By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
POLICE are not currently investigating the alleged bribing of a Bahamian official in connection with Bahamas Electricity Corporation contracts awarded nearly 15 years ago, The Tribune understands.
When contacted yesterday, a top ranking police official confirmed that the police have not been asked to look into the matter.
The official was contacted by The Tribune after a former top government lawyer, who did not want to be named, noted that if criminal wrongdoing is suspected in any matter, the police, as the government’s investigative arm, should be brought in to investigate.
Subsequently, the attorney noted, the matter should be turned over to the Attorney General’s Office, where a decision would be made about how to proceed.
The attorney emphasised that agreements exist between the government and the US that would ensure that certain documents related to criminal matters are exchanged in a reasonable time.
The US Justice Department reported last month that French power company Alstom agreed to pay $772m to resolve allegations that it bribed high-ranking foreign government officials for lucrative projects.
It was claimed that Alstom falsified records, ultimately paying millions in bribes for help in obtaining more than $4 billion in projects, including the Bahamas.
It was said that a Bahamian official was paid more than $300,000 to help secure a BEC contract for Alstom.
The bribe was made between 1999 and 2001, during the time of the former Ingraham administration.
J Barrie Farrington, who was BEC board chairman at the time of the controversy, has called on the government to establish an independent commission to investigate the claims.
Responding last week, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he does not know if the government will establish an independent commission, but noted that the matter is being handled by the Attorney General’s Office.
Comments
GrassRoot 9 years, 11 months ago
Seems to me that Bahamas is one of the few places left on the planet, other than North Korea, China etc. where the police only gets active when a political decision to probe or not to probe is being made. Corruption is an offense ex officio, no one really has to call the police to say "do it". But the reaction of the police shows how far the web of corruption in this country reaches. We have all he laws we need to put an end to corruption. so just do it.
asiseeit 9 years, 11 months ago
It is a fact that corruption is rife in The Bahamas. It is also a fact that nothing will ever be done to stamp it out. There is NO accountability in this crooked little country. As such The Bahamas will continue to have unacceptable crime, an undereducated population, massive national debt. and a basic degradation of quality of life. The leaders of this country have no idea what they are doing and will only react when the situation is beyond repair. Think of what your children will be dealing with in 50 years. What a pathetic situation!
bahamalove 9 years, 11 months ago
I seriously doubt anything will come out of this. When the "powers that be" finds out that it is one of their 'boys', you will never hear anything else about it, just like the LOI affair is currently being pushed under that part of the carpet that is under the bed. In addition, if Ms. Maynard-Gibson is the one investigating we definitely won't be hearing anything else about this. She still hasn't given the Bahamian people a report on her meeting in Europe concerning the webshops and compliance issues like she promised. That too was conveniently swept under the rug and the numbers boys quickly regularized before anyone could say anything. With all the 'death by bail' murders that are ongoing in this country, it baffles me why she even still the Attorney General!
TalRussell 9 years, 11 months ago
Da loudness will lead da poloceman's to the truth. Comrades best way get bottom to see if there is any truth behind the serious $325,000 bribery allegations, would be to charge a red shirt, pick any red wearing the party colours t-shirt - just get ball rolling, and wait for the finger pointing to point the detectives directly to da loots real recipient.or recipients? There is no more a deafening sound, than da one coming from a red who refuses ride da bus up to Her Majesty's Fox Hill Jail, all alone. You try getting red show up at rally wearing they red t-shirt, until this probe is over with.
asiseeit 9 years, 11 months ago
Red or yellow they are all the same and will look out for one another. The COP is a political appointee who will do nothing in order to protect his job. the people of The Bahamas are the only ones that suffer but sadly most do not care or understand that they are being swung from up high. Quality of life in this country has declined to the point that most would leave given half a chance, sun sand and sea are not worth the negatives we deal with daily. Corruption is blatant and rife in this festering slop bucket of a country. Take a look at any negative and it can place most of it's roots in corruption. Corruption is so ingrained in The Bahamas that people do not equate many corrupt practices with corruption. Want a drivers License, you can buy that. Before the courts, things can happen for the right price. You name it, in The Bahamas, if you have the money, you are good to go. There is NO RULE OF LAW. The political elite can do as they please and the little man see's this and say's, "why not me as well". Until this country matures and starts to exercise the rule of law for one and all, corruption will be king and the country as a whole will suffer. we are on the brink yet our supposed leaders are so blind they are already stepping over the edge.
gangof4 9 years, 11 months ago
There is NO RULE OF LAW.......totally agree.
At the same time, for purely political purposes, it behooves neither party to get to the bottom of this! For the PLP, it is far better to tar the entire FNM organization with the innuendo of corruption, "....look, it ain't jus' us who is tief!" rather than going after a single individual(s) who the FNM will then disavow. And the FNM, if and when they next come to power, will sweep it under the carpet like all politicians do, because it's one of "dey bruddhas" and anyway, "das ol' news"!!
Pathetic....but typical.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 11 months ago
This is completely baffling. Asked a friend the other day, where is our Elliot Spitzer, (minus the escort scandal)? We should not have had to wait fir an international court to tell us something was wrong. Someone in charge of reviewing the books should have smelled a rat and the INDEPENDENT Attorney General in conjunction with Commissioner should have developed the case and brought charges
spoitier 9 years, 11 months ago
The tribune is trying to make news about this; Firstly, this not the first rumor of bribery about our government officials and no police investigation was launch then so why would you think one would be launch now. Secondly, this thing happened more than ten years ago and it have to be a statue of limitation on this as far as any criminal doing is concerned. This one of the reason why the FOI act is needed and neither the PLP or FNM will allow it to come to pass because they don't want the gravy train to come to an end.
BahamaPundit 9 years, 11 months ago
It's never too late for justice to prevail my friend. Further, this is a US court documented case of Bahamian corruption, unlike the others. The Bahamas must act on this matter to clear its name internationally.
Greentea 9 years, 11 months ago
the former FNM government knows exactly who this person is because the change happened at the Cabinet level and we all know who needed to be convinced to go against the board and who the final decision maker was. I am not saying that that particular person took a red cent- but he must know which board member lobbied him or his minister and who he listened to.
Publius 9 years, 11 months ago
I agree
BahamaPundit 9 years, 11 months ago
Instead of playing the victim here, let's take action. The US, unlike the Bahamas, has a Freedom of Information Act. All it will take is one of our news agency reporters making a request through a US attorney or other party for the name of the corrupt Bahamian official 8 in the Alstom Power court matter, and it will be released. It's simple, just do it -- make the request under the US FOI Act and name and shame the wrong doer in front of the Bahamian public. http://foia.state.gov/Request/FOIA.aspx…
(I cannot certify that the above will work, but it is certainly worth our consideration)
John 9 years, 11 months ago
We the people..amen
John 9 years, 11 months ago
OIL PRICES HAVE FALLEN BELOW $50 A BARREL but yet BEC has not reduced electricty bills by one red cent! This is a bigger scandal than an alleged $300,000 bribe that happened 15 years ago because Bahamians are being OVERCHARGED on electricty by at least 60 percent. This results in monthly windfall profits to BEC of millions of dollars each month while the average consumer struggles to keep the light on..CRY SHAME!
John 9 years, 11 months ago
And no one says a word about this crime! Where is URCA? Where iscE J Bowe? Jokes
concernedcitizen 9 years, 11 months ago
They sold us generators /equipment from 1999 until 2004 ,you think the FNM or the PLP want anything investigated ,,,
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