By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Free National Movement will not be negatively affected by the revelation of the identity of the former Bahamas Electricity Corporation official who is alleged to have taken bribes between 1999 and 2001, former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson said yesterday.
Mr Watson had responsibility for BEC at the time of the alleged bribe taking.
Months after the allegations surfaced following an investigation by the US Department of Justice, the identity of the BEC official accused of accepting more than $300,000 to secure a contract for the French energy company Alstom more than a decade ago has not yet been revealed, with Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson telling The Tribune yesterday that police are still investigating the matter.
“The committed professionals at the Office of the Attorney General always stand ready to carry out their duty,” she said. “The decision to prosecute any matter must be based on evidence that a crime has been committed. This evidence is obtained from the investigative agency, which in the Bahamas is the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Please allow them to complete their thorough investigation.”
Asked about the matter, Assistant Commissioner Anthony Ferguson said authorities are actively investigating it, adding that he could not give a timeline on when the results of the probe will be made public.
Regardless, Mr Watson said, the revelation will not have an impact on how the public perceives the FNM.
“I can’t think of any member of the FNM team to even pinpoint or suggest any name from the board (that would’ve engaged in this),” he said.
Despite this, he conceded that he believes the allegations to be credible and reiterated his call for the investigation to be finished and its results released.
“I don’t have any reason to believe that they will do anything but the right thing,” he said.
In December, Tribune Business exclusively revealed how, in its $772 million settlement and “plea bargain” with the US Justice Department, Alstom, admitted to paying an unnamed Bahamian, called “Official 8”, via intermediaries to ensure it won the contract to supply BEC with a slow speed diesel generator.
For his part, FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest dismissed the notion that the revelation of the alleged bribe taker will have a negative political impact on the party which, as some observers have argued, has portrayed itself as transparent and not corrupt.
The FNM has also consistently tried to paint the Progressive Liberal Party as a group mired in corruption.
“It has nothing to do with politics of the matter,” Mr Turnquest said. “It’s about the protection of public assets to ensure that the resources are not unfairly managed or wasted. I don’t see it as a political issue. I see it as systems issue, as a matter of proper accountability and no undue influence on how we manage the affairs of the Bahamian people.”
Comments
GrassRoot 9 years, 5 months ago
I don't think the general public cares about FNM or PLP here. The person taking the bribe needs to be prosecuted and charged. If members of the government were involved: the same.
TalRussell 9 years, 5 months ago
My remarks are made with the knowledge that the FNM party ain't got much "perceives capital" to risk with the public.
Comrade Frankie makes a stupid calculation that; " regardless the revelation it will not have an impact on how the public perceives the FNM." The weight of evidence and its reliability has persuasive power when the source of the evidence knows exactly who the BEC person is and the amount of bribe monies they're talking about. If the public later discovers the leadership of the FNM are hiding what they know from the public - all political hell will break loose.
ohdrap4 9 years, 5 months ago
why is he all over the media now? he is a very unpopular ex-politician, and , even in his time in parliament, he was generally unpopular
TalRussell 9 years, 5 months ago
Comrade both daily newspapers and for that matter any media print or other sources, could have obtained through USA's freedom of Information, the name of the alleged FNM bribe taker, had they been so politically inclined to so do. I think the two dailies done knows the alleged crooked person's name? You can bet your first born had it been a PLP culprit, we's been inundated with their name, birthday, church attending, fluidity they's outside marriage sexual encounters and grand Papa's name.
Publius 9 years, 5 months ago
This guy is talking way too much and hence, giving himself away.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
I've was told that the word on the street was that the person was neither a board member or a minister but a high level civil servant. My first question was which civil servant has enough power to overturn the vote of a five member board AND all of cabinet? That just doesn't make sense. Perhaps they walked the cheque over to the office, but someone with real power gave the order.
GrassRoot 9 years, 5 months ago
you don't need power. you only need money. and 300k or whatever it was gets you far in the Bahamas.
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 5 months ago
Someone should look into why Albany was so inclined to name the highway bordering its development in Southwest New Providence "Harold Watson Highway".
themessenger 9 years, 5 months ago
Tit fa Tat, butta fa fat, you kick my dog I kill ya cat. If anybody really thinks anything will come of this given the way we political masters,regardless of party, look after one anothers secrets they are truly deluding themselves. Both sides know where each others graveyards are and who closet gat money, skeleton an ting so ain ga be to much diggin' done.Other than Wilbert Moss, which other politician has ever been prosecuted for anything in this country? It is this guarantee of protection allied to the apathy of the Bahamian people which gives them liberty to continue their culture of rape and pillage.
Publius 9 years, 5 months ago
Quite true
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