The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney has urged Prime Minister Perry Christie to break his silence on the concerns of conflict of interest regarding Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson and Baha Mar.

Mrs Maynard-Gibson has been at the centre of controversy since she said last week that her two daughters have leases to operate stores at the stalled resort. This week, she revealed it is her husband, Maxwell Gibson, who owns the jewellery store chain that has received those leases.

Mrs Maynard-Gibson has served as the government’s lead negotiator in Baha Mar discussions in China as interested parties seek to come to an agreement to get the property back on track.

She has denied that her family’s business puts her in a conflict of interest and has said Mr Christie was aware of the connection.

She has stressed that she has no interest or ownership in any company doing business with the resort.

Mr McCartney argued that in the wake of widespread public debate on the perceived conflict of interest there has been one voice “notably absent” – Mr Christie’s.

In a statement, he suggested that the full blame for this “latest affront to our country’s parliamentary system of governance” should be laid at the feet of Mr Christie, accusing the veteran politician of being “arrogant and dismissive.”

In addition, he demanded that the prime minister “state publicly and definitively,” if any other members of his Cabinet have a similar connection to the stalled development.

According to the former Bamboo Town MP, Mr Christie’s failure to effectively manage the actions of those in his Cabinet is indicative of a wider failure to effectively govern altogether.

Mr McCartney indicated that Mrs Maynard-Gibson, in her post as attorney general, is responsible for reviewing and advising the government on issues with potential investors, including the signing of heads of agreements.

He implied that in that capacity, Mrs Maynard-Gibson would be involved in key aspects of deals – at times approving and disapproving investments.

However, he said: “Mrs Maynard-Gibson is only partially at fault for the current media spectacle. For what seems like the umpteenth time, Mr Christie seems to have checked out.

“After being made aware of Mrs Maynard-Gibson’s family ties to the now stalled development, it was, and is the responsibility of the prime minister to ensure that such conflicts are not allowed to exist.

“By allowing the attorney general to lead the Baha Mar negotiations, the prime minister not only facilitates the conflict but is also tacitly complicit in the flouting of the country’s laws on Public Disclosure.”

The Act states that the in addition to themselves, the assets, income and liabilities of Members of Parliament’s spouses and children are to be disclosed annually.

In addition to that, Mr McCartney said the Act also states that any property being held by a Member of Parliament, their spouse or their children in trust should be indicated publicly.

Baha Mar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a US court on June 29, blaming its general contractor China Construction America (CCA) Bahamas for its numerous opening delays.