to find out how he could help Mr Lightbourne with his financial difficulties.

Mr Christie told reporters that during his political career, he has had to speak with executives as far away as those headquartered in Toronto, Canada, for Bahamians needing assistance.

Yesterday, Mr Beneby said: “He is the prime minister for all the people, all Bahamians. It seems to me that if a Bahamian has a difficulty and they want to reach out to the Prime Minister that seems reasonable, and with the Ishmael Lightbourne matter that seems to be the case. He reached out to the prime minister and the prime minister endeavoured to help. 

He added: “I really don’t have a comment on that and it’s just different opinions, but I can tell you that banks have policy guidelines procedures to follow and we don’t compromise those, and so he was just acting in his capacity as prime minister responding to a request by a citizen of the country and he is the prime minister for everybody.

“Anyone can call him anytime and he can call anyone.”