The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PLP MP Leslie Miller yesterday defended FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ integrity amid ongoing conflict of interest allegations about his company having a contract with the Public Hospitals Authority while he was the minister of health.

Mr Miller also said he did not understand claims that Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson violated Cabinet’s code of conduct after she revealed her husband Maxwell Gibson received leases to operate his jewellery store chain at the unopened Baha Mar resort. Mrs Maynard-Gibson has served as lead negotiator in talks in China to get the stalled resort back on track.

As a guest on 96.9 FM’s Let’s Talk Live, Mr Miller recalled the circumstances surrounding the renting of Dr Minnis’ building for the PHA’s use. The contract with the PHA and Stat Care was signed in 2005 and Dr Minnis entered politics in 2007.

“I was there when we gave Dr Minnis the lease for his building on Nassau Street. I was there,” Mr Miller explained. “It came about one day in Cabinet. The Ministry of Health said they needed some buildings. They said they needed one in the east and one in the western area. They went to General Hardware that had just closed down and they rented it.

“When we looked at the east and the west some of the guys were complaining (that) there is a building there that can be used however the building is owned by Dr Minnis who was not a member of Parliament at that time. So we go and we rent his place. The rent was supposed to be $15,000 – I was surprised that it was only $7,500, so he rented his building. He rented his building because the government had a need to rent his premises.”

He continued: “He is a Bahamian who is a good doctor (and) made some money, invested it in our country to create jobs, he built some condos, went into business with some of the other doctors. He is one of the doctors who did well, one who helps Bahamians every day of his life.

“He is then criticised that he should resign and this and that should happen (but) what did he (do that) was wrong? What was wrong with him renting the building to the government when the government had a need?”

Mr Miller had similar views regarding allegations that have landed Mrs Maynard-Gibson in the hot seat recently.

Two weeks ago, Mrs Maynard-Gibson revealed that contrary to her initial declaration that her two daughters, 28 and 30, had leases to operate stores in Baha Mar it was in fact her husband that owned the retail jewellery store chain which was granted storefront leases at the resort.

At the time she stressed that she had no interest or control of any business with a stake in the $3.5 billion resort. Dr Minnis has called for her resignation over the matter.

However, she also said she makes “no apologies” for her husband having a business venture with Baha Mar.

Mr Miller said he agreed with Mrs Maynard-Gibson.

“There is nothing wrong with a family member owning a business anywhere in the world. She is not involved in this entity (Baha Mar) herself. Her children have the right to earn a living and they have a right to create jobs in this country,” Mr Miller said.

Meanwhile, Mr Miller said he has filed his public disclosures while revealing that he currently has contracts with the government. He said those agreements were disclosed three years ago and he was given the permission of the House of Assembly for them to continue.

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts has accused Dr Minnis of conflict of interest and abuse of power, and also called for his resignation from Parliament over the contract controversy.

Dr Minnis’ company, Leechez Investments Ltd, was awarded a two-year contract with the PHA to rent its Stat Care building in 2005, before he entered politics. However, the arrangement was continued on a month-to-month basis while he served as minister of health from 2007-2012, and is continuing.

Dr Minnis has said he told the PHA to move its building after advice from former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, however the agency never did.

Dr Minnis did not declare the contract when he registered as a candidate in the 2007 general election, and has since claimed that it was unnecessary to do so at that time because his company was a separate entity.

He maintained that he declared his interests in the company after he was elected to office, and that the allegations were an attempt to besmirch his character.

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, now independent, has since said he was “lured” into making the claims by a senior PLP and regretted making the accusations.