FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
DOCUMENTS released yesterday by PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts purportedly showing that FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis did not declare his government contract when he registered as a candidate in the 2007 general election.
However, Dr Minnis yesterday explained that such a disclosure was not necessary for the candidate nomination process in this instance because his company, Leechez Investments Ltd – which holds the controversial lease agreement with the Public Hospitals Authority – was a separate legal entity.
The documents from the Killarney MP’s nomination form were made public by Mr Roberts days after he threatened to make good on his accusations that Dr Minnis was guilty of conflict of interest and “abuse of office” while he was a Cabinet minister.
In the purported letter to Parliamentary Registrar Errol Bethel, Dr Minnis certified that he did not have a contract with the government – other than agreements for the supply of utilities from government corporations for electricity, telephone and water.
The letter was dated April 12, 2007. The general election was in May 2007.
“I had just entered politics and I followed the guidelines that I was advised to follow,” Dr Minnis told The Tribune when contacted last night.
“I pointed out that in my personal capacity, I did not have any contract with the government – a company is a separate legal entity. It is completely separate, so the information on my form is completely correct. You can check the Bahamas Companies Act.”
“My disclosures are in,” he said, “they could review my file. All of my income listed was all-inclusive and this is nothing more than my detractors far and wide seeking to besmirch my character, and use this as a plank to negatively effect my leadership in the FNM.”
“The PLP realises that the FNM will win the election under my leadership and that they can’t beat me at the polls so they are trying to beat me by assassinating my character. The real issue is Allyson Maynard-Gibson,” he added.
The conflict of interest allegations against Dr Minnis were first raised in 2013 by then PLP Ft Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins in the House of Assembly.
Dr Rollins said Dr Minnis, when he was in office, was advised by then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to end the contract in question. However, Dr Rollins accused Dr Minnis of seeking to “cover it up.”
Dr Minnis has always maintained he went through the appropriate disclosure process.
Dr Rollins, now an independent MP, has recently said he was “lured” into making the claims by a senior member of the PLP and that he regrets the actions, which served as an embarrassment to him.
The allegations resurfaced this month when Mr Roberts pointed out that the FNM leader was a hypocrite for his accusations against Mrs Maynard-Gibson, the attorney general, for her family’s ties to Baha Mar.
Dr Minnis has called for Mrs Maynard-Gibson’s resignation due to “overt” conflict of interest with Baha Mar.
Leechez Investments was awarded a two-year contract with the PHA to lease its Stat Care building in 2005. The contract continued during Dr Minnis’ tenure as minister of health, and is still ongoing.
The Killarney MP has said that he disclosed the contract when he was elected in 2007, and that he was advised by the former prime minister to cancel the contract. However, Dr Minnis told The Nassau Guardian on Wednesday that the PHA did not heed this directive, and continued to rent the facility on a month-to-month basis.
In a press statement yesterday, Mr Roberts insisted that the 2007 nomination form showed that Dr Minnis withheld information while “under oath” by declaring on the form that he had no government contracts other than utility arrangements.
Mr Roberts said: “For five consecutive years the PHA ignored Dr Minnis’ directive to relocate to another premises. Does Dr Minnis expect any reasonable person to believe such a claim?
“Dr Minnis stands condemned,” Mr Roberts added.
Last night, Dr Minnis brushed off Mr Roberts’ condemnation as an attempt to mislead the media and called for a thorough review of all politicians.
“I did what is done by all politicians, check his (Mr Roberts) own, check Allyson’s own, check what they said, they would have said the same thing.
“Tell Mr Roberts to come again,” Dr Minnis added, “he’s still a dinosaur.”
Comments
TalRussell 9 years, 4 months ago
Comrade red shirts, finally the Tribune is being forced to start asking the red party's leader some serious questions - not just tossing him friendly media soft balls. It would appears Minnis is not as at ease when it comes to answering penetrating questions - and the PM hasn't even rung the 2017 General bell.
The PM turned 72 but he can still eat a Minnis leadership kinds, for his 5:00 am breakfast. True, Papa Hubert who back in 2012 controlled runging of General's bell was hard on the prime ministerial stomach swallow - but not too tough on he teeth chew into minced met.
shortpants 9 years, 4 months ago
Tal sorry but the ole dinosaur fighting to hard he done extinct .So as the saying goes MISERY loves company and that's what the ole dinosaur is looking for .The PM turned 72 but is as useless as the dinosaur. The only hypocrite in this whole affair is the ole dinosaur being used like a old underwear. Get gone the PLP is done washed up bunch of crooks ask Gomez,
TalRussell 9 years, 4 months ago
Comrade Shortpants, seems misery also invites the old PLP dinosaur Pot cake, who just minutes ago criticized all who are asking his good friend Minnis, questions over his having collected some six-hundred thousand dollars in rental, collectively from both the PLP and red governments. But then again, Pot cake might if he follows his practice - apologize in 72 hours to the PM, for supporting Minnis
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 4 months ago
Dr Minnis' answer left much to be desired. The spirit of REAL disclosure, the disclosure that was meant by the framers to prevent cabinet ministers from sucking up all the profits for themselves does not hide behind legal ramblings.
Roberts is disgraceful. And that awful cackle he has, as someone said, while uneducated young decayed men, who believed they were out of options, lay shot to death in the street. He claims to have disclosed but how many businesses did he open specifically to take advantage of some opportunity in his ministry not advertised in an open manner to the public?
Who has the garbage trucks contract? And when did they start that business? Who did they take the contract away from? Saying "I want dat, so gee it to me, all for me" is NOT disclosure
Wideawake 9 years, 4 months ago
Oh! Please!! .....Not the old, " it isn't mine, it is my company's" trick!!! Exactly who do you think you are kidding!
No amount of B/S can cover up the fundamental truth that while you were the Hon. Minister of Health, you benefitted financially from a contract between the Ministry of Health and Stat Care, and, it seems, still enjoy the revenue stream from that lease agreement, whether, year to year, month to month or day to day!! That is still revenue that you receive. It doesn't matter whether the money goes directly to you or into a company that you own! YOU still get the revenue and benefit personally from the arrangement!!
The voters in The Bahamas are sick and tired of corruption, backhanders, conflict of interest, bribery, insider deals, and cronyism, and we want a Political Party that stands tall against CORRUPTION of every kind!
To lead the FNM to victory, you must be Mr. Squeaky Clean! Honesty and integrity WILL get you elected, but you and the FNM must be ALTOGETHER different from the corruption riddled PLP.
Being " somewhat less corrupt than the PLP ", will NOT earn you MY vote!!!!
Wideawake 9 years, 4 months ago
Everyone who is at all interested in Bahamian politics knows that Hubert "Minimus" Minnis's leadership skills cannot be compared to those of Hubert "Maximus" Ingraham!!
When it comes to inspirational speaking and a capacity to rouse a crowd, "Maximus" is a star, whereas "Minimus" is dismal.
To add to his well documented lack of personality and charisma, Minnis's credibility is now being severely challenged by accusations of a conflict of interest regarding Stat Care and the Ministry of Health. These accusations seem to be valid and will not go away anytime soon.
Minnis should show us that he is a Statesman and not a mere politician, and set an example to other members of the HOA, by resigning from the post of Leader of the Opposition. He must then agree to a Party Convention, and, perhaps, offer his services for the post of Chairman of the FNM where his leadership capability, organizational and networking skills, could be put to good use.
The FNM must elect a new leader whose morals and ethics are above reproach and who has the charisma and style that Minnis lacks. In the run-up to the next election, which may well be called in early 2016, the FNM must run on an anti-corruption platform and exclude any candidates whose character is known to be shaky.
If Minnis does the right thing and resigns, the FNM can then declare OPEN SEASON on any PLP Minister, member of the HOA or election candidate who is suspected of corruption, cronyism or conflict of interest, and the FNM would, almost certainly, be swept into power with a more than comfortable majority.
As soon as they have formed the next Bahamas Government, they must then work swiftly to rehabilitate the worldwide reputation of The Bahamas by establishing a Commission of Enquiry into the Baha Mar debacle and the passing of new legislation such as the FOI Act, a new Prevention of Corruption Act, update the laws regulating declarations of members of the HOA etc.
As bleak as our future looks now, with a change of government, our economy would swiftly rebound, as many travelers and investors from all over the World love The Bahamas, and would once again support our wonderful country by investing in our economy.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 4 months ago
Anyway. The attorney general needs to be replaced. Nolle prosequi was the end of it. Rubis was the end of it. Alfred Gray was the end of it. BEC bribe taker was the end if it. Bahamar conflict of interest was the end of it. Exactly what "this is the last one" scandal can we expect next from the minister?
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