Christie: I decide on Wells future

As of Friday, August 8, 2014

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie said he has ordered an investigation with a view to extracting the details surrounding what prompted Ministry of Works Parliamentary Secretary Renward Wells to sign a letter of intent (LOI) with Stellar Waste Management to build a multi-million facility at the New Providence landfill.

The outcome of that probe, Mr Christie told reporters yesterday, will go “to the root of Mr Wells’ existence as a part of government.” However, the prime minister said in the meantime, Mr Wells can make his own decision on whether he will resign in view of the controversy.

Since it was revealed last month that Mr Wells, who is also the Bamboo Town MP, signed the LOI for the $650m waste-to-energy project there has been a wave of public criticisms over the government’s lack of action over concerns that he may have signed it without authorisation. However, Mr Christie insisted yesterday that he will not shirk his responsibility to make a final decision on the matter.

He added that the final say would only come after he is satisfied with the findings of the investigations.

“I have the responsibility of investigating it,” Mr Christie said, “and making a determination based on my own findings and what I would do because I am the prime minister and in my capacity I appointed Mr Wells.

“Mr Wells has the responsibility of determining whether in the meantime, what he has done, whether that is sufficient for him to want to step down. I think he has indicated no. But I think the point is you should know that at the end of the day I have the responsibility which I accept of being the final determinant on what happens with respect to this matter. I don’t run away from that obligation. I just want to be able to come to understand all that has taken place in its full meaning and then I will act one way or the other.

“I have to make the determination. I will make the determination and I will communicate that determination. I just want to be able to say at this point I have to make the determination as to whether that event in the scheme of my government goes to the root of Mr Wells’ existence as a part of government.”

When asked if the government was considering moving ahead with Stellar Waste Management to construct a waste-to-energy plant, Mr Christie said no deal with the company was before him.

He pointed to a statement from KPMG Bahamas which was recently released and which was published in The Nassau Guardian. In that article, executives of the firm said Stellar Waste Management was not approved to advance to the second phase of the energy reform process. The government, Mr Christie said, is being superintended by KPMG and a ministerial committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis.

It has been reported that after a detailed review of the company’s proposal, the government’s financial, technical advisors and the ministerial committee advised Stellar Waste on October 1, 2013 that they would have to exit the request for proposal phase prior to reaching the pricing stage.

While government officials have been tight-lipped on the controversy, both the Free National Movement and the Democratic National Alliance have called on the prime minister to give a full account on the matter.

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis has called on Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson to conduct a full legal analysis of the letter.

Last week Mr Wells told The Tribune that he will not step down.

jackflash 10 years, 4 months ago

Sounds like we need to get some foreign consultants to get to the bottom of this....

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago

"Probe"? All it takes is asking Renward who asked him to sign the letter and determining whether that person had authority to do so. We already know the answer to the second question. What a mess they've created for themselves, even Leslie can see through it.

jackflash 10 years, 4 months ago

Investigation process..

PM - Wells, come to my office.

PM - wells, did someone instruct you to sign the LOI?

Wells possible answers-

1) No one instructed me to sign it. I was acting on my own.

PMs answer - you did not have the authority - you are fired!

2) Wells says, PM, I was instructed by Joe Blow who is my senior.

PMs answer - Wells you are fired!

PM calls Joe Blow and says - Joe Blow - You are fired!

Done deal, now let's move on.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago

Yep. one more scenario, Wells refuses to say who told him to sign:

PM answer - Wells you are fired!

BDN 10 years, 4 months ago

So... If Perry is satisfied, he will act.. The alleged person who told him to sign the LOI will have the final say...

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago

What is "alleged" person has to carry out his own investigation into himself, could take years, would be difficult to determine which one of his multiple personalities did the deed

BDN 10 years, 4 months ago

Exactly! You know that as Prime Minister he has to do it, but as the Minister of Finance, he may not be able too.

ohdrap4 10 years, 4 months ago

the word 'determination' was repeated NINE times in this article, yet no determination was made.

Honestman 10 years, 4 months ago

What the heck???? Will someone please relieve the PM of his duties - he is clearly under severe stress and no longer able to communicate straight forward ideas.

realfreethinker 10 years, 4 months ago

That dye in his hair must be screwing with his brain cells No one can convince me the PM is playing with a full deck. If after 3 weeks of the shit hitting the fan and he don't have the details he ought to resign. This is utter bullshit coming out of his mouth

sansoucireader 10 years, 4 months ago

He likes to say "I" a lot.

TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago

PM Christie has been unable or unwilling to have risked a quick and clean mop-up of all things "Letter of Intent." Thousands of Comrades from all political stripes are gathering on street corners, restaurants and even church basements in Nassau Town, Freeport and all Family Islands, asking each other if, there is really a cover-up in play - why so, who did what?? Unfortunately, for the PM, the talk may have extended beyond the PM and is now questioning if, the PLP government will survive their mandate to 2017? The talk is quickly moving from the PM's office, DPM and their Parliamentary Secretary if, all three men may have done used up all their credibility with Bahamalander's, to be left to get to the bottom of the who, whom, why and where this "Letter of Intent" committing $600 million in hard-earned taxpayers monies originated? A urgent mop-up task has to be done by appointing a retired Justice of the Supreme Court - cause transparency is not even being pretended to be done by either of these three men's - who sure as hell are starting to looks be ducking something or another? But why the duck? Each day the PM is got's Bahamalander's wondering, how long can he really expect to be keeping up appearances, while acting likes all is well in the PM's high office with his DPM and Parliamentary Secretary? PM when even the Shanty Town residents are scratching they brows, you got's realize - things ain't looking-up for this PLP administration to run to 2017?

The_Oracle 10 years, 4 months ago

If one does no wrong, covers nothing up, avoids cronyism, keeps their hand out of the cookie jar, follows the rule of law and procedures and rules, one would have nothing to answer to! And much good would get done! A point obviously lost on the PLP from top to bottom!

sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago

The caption for this story tells the whole story about the state of party politics and democracy in this country............. even though Renward was elected to represent his constituency, he is bound to swear to the PM and the party machinery .......... there is no freedom/ democracy there.

Emac 10 years, 4 months ago

So here's a scenario: Let's say the PM did tell RW to sign the letter and after RW does as he is told this information is leaked and shite hits the fan. All of a sudden the PM's first reaction is to distance himself from the situation and ask RW to resign. The DPM knows that the PM did in fact authorize this transaction and insists that RM should not resign. Subsequently, the DPM sees this whole fiasco as a way to expose the PM while at the same time allowing him to take over the post that he so ardently seeks as PM. Well if that happens, then I would start singing the old set 'n' up song "Lay down my Bahamas, Lay down and take your rest. Lay your head now upon your Savior's breast... I love you ooh but Jesus love you da best. I bid ya good night, good night, good night"

hj 10 years, 4 months ago

It is obvious that PC has lost control of his cabinet and MP's,that is if he ever had any control in the first place. He is trying to save face and stall for time. Too little,too late. More and more MP's are openly defying him. I suppose this is why he constantly reminds everyone that he is PM. This situation has the potential of making the gambling referendum fiasco,look like a joke.

SP 10 years, 4 months ago

Best scenario.......Well's resigns and exposes all the corruption in this waste to energy deal followed by other well intentioned young politicians who also want to expose corruption by the corrupt old guard and are being frustrated in acting on behalf of constituents.

These guys should all meet with their constituents and get the green light to walk away from corruption and usual ongoing stupidity of the PLP and take their seats to another new party (not FNM)

henny 10 years, 4 months ago

If you are instructed by your boss or higher up authority to do something you are supposed to do it or you can be charged with insubordination. If you feel what you have been told to do is not what you feel is right then you act accordingly on the issue and let other higher ups know what happened.

sansoucireader 10 years, 4 months ago

"I decide". That's funny. How many decisions has he really made. I true LEADER makes decisions and let's the chips fall where they may. He's not even close.

BSObserver 10 years, 4 months ago

Ok, let's see how leadership requires accountability. Under his former administration PGC ordered then Director of Lands & Surveys to convey waterfront land in Little Exuma to his good friend and long time supporter. Remember now that land grants are the purview of Cabinet, not L&S.

Also the land is granted for tourist development, but is quickly flipped as a private home site to an American who builds a house, never lives in it and defaults on his mortgage. As a result the land and house become the property of a US bank that sells it to another foreigner.

The original grantee then turns around and buys prime commercial real estate in a major Nassau business district. This all involved funds in the half-million range.

It so happens that the Grantee is a family member of the Director of L&S, who was a strong FNM supporter. The story does not break however until HAI is PM. When the wicked deed is disclosed someone has to answer for it and the Director finds himself without a job by order of the FNM PM whom he has supported.

A true case of dammed if I do and dammed if I don't. Had the Director refused to sign for the transfer of land to the former PM's friend he would have been fired for insubordination. However the new PM knows that accountability is required and must fire his long time supporter.

So now, who is the real leader?

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