The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant said a recent revelation by Stellar Waste to Energy CEO Dr Fabrizio Zanaboni that MPs from both major parties have requested small contributions to aid their constituencies while his company had business before the government suggests “bribery” as he called for the Royal Bahamas Police Force to investigate the matter.

Speaking on a matter of privilege yesterday in the House of Assembly, Mr Grant said he found the comments “highly offensive” and demanded that Dr Zanaboni disclose the names of both Progressive Liberal Party and Free National Movement MPs who requested small contributions from him.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, in response, said he believed it was a matter that should be taken under the consideration of House Speaker Dr Kendal Major.

United Democratic Party Leader Greg Moss added that no one should be allowed to besmirch the character of the House of Assembly.

“These words seem to suggest that he has bribed Bahamian public officials and this action requires an investigation by the Royal Bahamas Police Force,” Mr Grant said as parliamentarians from both sides repeatedly hit their desks in affirmation.

“Dr Fabrizio Zanaboni should not be allowed to come in to this country and smear the good names of the honourable members of this honourable House of Assembly. He must be made to substantiate his claims.”

He added: “For the benefit of this House, my dear constituents, family members, friends, and Bahamians in general - I, Neko Carlson Grant I, member of Parliament for Central Grand Bahama, a member of this honourable House of Assembly for 23 consecutive years, the longest serving FNM MP in the party’s history do not know Dr Fabrizio Zanaboni, nor have I ever spoken to him in my life. I have never communicated in any way with him, so it is impossible for me to have requested a ‘very small’ contribution from him.

“It is unacceptable that a guest in this country, through his utterances seeks to tarnish the reputation of all MPs in this honourable House of Assembly. I demand that he disclose the names of all FNM and PLP members of Parliament that requested a ‘very small’ contribution from him.”

Following Mr Grant’s statement, Mr Christie stood to respond. He said the governing side agreed that the matter needed further attention.

He said: “Mr Speaker, I am not quite sure how we should address the matter of this kind but the sentiments expressed by the member for Central Grand Bahama it appears so in the circumstances it is a matter before the chair. It is a matter that I think the Speaker should take under advisement and move to make a determination on how this matter should be dealt with.

“But again your research will indicate how other parliaments dealt with similar circumstances where a member raised a point that was shared by other members. So this side will have no objections.”

Mr Moss has said if any member has participated in accepting what would be tantamount to bribes, those should be disclosed and ought to be dealt with quickly.

He applauded Mr Grant for bringing the matter before the House saying politicians cannot allow public comments that diminish the dignity of Parliament.

Last month, The Nassau Guardian reported that Dr Zanaboni claimed that members of Parliament from both sides asked for small contributions for events in their respective constituencies from his company.

However, he reportedly insisted that these contributions were not requested as a quid pro quo for his company’s proposal to construct a waste-to-energy project.