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'Tell the public truth over BAMSI'

The BAMSI blaze in January 2015.

The BAMSI blaze in January 2015.

As of Tuesday, March 10, 2015

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

MONTAGU MP Richard Lightbourn yesterday demanded that the government “come clean” over the fire damaged dorm at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI) amid lingering concerns over the building’s insurance policy.

He told the House of Assembly that the Christie administration “did not understand the meaning of transparency”, stressing that questions about the policy should not be left unanswered nearly two months after the fire.

Mr Lightbourn alleged that the government negligently allowed BAMSI to be constructed in the absence of insurance.

It has been more than six weeks since fire destroyed one of the male dorms at BAMSI in Andros on January 15. The government has still not made clear who will pay for the dorm’s damage and whether it will be demolished due to the severity of that damage.

Mr Lightbourn spoke in the aftermath of a report in The Nassau Guardian, which revealed that according to a Ministry of Works file, a quote for insurance coverage was provided to the government, but there was never any certificate as proof to validate the existence of a policy. The quote was not from Southern Alliance, the company named by the building’s contractor as the insurer, the newspaper reported.

“We have members opposite some six weeks or more after the incident (who) are still fluttering around and trying to find out whether the property was actually insured,” Mr Lightbourn said.

“Because the information received at this point seems to suggest that there was never any insurance in place. That is a very serious concern to the county when they realise that this government has been negligent to allow this to happen.

“Now the member for Cat Island (Works Minister Philip “Brave” Davis) did indicate that he was led to understand that the policy had lapsed. Well if it lapsed it would suggest that there was a policy in place at some point. I would have expected the government at this point to produce proof of this to us in parliament and to the country.”

Mr Lightbourn added: “We still seek, after six weeks, to find out whether or not the property was insured – that is a simple matter. Anybody has damage to their property the first thing they do is find out the position with regard to security and insurance. Why would it be such a problem for this government to discover what the factual position is? Come clean and tell us what the position is (but) we believe we know it by virtue of their silence.”

Standing on a point of order, Mr Davis responded saying he would provide a comprehensive update to the House when he was afforded an opportunity to do so. He went on to tell parliamentarians that “he did not march to the drum of anyone”.

Following the session, Mr Davis told The Tribune he would speak on the matter tomorrow.

Last week Wednesday, he told The Tribune that he too had doubts about the company, which the building’s contractor, Audley Hanna, said had insured the building.

Last month, Mr Davis told the House of Assembly that the dorm was not insured at the time of the incident due to negligence on the part of the contractor. He explained to parliamentarians that the contractor failed to pay the annual insurance premium that covered the structure.

Mr Hanna, of Paradigm Construction, later told a reporter that he thought the building was insured and named Southern Alliance as the company responsible.

However, that company is not listed in the telephone book nor is it registered with the Insurance Commission of The Bahamas (ICB). Sources at the ICB have suggested that if the company was in fact responsible for insuring the BAMSI dormitory it would have had to have been done without the ICB’s knowledge.

Comments

Tarzan 9 years, 9 months ago

Keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. That a premium was paid to "Southern Alliance" which is a front for someone's skim fund. If so do you think we'll ever learn????? One more of those complete and transparent reports on rancid scandals that the current government never gets around to tabling.

jackbnimble 9 years, 9 months ago

The "clown" is right. They are. And I do recall that Leslie Miller did the same thing in reference to the BEC Union.

legalmindatwork 9 years, 9 months ago

I think you have missed the point entirely, regardless of his description of the persons who are in government questions need to be answered. Instead of trying to distract persons away from the real issue by playing the FNM/PLP blame game, look at what needs to be said and done by those in government hogs or not.

Cobalt 9 years, 9 months ago

Why do y'all waste your time answering this fool??? He's remedial grade who sits at the back of the class.

realfreethinker 9 years, 9 months ago

generalcrazy you have a hard on for the effin emm huh ?. every time this shitty government do wrong you skirt around it and talk about effin emm. are you a closet plp or just plain crazy ?

jackflash 9 years, 9 months ago

This is a matter of national security.

That is the next thing that we will hear.

SP 9 years, 9 months ago

AG Alison "Da Head Witch" Maynard-Gibson will step in as usual and declare the matter "untouchable" because of too much public commentation.........LOL.....What a bunch of crooks!

themessenger 9 years, 9 months ago

More verbal excrement from the generals interchangeable speaking orifice, he so used to wallowing in the stuff the government shoveling he can't help adding to the pile. Christie dem could tief Jesus off the Cross and all would still be well wid the likes of general and Birdie dem.

realfreethinker 9 years, 9 months ago

No matter how much shit this government does according to generalcrazy it's the fnm fault. since i cant hear the shit coming out of his mouth,his fingernails must be stained brown from the shit on his typing fingers.

B_I_D___ 9 years, 9 months ago

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!

Henceforth no FOIA.

bahamalove 9 years, 9 months ago

Let's see; under this government we are up to Scandal/Incompetence Number.............????? (Please help complete the following list because there are so many it's hard to recall all of them).

1). Renward Wells Letter of Intent 2). The Maynard-Gibson/Fitzgerald nolle prosequi 3). The Gambling Referendum 4). The Junkanoo Carnival fiasco 5). Complete silence on the BEC bribe situation 6). Delay of the Opening of the PMH Critical Care Block 7). Crime out of control even though they claimed they had the solutions during the elections 8). Secret Spy Agency with no legislation in place 9). Alleged abuse of detainees at the Detention Center 10). Proposed NHI taxation roll-out right after VAT implementation 11). Ongoing fires at the Dump 12). Secret officials behind Renew Bahamas 13). BAMSI 14). BTC (Gov't math: 49% + 2% = 49% = Gov't retaining control) 15). BEC 16). Gov't members self-promotion to Queen's Counsel (watch those legal fees get higher!) 17). Fast-track implementation of stem cell legislation as a favour to wealthy benefactor 18). Gov't members pictured chilling out at 'resort home' of wealthy benefactor 19). Delay of Freedom of Information Act 20). AG's 'forgetfulness' regarding her promised report of her meeting with the Financial Action Task Force in Europe prior to legalization of the numbers boys. 21). Foreign Minister with an overly obsessive penchant for traveling 22). Gov't ministers that frequently contradict each other 23) PM with the gift of gab but frequently says nothing 24) The PHA scandal

realfreethinker 9 years, 9 months ago

The report on the large contingent to see the pope.the $500,000.00 fertilizer gift.

bahamalove 9 years, 9 months ago

Yes, yes! I forgot those. Thank you. I'm sure the list will keep getting longer everyday. I hope the Bahamian people keep this government's feet to the fire until they are voted out!

Cobalt 9 years, 9 months ago

Well said. And the list goes on and on. Scandal after scandal with no major projects to boast of. The FNM had their faults...... but at leased throughout their tenure we can see some of the works they left behind (ie roadworks, national stadium, airport construction, new schools, bahamar, even the negotiations for the construction of Atlantis). What can the PLP boast??? NOTHING! Nothing but scandle! Smt.

Hogfish 9 years, 9 months ago

25.- sticky-finger davis tiefin the german fella's estate from his girlfriend.

26.- $1 MILLION ! for some lime trees, so $1000 bux a tree for supposed to be a thousand trees but some trees missing!!

Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 9 months ago

And don't forget Bank of The Bahamas (BoB) loans to politically-connected persons written off and the BoB loans to 13 persons transferred to Bahamas Resolve, all at the Bahamian taxpayers expense.

bahamalove 9 years, 9 months ago

'generalcrazy', these boards are for intelligent people who have something worthwhile to say or contribute to the discussion based on the preceding article. Obviously this doesn't include you since you frequently resort to your gutter mentality and spew all sorts of nonsense. Please stay out of grown folks business. Then again, what would one expect from someone with your screen name.

jackflash 9 years, 9 months ago

Also,

The move of Social services in Freeport into the build owned by the Minister of GB on a 10 year lease when they could have moved upstairs to the space where Customs moved out of.

Pay the boys, screw the people.

Economist 9 years, 9 months ago

Glad that someone is keeping track of all this. Maybe someone can start a website for those to add any information as to what is going on, a sort of freedom of information website.

John 9 years, 9 months ago

The USA has one the most robust economies in 26 years. Unemployment is below 5%, gas is at the lowest price in 10 years and the stock market's figures and shooting through the roof. Yet the Republicans are dissatisfied and siding with the president of Iran and against the president of the United States. Under normal circumstances this would be considered treason. What's wrong with this picture?
ANSWER: The president of the United States is Black! get it? got it? good!

asiseeit 9 years, 9 months ago

Who gives a rats ass about the U.S.A. , we are dealing with OUR country, The Bahamas. A country that is majority black, is led by a black government, and is going down the tubes. This has nothing to do with the white man, it has everything to do with misrule, and mismanagement. Corruption is killing this country and until we as a people start to impress upon those in power that WE will no longer stand for their corrupt ways, this country is doomed. What sort of country do YOU want YOUR children to inherit? think about that!

John 9 years, 9 months ago

Your brain is your biggest enemy

Cobalt 9 years, 9 months ago

@John.... Once again your idiocy is on display for the entire country to see! Never mind the fact that you still can't get past the "black man, white man" facade that you continue to use to conceal your own short comings and ineptitudes...... but you fail to comprehend the gist of what asiseeit is saying. What does this story have to do with the United States or anyone's ethnicity??? Your post always lack substance, intuitive rational, and constructive reasoning. You're a typical dumb Bahamian. For everyone's sake please keep your disseminating lack of intelligence confined to that hollow space between your ears. Or simply just stick to quoting scripture.

Sickened 9 years, 9 months ago

your response was a bit harsh John.

ThisIsOurs 9 years, 9 months ago

The response is substantively incorrect. Asiseeit was right on point.

Alltoomuch 9 years, 9 months ago

Bahamalove - did you forget BoB? and who's on the Resolve (?) was it committee! Don't seem to have heard much about them! and what about the same old names that keep on re-occurring - Sir Baltron Bethel. James Smith - how much money must these people be raking in!!

bahamalove 9 years, 9 months ago

True, true!! This government seems like a bad dream from which the Bahamian people cannot wake up from.

Economist 9 years, 9 months ago

Are you referring to "I don't recall" Baltron Bethel? Emmmm......Hotel Corp......Penn Construction Baltron Bethel?

TalRussell 9 years, 9 months ago

Comrade Economist the time is over for finger-pointing - you see them across the Honourable House of Assembly's isles - them red parliamentarians - who are they be pointing fingers? We are living in troubled times when forward, not backward thinking are demanded from our leaders.

TalRussell 9 years, 9 months ago

Comrades as bad as Andros is sounding, I have serious doubts it to be the flagship of PLP scandals? Unfortunately, a weak opposition may deny the natives from ever knowing?

birdiestrachan 9 years, 9 months ago

Mr: Lightbourn without the e. There is the need to just get on with the building and the Insurance, and fix the problem, .and get on with it. they should all know by now he just loves his "I gotch you " moments., This is the same man who went to the exchange and brought the smallest Fruit he could find to the house to discredit BAMSI. he was being mean spirited. But Smith called his bluff and brought the largest one he could find, to the house. on the same day.

asiseeit 9 years, 9 months ago

If mean spirited is exposing corrupt practices and gross negligence then please sir, be downright nasty. Birdie your PLP has been exposed for what it is, a bunch of frat boys who look out for their own and do not really give a rats tail about managing the peoples money. Do you think if this was the DPM's personal project he would be so caviler and unconcerned? Somehow I doubt it. These morons are wasting and mismanaging the Bahamian peoples money, why ANY true Bahamian can excuse that behavior is beyond me.

realfreethinker 9 years, 9 months ago

There you go again general crazy. you will go really nuts if the EFINMS keys don't work on your computer huh Areal fish out of water without those couple of keys

Honestman 9 years, 9 months ago

Birdie without the brain - you really are a hopeless apologist for this bunch of jokers. Why don't you take off your yellow tinted glasses and see the Bahamas and this administration for what it is?

themessenger 9 years, 9 months ago

Ostrich Birdie, we aren't concerned about how much juice Perry's limes have or don't have or how big his coconuts are. What we are concerned with is that we the taxpayers don't have to pay for another dormitory because Mr. Hanna didn't bother to insure the building and DPM Davis didn't do his due diligence either. What we would also like to know is who the insurance premium funds was really paid to. In a civilized first world society one or both of them would be either looking for a new job or looking for a good lawyer.

realfreethinker 9 years, 9 months ago

themessenger they would also be looking for sweet milk and cigarettes

birdiestrachan 9 years, 9 months ago

Did you read how he was calling some members "Hogs" how is that for mean spirited

birdiestrachan 9 years, 9 months ago

Lynden Pindling airport PLP, National Stadium PLP Bahamar PLP . BOB signs of the times other banks have done worse. But those who owe monies should be made to pay. Honestly those PLP fellows have brains , They must all have come from Cat Island. They are honest people. Not one single one of you have proof that they have stolen anything. If you have evidence then take it to the Police or take it to you all Papa. or what do you people call Dr. Minnis Daddy. Take it to them I await the results of the investigations.

asiseeit 9 years, 9 months ago

You sound desperate now Birdie. The simple fact of the matter is they where negligent and did not do their due diligence. If they where working in the private sector they would be looking for a job. You can make all the excuses you want for your beloved PLP but the writing is on the wall. As I said before something stinks and it ain't rotten conch.

SP 9 years, 9 months ago

I imagine it fairly hard to listen with ones head buried so deep up their backsides.

This crew seem to their heads stuck up each others backsides!

SP 9 years, 9 months ago

I imagine it to be fairly difficult to listen with their heads buried deep up their backsides.

This crew seem to their heads stuck up each others backsides!

realfreethinker 9 years, 9 months ago

generalcrazy one day maybe you will drivel which will allow your head to slip out of perry and brave them ass.that shit must taste good you don't seem to get enough. and while you at it see if you can remove birdie own also.

ThisIsOurs 9 years, 9 months ago

@birdie Did you read how Leslie Miller talked about beating a woman and had government ministers killing themselves laughing? Some rolling on the floor giggling? Did you read that it took days for some to realize anything was even wrong with that? Did you read that some refused to apologize (because laughing at domestic violence is ok of course).

The incensed government ministers on "Hog-gate" are fully aware that Mr Lightbourne was not calling them animals. They are fully aware he was referring to their hoggish penchant for grabbing up contracts for their shell companies and friends. They are fully aware he was referring to them hiring their embezzling, extortion, bribery challenged friends to positions where they are in control of large budgets all so they could profit from kickbacks.

The Alex Haley Roots reruns don't work anymore birdie. Tell your leaders we are out of the 70's. We aren't looking to our leaders as the only college educated black men in the room who know how to deal with oppressive white men in position and fight for our rights. We've matured enough to realize that men of ALL colours can fit the role of oppressor and excel at it. Mature enough to realize that once oppressed persons can morph into the worst oppressors of their countrymen.

Please also let them know, we are NOT distracted, we still want all the "who gave approval, who's responsible and where did the money go" answers on BAMSI and every other ill planned project they've kicked off

realfreethinker 9 years, 9 months ago

well said Thisisours. I hope one day birdie wakes up and see the treacherous ways of this group

realfreethinker 9 years, 9 months ago

Man general there to be more to your vocabulart than effin emm. you need to expand it

asiseeit 9 years, 9 months ago

There is no way that any PLP could be dishonest, corrupt, perpetuate cronyism, or oppress another black Bahamian. This would be against the laws of nature. The PLP is for ALL black Bahamians and especially the poor. Special interests take a backseat with the PLP and the PLP will always listen to the will of the people. The earth is flat, raindrops go up not down, and i will sell you the P.I. bridge for two conch shells. There are those that would believe all of the above.

themessenger 9 years, 9 months ago

And of course the PLP do or have done none of the above???? Generalcrazy, when the good Lord was handing out ignorance you had to have been standing at the front of the line to receive as much as you did.The only people been keeping the majority of black people in this country on their knees for the last forty five years is other black people. Didn't you know that some black people are more equal than others??

guyfawkes 9 years, 9 months ago

I have suggest the removal of alot of the insulting and degrading material posted on the Tribune's Website by "generalcrazy". It is my hope that the Tribune would place a ban on his\her user name and e-mail address. While we have freedom of speech, it is not entirely free, you still need to be responsible. A part of being responsible is allowing others the ability to express their views. "generalcrazy" has taken this site for hostage and insults everyone in the process including the Tribune, but logs in so consistently to control the flow of every conversation. Tribune, please get this right as reading the comments attached to these stories is getting to point where the average reader such as myself would rather read Bahamas Press, at least you know the type comments you expect to see.

asiseeit 9 years, 9 months ago

General, we know you are crazy but honestly, you also have become a bore. Just because a person is questioning the current government does not mean they are supporters of the FNM. Many know that BOTH political party's, sadly, are corrupt. Many want better than what this country has offer as leaders. Bahamians need to be educated as to exactly what is happening to their country, why don't you help with that instead of wallowing in the past. Lets make the Bahamas better. Wrong is wrong and degrading everybody just does not help, people just tune you out.

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