By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PARLIAMENTARY Secretary Renward Wells yesterday said he will not resign from his post in the Ministry of Works.
Mr Wells spoke to The Tribune at the House of Assembly in response to reports that he was expected to tender his resignation during the parliamentary debate on proposed constitutional amendments.
He said he did not intend to resign. He refused to speak further on the matter.
When asked whether or not his stance was an about face on earlier statements published by The Nassau Guardian, Mr Wells said: “No, that was my interview with The Nassau Guardian. I will speak to it when my leader speaks to it.”
Mr Wells was expected to tender his resignation yesterday over his signing of an unauthorised letter of intent (LOI) for a $650 million waste-to-energy facility at the New Providence landfill, according to a well-placed source close to the matter.
It was said that the Bamboo Town MP would table the letter of intent in the House of Assembly and provide an explanation over the matter.
However, he again did not speak in the lower chamber, which was suspended until next week after Opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis requested additional time to consult with his party, constituents and the government.
Mr Wells’ unauthorised signing of an LOI with Stellar Waste-To-Energy Bahamas Ltd to build a waste-to-energy plant at the New Providence landfill was made public earlier this month.
The crux of the controversy is that with senior government officials denying that they gave Mr Wells, a junior, instructions to sign the LOI, Mr Wells breached Westminster protocols by signing the document.
Mr Wells told The Nassau Guardian that he was prepared to step down as parliamentary secretary in a bid to uphold the integrity of the Westminster system.
No official statements have been made by the prime minister on the issue. When questioned by reporters earlier this month, Mr Christie said his government would provide answers on the controversy when it is ready.
Yesterday, Mr Christie said: “I’m not going to speak at this stage about that.”
Comments
DillyTree 10 years, 3 months ago
If he won't resign, then Perry Christie needs to show some leadership and fire him. Immediately.
mangogirl01 10 years, 3 months ago
Yes, the PM should have fired him and Brave Davis from the get go!! This is too damn much now, every friggin week there is some sort of scandal with this inept government lead by a pathetic PM!! SMDT!!
mangogirl01 10 years, 3 months ago
You joking right! How can you compare HAI to PC?? During the 2007-2012 how many scandals came from the FNM govt.; they had some missteps but nothing compare to this inept government lead by PC!! Stop drinking the kool aid or should I say getting sprinkled by fairy dust!!
mangogirl01 10 years, 3 months ago
Lol, really. So why don't you list these so call scandal after scandal!! Are you one of the PLP supporters from the so call 'University of Wulff Road' cause that's how it sounds!! Are you mad because PC don't have the balls to control his peeps and you voted for them?? I recall the latest propaganda crap rag came out a few months ago from your PLP govt. who claimed to have accomplished so much since May 2012 but the only things they have accomplished is bringing scandal after scandal and shame to our lil country!! The kool aid mussie extra sweet eh, lol!!!
mangogirl01 10 years, 3 months ago
My, my, such passion but why are you dissing your party, the PLP?? I thought all PLP supporters were proud to be seen as one!! Child please, I'm not a brainwashed voter, yes, I support the FNM and admit that they were not perfect but nowhere can they touch the PLP with a ten-foot pole when it come too scandals!! Your passion for defending the PLP shows that you are one of them, I rest my case. Enjoy the rest of your day GeneralCrazy, it's all in the name ya know, lol!!!
mangogirl01 10 years, 3 months ago
The PLP creates their own scandals, they wrote the book on it!!
mangogirl01 10 years, 3 months ago
Wells has that sly Cheshire cat smile just like his boss, Brave Davis - don't trust either!!
bigbadbob 10 years, 3 months ago
plasma to gas waste conversion does not work all the test plants have been shut down , it produces dioxn and furans bith very deadly to humans , do some home work. .
MirkoKovats 10 years, 3 months ago
Yes, this is correct, we built 450 WtE plants globally, and Plasma is Vodoo, the few plants in Germany have been closed and dismantled, and the prototype plants are laboratory size and neet auxiliary fuel to operate, making the plasma gasification process absurd, inefficient, and moreover toxic. A normal WtE plant for NP burns 250000 - 300000t municipal waste per year, and provides 25 MW net electric energy and should cost max. US$ 300,0 m.turnkey, already including the "Bahama factor" when it comes to expensive civil works. WtE is proven since decates with hundreds plants in Europe, no Plasma Vodoo existing, Stellar should show their reference plant, why do they look for investors at their Homepage guaranteeing 50 % IRR(another Vodoo miracle) on $1,0 billion (no joke).This is grossly overpriced and will never work, fortunately it will never happen.
MirkoKovats 10 years, 3 months ago
Look at this: Stellar Energy's group company http://www.fabportfoliomanagement.com/p… Bahamas Waste to Energy project looking for investors, $1,4 billion (YES!) and 50 % IRR Internal Rate of Return. So, somebody will have to pay for this, The Bahamas? But, fortunately, this will never happen.....
Honestman 10 years, 3 months ago
The Tribune should know better than to have posted yesterday's headline stating that Wells was about to resign. I am surprised that such a professional newspaper would get caught out with that one! This is the PLP we are dealing with. Don't expect this administration and this Prime Minister to display even a modicum of leadership. In any first world country, Wells would either be forced to resign for exceeding his authority or the cabinet would come out and explain why it approved him placing his signature on the LOI. Neither has happened which speaks to the utter contempt this party has for the electorate. Bahamians deserve better than this.
realfreethinker 10 years, 3 months ago
I could not have said it better Honestman
TalRussell 10 years, 3 months ago
Comrades this is no longer just about the signing of a "Letter of Intent' $600 million of taxpayers monies above the pay scale of Bamboo Town's MP Renard. Thousands of Bahamalander's, residents and foreign investors are sitting back - watching as the Prime Minister of Bahamaland seems either unable, afraid or unwilling to respond to the media's constant reporting, over his Parliamentarian Secretary's and DPM outright refusal to even deny calls were made by the PM for Renard's resignation?
birdiestrachan 10 years, 3 months ago
The tribune also printed a report that Ms..Pindling had been sworn in as Governor General in a secret ceremony. on that Sunday, so they do that sort of thing. it is nothing new. I went by the church and I talked it.. I was ashamed they later took the story down. so what ever I Read. I do not talk it.
afficianado 10 years, 3 months ago
Mr. Christie is weak!!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 3 months ago
Our stupid PLP government have told Wells not to resign so that they can have a pretend legal fight with him as a means of eventually justifying the handsome golden parachute he has been told (by none other than Davis) he will be paid down the road at the expense of Bahamian taxpayers.
birdiestrachan 10 years, 3 months ago
Mr. Christie should do what ever he feels is the right thing to do, what ever he does will not please the FNM Party or those who follow. I do not know what Wells being fired will do for those who wish to see him fired. It will not put one single dollar in their pockets or make them any smarter than they are now. I say he has done nothing wrong and he will explain what happened , No one can take away his intelligence and his bright future in the Bahamas. I do believe the FNM party wish they had such a fine young man on their side. Mr.Christie remember the bridge to the future one of them is Wells. We are not about destroying people. We are about building people and by doing this we will build a better Country. Mr. Ingraham did not fire Zhivargo Laing when he wrote the letter to Customs about some drink..
thomas 10 years, 3 months ago
No Mr. Christie should do what the law says. We live by ...lol...forget it
242 10 years, 3 months ago
Wells admit himself that he broke westminster protocol and birdie strachan says he done nothing wrong despite him admitting guilt lol. If PLp take their brainwashing skills global they can conquer the world.
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