Branville McCartney
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FOLLOWING reports that people have been charged in several countries for allegedly accepting bribes from the French power and transportation firm Alstom, DNA leader Branville McCartney accused the government of dragging its feet in naming the Bahamian official accused of taking a bribe from the company more than a decade ago.
The Tribune was assured yesterday by a government official that the matter is still being dealt with.
The official also emphasised the need not to prejudice ongoing investigations by making public statements about a matter that will eventually have to be dealt with in court.
The investigations come amid allegations that Alstom admitted paying an unnamed Bahamian, called ’Official 8’, via intermediaries to ensure it won the contract to supply BEC with a slow speed diesel generator. It is meant to have taken place sometime between 1999 and 2001. Following charges against the firm brought by the US Justice Department, Alstom has already pleaded guilty to charges and agreed to pay more than $770 million after paying more than $75 million to secure $4 billion in projects worldwide.
Yesterday, Mr McCartney said: “It reminds me of being in the House of Assembly several years ago when the former prime minister indicated he would expose the previous government for corruption. Then someone in the PLP said ‘If you do that, I know where the FNM’s skeletons are.’ So it’s this kind of, ‘If you tell on me, I will tell on you’ kind of thing. That’s why we are the way we are as a country today. One can’t talk on the next because we get things on both parties. I don’t think the PLP is going to talk on the FNM because they are two sides of the same coin.”
According to reports, officials in the USA and Europe have been charged after Alstom signed a plea bargain.
Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson has already confirmed that her office has requested information related to the case.
However, The Tribune understands that the matter has not yet been turned over to the police for investigation.
Comments
GrassRoot 9 years, 10 months ago
ok, how about going after Alstom? Just drag them to court or give them a fine of 20 Mio USD. If they don't pay, preclude them from doing business in the Bahamas forever.
asiseeit 9 years, 10 months ago
Bran is correct, they will never rat one another out because they ALL have to much to lose. The only ones that really get grind are the Bahamian people! What a corrupt little cesspool The Bahamas is.
Alex_Charles 9 years, 10 months ago
want justice? pick up a gun and get it yourself because corruption is real
B_I_D___ 9 years, 10 months ago
There must be way more to this story than they lead on to...if it was 100% some FNM transgression the PLP would flip that, expose it and make so much noise about it your head would spin. Not saing it is right by any means...I'd LOVE for it to be exposed, whoever it is. Unacceptable no way you slice it...unless you are a politician and can turn a blind eye to things so easily.
John 9 years, 10 months ago
How much BEC is ripping off the Bahamian consumer every month when oil is now below $50 a barrel and the price has been falling for at least six months. Yet BEC bills are at their highest ever! BRIBE THAT!!!
Greentea 9 years, 10 months ago
the last bill I used about 35 dollars in electricity but the surcharge was $80! I feel as if BEC holding me up every month! corrupt gangsters don't even need a gun.
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