PM ‘will speak on LOI issue’

Prime Minister Perry Christie

As of Wednesday, October 22, 2014

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday said he has not spoken to Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells since he was fired as parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works last week.

Mr Christie admitted to The Tribune that by now he expected Mr Wells would have explained to the Bahamian people why he had signed a $650m letter of intent (LOI) with Stellar Waste Management in July.

Since no statement has come from Mr Wells, Mr Christie again said he would eventually speak on the matter. However, he gave no time frame as to when that would happen.

“I will get to it,” Mr Christie said yesterday. “I do understand my obligation to the public. I had anticipated that he was going to say something besides that if (Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre) Rollins goes he was going to go as well.

“He is a young Bahamian and I am giving him the opportunity to speak to this issue. If he doesn’t, obviously I will have to speak to it and I tried to explain that to him.”

Asked if his investigations were able to pinpoint why Mr Wells signed the LOI, Mr Christie responded: “Only he can explain that. Only Wells knows why.”

The signing of the LOI was reportedly unauthorised.

Works Minister Philip Davis and Minister of Environment Kenred Dorsett have both expressed surprise over the matter.

It has been reported that Mr Christie asked Mr Wells to resign over the LOI shortly after the matter was made public in July, but the Bamboo Town MP did not step down. However on Monday, Mr Wells was quoted as saying he would “go too” if the Progressive Liberal Party expels Dr Rollins, his friend, from the party.

Dr Rollins is in the midst of hearings before a PLP disciplinary committee which was formed to make recommendations about his future in the party.

The committee was convened after Dr Rollins made several controversial statements in the House of Assembly criticising the PLP and Mr Christie. The disciplinary committee was formed after Dr Rollins refused to apologise to Mr Christie for his remarks, as recommended by the party’s National General Council.

Former PLP Cabinet Minister George Smith this week shot down Mr Wells’ resignation threat saying that he did not have the political clout to “stand on a bully pulpit and talk tough”.

Mr Smith said the MP only managed to capture 39 per cent of the popular vote in his constituency in the 2012 general election, which did not signify strong support in his constituency.

Mr Wells told The Tribune yesterday that he did not want to comment on the matter.

More like this story

Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years ago

I hope for Renward Wells' sake that he is still holding on to the records of phone discussions, etc. that will enable him (and Rollins) to successfully torpedo whatever untruths Vomit and Brave may have cooked up to suit their mutual political interests.

Reality_Check 10 years ago

It seems an increasing number of more junior politicians and government employees are resorting to recording phone discussions on controversial matters that may leave them exposed to the possibility of being thrown under the bus by their superiors for the role they may have been asked to play (wittingly or unwittingly) in the wrongful wheeling and dealing of others well above their pay scale and political standing in government.

TalRussell 10 years ago

Comrade Prime Minister and his Cabinet Colleagues are are not only going out to destroy their young but are predisposed not to see ducking the truth over LOI as a problem, because ducking the people is what this PLP administration does best above all else. Comrades if they really thought something was wrong in way they have handled LOI, they wouldn't be as "united' at ducking the truth.

duppyVAT 10 years ago

Another 2 liner????????????

sangeej 10 years ago

This man words means nothing.

pastoraeb 10 years ago

Christie is the PM and the leader of country. He is the one that fired Wells. He needs to explain to the nation why. Wells dose not need to say a thing unless he wants to. The PM needs to stop hiding behind someone and give nation the reason why he took action. How much longer will he keep saying I will speak to the issue. Man up Christie.

Honestman 10 years ago

Wouldn't it be great if The Bahamas had a real Government with a real leader with real moral fibre? Wouldn't it be great if those elected into high office by the people actually served the people and accounted freely and openly to the people? Wouldn't it be great if PGC simply admitted that he is not up to the job, announced his retirement and called an early General Election?

duppyVAT 10 years ago

Agreed!!!!!!!!!!!!

TalRussell 10 years ago

And behold my Comrades this PM, DPM and PLP Cabinet will remain silent and unable to speak until the day when Jesus shall remove all stumbling blocks allowing the deaf hear the sounds of Junkanoo rushing beat , the blind to see the colours of the rainbow and the lame walk down Bay Street, before these PLP's ever speak to the LOI, right after they open they mouths about, how the 'regularizing numbers' did come about, why prosecute their younger MP's, sharing too close of an association our most controversial foreigner, and the alleged $10 million in missing hospital drugs. But in meantime the people are left like the deaf, cause this government will not change they mute ways, no time sooner than 2017.

Amen!

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