The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney said a recent reaction by Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller to the United States’ claims of corruption in government illustrates “the way the PLP has done business” for the last 40 years.

“While shocking and indeed offensive, it is no surprise to me or anyone else for that matter, that veteran PLP politicians would take such a stance. In fact, that rhetoric is indeed indicative of the way the PLP has done business in this country for the last 40 years,” Mr McCartney said.

On Sunday, Mr Miller told The Tribune that the granting of government contracts to political supporters will “never stop” because politicians must “do what they have to do” to win elections.

The senior PLP MP added that if Bahamians “are crooked”, it is because they were taught to be that way from the “damn Americans”.

His statements came in response to a US State Department report pinpointing the Christie administration’s ineffective implementation of anti-corruption laws and a vulnerable contract procurement process. The report also noted frequent reports of government corruption, but did not give examples.

Of the report, Mr Miller said he didn’t put “too much weight” on it, adding that he viewed it as baseless.

However, Mr McCartney warned that the PLP was simply attacking the messenger in an effort to distort the message.

Mr McCartney said that corruption, in all of its forms - perversion of integrity, bribery, dishonest proceedings and nepotism - have become the hallmark of this Christie administration.

He stated that since 2012, Bahamians have had countless examples of government officials using their political influence to benefit their friends, family and lovers.

Mr McCartney stated that the proof of his claim exists in the “fiasco” surrounding the Paul L Adderley Building.

He said the government granted the construction contract for that building to Holiday Industrial Builders, despite previous allegations of unsatisfactory work on previous contracts.

Mr McCartney also recalled the BAMSI fire and the fact that contractor and PLP supporter Audley Hanna of Paradigm Construction did not have the necessary all-risk insurance required by law before being awarded the contract.

“This culture of cronyism and nepotism has been at the core of countless government related scandals; and the practice of political patronage – the trade of political favours for political allegiance – as Miller so aptly described it, has been used as nothing more than a ploy by the country’s leaders to secure their political futures.”

“Indeed, let us not forget the comment by our very own prime minister who stated last year some time that he would like for most of the BAMSI contracts awarded to go to the PLP supporters,” he added.

“Sadly, this very culture has seen the disenfranchisement of scores of hard working Bahamians who, unlike those with connections to the PLP are denied such opportunities, even in cases where they are infinitely more qualified to complete the work.”

Mr McCartney said the US report laid out many factors the government must address such as human rights infractions, however, he said, rather than properly address the issue Mr Miller instead turned to the accepted PLP practice of deflection and name calling.

“I trust that the voting public is no longer blind to this tactic and is no longer prepared to give political leaders a free pass. If we do, we certainly cannot complain after,” he said.