The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

On March 2, 2015, Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray criticised the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Hubert Minnis, for leading an FNM delegation on an unannounced tour of BAMSI in North Andros.

He claimed that Dr Minnis was “foolishly wrong” for leading the group onto the BAMSI campus without advanced governmental permission or authorisation. He stated further that there were “rules and regulations to be followed” and that Dr Minnis should make a “formal apology to the nation” for his actions.

Is the issue at BAMSI really that Dr Minnis and delegation entered the property where there was no security presence and/or visible sign that they were trespassing? 

Given the controversies surrounding BAMSI in recent months, it is unbelievable that the Minister responsible for BAMSI can only find the FNM group’s presence on the property as cause for national concern and outrage.

Despite the love of smokescreens and bamboozling as the modus operandi of this PLP government, the real issues are as follows:

1)  Minister Gray stood in Parliament and insisted that the burned building was insured. DPM Davis also insisted that the building was insured and identified the insurance company as Southern Alliance. However, this named insurer is not registered as an insurance company anywhere in The Bahamas per the investigations of the media and the Opposition.

Moreover, it is highly suspicious that the DPM sought only to name drop, but provided no additional information of the said insurer such as its location, President, Chairman, etc. It must be concluded, therefore, that this insurer does not exist.

2)  By claiming that the burned building was insured and vouching for a fabricated entity, both DPM Davis and Minister Gray lied to the Bahamian people in Parliament. In the least, this is an egregious breach of the sacred public trust. At worst, this is classic PLP “gangsterism” and outside of the cocoon of Parliamentary immunity in my view would be considered outright criminal.

3) Incidentally, the contractor, a former PLP Senator with additional government contracts, has obviously commenced and completed work on at least one BAMSI building without adequate insurance. Are all the others comprised in this way? Nevertheless, Minister Gray should take notice that this blatant negligence is what goes against “rules and regulations.” If Br. Minnis and team were wrong for entering BAMSI on a Sunday without advance approval, then how wrong is constructing a building on a government contract without insurance?

4)  It is DPM Davis and Minister Gray who should “make a formal apology to the Bahamian people” for breaching their oaths as MP’s and Cabinet ministers. Both should subsequently resign from Cabinet in shame and disgrace.

Nevertheless, Minister Gray contended that he was embarrassed at Dr Minnis’ actions.

Conventional wisdom should cause one to wonder if the Minister is also embarrassed at himself for lying in the Parliament and directly to the people he was elected to serve.

Finally, and in teachable moment fashion, I call upon the FNM leadership to seek to prosecute such negligent behaviour and any other offences found should we prevail at the polls in 2017.

It is time to draw the line in the sand and prosecute individuals who engage in political corruption in any government and across the board. Enough is enough!

HOWARD “MR BAMBOOZLE” JOHNSON

Former FNM Candidate,

Central & South Eleuthera,

March 2, 2015.