The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

WORKS Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday said he was satisfied with the decision to fire his former Parliamentary Secretary Renward Wells over the multi-million dollar letter of intent controversy.

While Mr Davis did not confirm or deny whether Mr Wells was asked to resign by the prime minister before his dismissal, the deputy prime minister said the matter was unfortunate. He added that the Bamboo Town MP was “misguided not to have followed any advice”.

He told reporters outside the Cabinet Office that it was for Mr Wells to decide whether he will reveal the circumstances surrounding his reportedly unauthorised signature on a $650m letter of intent with a waste-to-energy company in July.

“I think he (Wells) has to explain that,” Mr Davis said.

“It’s up to him, I think having now been relieved of his duties it will be for him to speak to the circumstances under which he signed the letter of intent.”

Mr Davis added: “He played quite an integral role (in the Ministry of Works). He was involved in most of the things I was doing and he was effective as a parliamentary secretary with me, but he’s now gone.”

Mr Wells was fired from the post of parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works on Tuesday evening.

The news came in a brief statement from the Cabinet Office.

The statement did not include an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the letter of intent, in spite of a previous pledge from Prime Minister Perry Christie to have either himself or Mr Wells address the controversial signing of the LOI with Stellar Waste to Energy Management before the House of Assembly’s recess.

Yesterday, Mr Davis said the decision of whether to appoint a replacement for Mr Wells rests with Mr Christie.

When asked whether the firing will affect Mr Well’s relationship with the Progressive Liberal Party, Mr Davis said: “I would hope not, he just has to explain what happened. As I said before, what he did I would not have done, but I understand what he did.”

Mr Davis also shrugged off concerns that the debacle will negatively impact the perception of the Progressive Liberal Party.

“I would think not,” he said, “it’s just like you say that the world is cruel, but the world is never cruel, it’s the people in the world. So why would an individual’s conduct impact the party as a person’s behaviour impacts what you think about the world.”

Attempts to reach Mr Wells for comment were unsuccessful yesterday.

However on Tuesday, before the government released its statement, Mr Wells said he was happy to have served.

“I haven’t received the official letter from the prime minister as yet,” Mr Wells told The Tribune. “From my perspective, I would simply say that I thank the prime minister for the ability to serve.

“I have not seen the report about the letter of intent and I will have further statements in the future.”

He added: “If it is, as has been as reported (that I have been fired), I have a number of jobs. I am a parliamentary secretary, which is in the executive, and the other job, which is the most important, is being a Member of Parliament representing the views and values of the people of Bamboo Town. I have attempted to do the best I can for them. Now I have all of my time to devote myself to that.”