FNM leader Hubert Minnis
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday declared that his party will not rest until Renward Wells, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works, is removed from his post.
He said the government would be “sorely mistaken” if it expected to use its parliamentary majority to stifle debate over Mr Wells’ alleged unauthorised signing of a letter of intent (LOI) with Stellar Waste-To-Energy Bahamas Ltd to build a $650m waste-to-energy plant at the New Providence landfill.
Dr Minnis ramped up criticisms over Prime Minister Perry Christie’s handling of the controversy, which he said aligns with the US’ critical review of the government’s handling of contracts as noted in its 2014 Investment Climate Report on the Bahamas.
He charged that Mr Wells’ alleged unauthorised signing of the LOI directly infringed upon the portfolio of Minister of Environment Kenred Dorsett and indicated a conflict over the use of the city dump between the two government ministries.
“If this Prime Minister was worth his salt, he would have fired Wells within an hour of Wells’ refusal to resign,” Dr Minnis said at a press conference at the Free National Movement party headquarters. “The fact that he did not fire Wells raises more questions - what did the Prime Minister know and when did he know it?”
Dr Minnis said: “More than half a billion dollars to invest is an awful lot of money to be touted by an investor who has obtained some obviously spurious permission, evinced by something called a letter of intent, in such shady and obscure circumstances. Bahamians will connect the dots.
“The Prime Minister must do his duty, if Renward Wells will not. The Prime Minister must fire Wells and fully explain this sordid situation to Bahamians.”
The controversy has fuelled speculation over whether or not the Bamboo Town MP acted independently.
Dr Minnis pointed to the recent deal struck with Renew Bahamas to set up a waste recycling facility at the city dump and the stated conflict with Stellar Waste, who announced that they planned to move ahead with plans outlined in the LOI.
Dr Minnis said: “There must be a full and frank disclosure of all the circumstances and facts which led to this apparent and embarrassing conflict between two ministries of the same government, between a parliamentary secretary and two ministers of the same government and between two foreign investors doing business with the same government.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis and Mr Dorsett have both reportedly expressed surprise that Mr Wells signed the LOI.
It was reported by The Nassau Guardian that Mr Christie had asked Mr Wells to resign; however, no official statements have been made by the Prime Minister on the issue. When questioned by reporters, Mr Christie said that his government would provide answers on the controversy in due course. Mr Davis told reporters that before anything happens, he would seek an explanation from Mr Wells to determine whether he did anything wrong.
According to the Manual of Cabinet Procedure, a parliamentary secretary can be assigned to deal with matters on the behalf of their minister.
Dr Minnis argued that the rules of governance were violated with the signing of the LOI.
“The only question is whether Renward Wells acted alone or whether he was given instructions to act and, if so, by whom?
“The [US] report made it clear that allegations of double standards in the government’s dealing with potential investors gave the distinct impression that the processes had been contaminated by corruption and that the taint of corruption appears to go all the way to the highest level of government,” he said.
“In the event that the government, as it has done all too often in the past, thinks that they can use their parliamentary majority to crush and to stifle debate and full disclosure on this embarrassing instance of lack of transparency, government interference, and conflicts of interest, then they are sorely mistaken.”
In response to speculation over whether the Public Accounts Committee could effectively investigate the issue, Dr Minnis said the body was “working”. He said the opposition would aggressively pursue this matter in parliament and call for an “Opposition Day” to ask questions.
Dr Minnis tabled a list of questions on the issue for Mr Davis in the House of Assembly on July 16.
Comments
sheeprunner12 10 years, 3 months ago
Renward Wells is small fish ..................... ALL of the front row Cabinet members need to be removed immediately ..................... an general election be called .......... and the people vote in a new government ................. we need a brand new political culture in Parliament
Honestman 10 years, 3 months ago
I agree with Sheeprunner that we need a "brand new political culture in cabinet". Unfortunately, this won't happen until we have an effective Freedom of Information Act in place. This administration has absolutely no interest in introducing such an Act for obvious reasons.
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 3 months ago
Dimwit Minnis is too easily distracted and the PLP know it. He cannot for the life of himself stay focused on the much more important things like the impending devastating economic consequences from the PLP's introduction of a VAT, and the PLP's foolishness in ignoring the wishes of the people (as expressed in a duly held referendum paid for by the people) by seeking to legalize the illegal activities of the nefarious racketeering numbers' bosses rather than enforcing existing laws like the Proceeds of Crime Act. It almost seems as if Minnis is in complete agreement with the PLP on these much more important matters and therefore has decided to remain silent for the most part about them. No matter what Minnis says or may think, he has yet to clearly state to the public his definitive position on these two vitally important issues of the day.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 3 months ago
Agreed ........... Minnis needs to begin speaking from a more "big picture" perspective ........... he is goosied too easily by small issues. He needs to concentrate on VAT, webshops, crime, education and job creation ... then deal with national economic development, national security/immigration and public sector reform ........... he has to develop a PM leadership image. If he cannot do that.......... step aside and let someone else run the FNM ................. our country's future is on the brink of disaster
SP 10 years, 3 months ago
When the little dumb naked emperor Hubert Ingraham gave BTC away without any out clause or performance clause or going to tender and gave away $300M to Latin road builders instead of to Bahamians as advised by the IDB, Dr Hubert Minnis was complicate, had nothing to say all he did was "rest".
Now Wells signs one letter that cost the country not one red cent.....Suddenly Minnis get's insomnia?
STFU Dr. Minnis.....Your FNM Cabinet history denies you any credibility now!
sheeprunner12 10 years, 3 months ago
SP............the word is "complicit" .............. think about the genesis of the BTC deal (Bluewaters) and the roadworks deal (IMF) then judge HAI and the FNM Cabinet ..................... HAM was a rookie MP/Cabinet member. And he is not even half the political animal that HAI was ............ or is.
moncurcool 10 years, 3 months ago
WIth VAT about to kill us Minnis has time to waste on Renward Wells resignation? He need to be holding the government feet to the fire over VAT. Please Minnis, I trying to pull for you but you need to get real. You clearly out of touch.
justthefactsplease 10 years, 3 months ago
Is he "not going to rest" the same way he was "not going to rest" until they got answers for the nolle prosequi? That has been very effective ... all the concerns have been addressed on that front. HA!!!! I am tired of this joke.
TalRussell 10 years, 3 months ago
Likes or despise them reds matters not, the nation needs a strong opposition to keep this government straight. Comrades it's no laughing matter when the official opposition party displays open signs of weakness. But as a sympathetic blogger I do understand when the internal repression of Minnis by his own party executives can only go to a certain point before it starts to affect it's leader's ability to stay the course against this PLP government. If they keep turning their political guns on their leader and not the government, may I ask in all sincerity, what's the purpose of the people tolerating your party any further as Her Majesty's government-in-waiting? Loretta and Daron, if say Abaco's Edison resigns or the Bamboo Town House of Assembly seat becomes vacant over the next weeks, can you really mount a winnable campaign? You sure as hell have to all be figuring Comrade Bran into the Bamboo Town eq-ua-tion. and, of course there's always the possibility of Abaco's Roscoe to get by, should a by election be called?
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
Anyone read the Miami Herald Brave Davis story? What does fiduciary responsibility mean again?
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
Generalcrazy u crazy:) read the article
birdiestrachan 10 years, 3 months ago
I am happy to hear Doctor Minnis and the FNM will not rest until their desire to destroy a young Bahamian man is complete, We remember the Cubans at the detention center. They could have no rest ,Minnis wants to appear as the big man. He said he would have fired wells right away. Minnis a leader needs more than that, Try wisdom and understanding ,what one should say and not say. Firing people any fool can do that. .
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
Firing people is never an easy thing, unless you're a dictator. It takes real backbone to hold someone that you have respect for and may actually like, accountable for their actions. Weak leaders allow problems to fester.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
I've never heard a good leader say firing someone was easy. Is it a necessary AND sufficient condition to be a good leader no, but a good leader does it when required. People who don't are never good leaders
akbar 10 years, 3 months ago
My question is replace the political culture with what? Politics no matter where you go is flawed.We need a renewing of the minds and change our entire way of thinking. I had a chance to see Renward Wells in action some time ago in a US city airport praising the benefits of coal fired power plants (really!). Apparently from what I gathered him and a former FNM MP and some other persons had just come of a fact finding from another country and he was proud as peacock! The leader of this administration has been letting all his MPs do whatever they see fit and now the chickens have come home to roost. Mr. Minnis on the other hand is simply avoiding the topics of VAT , gambling etc. because PGC is just continuing the policies of HAI. At least he smart enough to know not to be hypocritical just for politics sake. In our terms 'he een saying nothing, cause he can't say nothing.'
akbar 10 years, 3 months ago
Wow when will it stop!Take a read it more local than you think.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/27/4…
akbar 10 years, 3 months ago
Three years after a tsunami disaster and Japan is on its way in revamping its energy sector. Have a look.
http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/su…
Yet we have an 'accounting firm' leading our energy sector reform, no direction in putting legislation in place to accommodate the de-monopolization of our energy sector and every Tom,Dick and Harry trying to sell us pipe dreams over alternative energy.
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