The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday added his name to the growing list of persons “worried about what is going on” at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI).

The former Bamboo Town representative blasted senior members of the Progressive Liberal Party, calling recent comments made by the minister responsible for BAMSI, V Alfred Gray “the definition of mismanagement and bad governance”.

“This is another big disaster by this government, the Bahamian people are being punished by the unbelievable choices of the PLP,” Mr McCartney added.

“The prime minister says it’s (BAMSI) $23m, Gray says it’s $50m, the country needs to know how much has really been spent on this project.

“All we know is BAMSI is being constructed and everyday there is something new.”

The DNA leader suggested that he will, in the coming weeks, take a group to BAMSI “to get a clearer understanding of what is going on”.

On Monday, Mr Gray maintained that he was unable to answer any questions that persisted over the company reportedly responsible for the insurance of BAMSI’s male dormitory recently destroyed by fire.

“I am not responsible for the buildings, the cost, the overruns, the contracts,” Mr Gray said during an impromptu press conference to respond to media reports that a Free National Movement delegation was denied access to BAMSI.

Mr Gray added that he was not privy to details or arrangements made between the government of the Bahamas and Southern Alliance.

He added that all construction matters were handled by deputy prime minister, Philip “Brave” Davis.

Mr McCartney said: “We need to find out how the government is going to pay to rebuild the burnt building, the people can’t be billed for the government’s mistakes. Mr Hanna, who is a big PLP backer, he has to be held responsible.”

The DNA leader was referring to Audley Hanna, of Paradigm Construction, the contractor of the male dormitory. On Thursday, Mr Hanna told The Nassau Guardian that he thought the building was insured at the time of the fire. He said that the building was insured by Southern Alliance.

A day earlier, Mr Davis revealed that the male dorm was not insured at the time of the fire because the policy had lapsed. He cited contractor negligence for this.

Since then, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has said his party’s investigations reveal Southern Alliance does “not exist.”

The Tribune has found that the company is not registered with the Insurance Commission of The Bahamas. The company does not have a listing in the local telephone directory and The Tribune could not find a website for a Bahamian insurance company by that name.

Dave “Davo” Moxey, 50, of Fresh Creek, Andros was charged with arson on February 16. He is accused of setting fire to the BAMSI dormitory.