The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday insisted that “the truth always trumps a good story” in relation to his alleged connections to Livingston “Toggie” Bullard and Wisler “Bobo” Davilma, two men allegedly hired by Peter Nygard to carry out crimes.

Speaking in the House of Assembly last night, Mr Davis admitted that he associates with many young men who have had run-ins with the law.

Prime Minister Perry Christie afterwards weighed in on the situation, saying while there are no laws in the country to govern how much money can be given to political campaigns, he would never jeopardise his integrity for $5m.

He was referring to a secret recording of Mr Nygard, filed in court, where he says he gave the Progressive Liberal Party $5m to fund its campaign only to be met with “fake promises” from the prime minister.

Mr Christie also dedicated a portion of his communication to speak of Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, claiming that he was the one who first told the Killarney MP that several FNMs would be seeking an audience with the governor general to have him removed as opposition leader. Mr Christie went on to joke, however, that he could give Dr Minnis some of his supporters from Mason’s Addition, who would gladly back him at public meetings for “$30 a piece”.

Meanwhile, Mr Davis did not go into detail about his alleged connections with Mr Davilma and Mr Bullard, except to say that he has assured the Royal Bahamas Police Force that he would not discuss the controversial matter.

He said until the contents of several conflicting accounts disclosed in sworn affidavits have been tested, everyone should have an open mind.

He branded the ongoing situation as “political mischief” aimed at destabilising the governing Progressive Liberal Party.

“Mr Speaker, nobody should be surprised that I have associations with many young men with the central purpose of getting them to understand that anti-social behaviour and lives of criminality are harmful to them, their families and their communities,” Mr Davis said. “In my discussions with many young men it is almost invariably suggested that men released from prison without some intervening socialisation is a disservice to their person and to our society as many as they say demons continue to exist in their heads. An adjustment to freedom is a journey with many challenges and temptations to them.”

He continued: “They argue that any realistic assessment that challenges and confronts released prisoners who have no institutional support to assist in their adjustment to society could help in our own understanding of why these men become repeat offenders and often with violent consequences and high recidivism rates.

“There are many similarities among despondent young men. Many have brushes with the law and many had previous convictions ranging from serious to misdemeanors. Many are unemployed and claim to be unable to find work primarily because of their criminal history and many feel abandoned, neglected (and) valueless. They are all clearly suffering.”

Mr Davis said he would remain tight-lipped on the allegations that have been in the public domain since the story broke, honouring his promise of silence to authorities.

“I say though until such times that these conflicting accounts have been tested our minds should remain open. Keeping an open mind is a difficult thing particularly if it is not profitable to kill a good story with truth.

“Some misguided soul once said that a good story always trumps the truth or otherwise don’t kill a good story with the truth. That’s misguided I say because in the end the truth always trumps a good story,” Mr Davis said.

As he wrapped up the mid-year budget debate, Mr Christie spoke on the economy and boasted of his administration’s work this term.

He also made several jokes directed at Dr Minnis, suggesting that he was in desperate need of supporters.

“That’s why the leader of the opposition should be careful when he talks to me because I can take away his constituency from him, the people who nationally support him. He must be very careful,” Mr Christie said.

“I try to be fair to him. I even told him when he was under siege. I helped him when the appointment was made to go to Government House because the other the members were there. But he grabbed some fellas who we loaned him,” he said, seemingly referring to former PLPs Andre Rollins and Renward Wells joining the FNM last year.

“I am just telling this House this for the first time. He made it five, five and then they made an effort to say well we better persuade the other member of the opposition, the member of Parliament from Marco City (Greg Moss), he said he ain’t getting in that I guess because it stayed five, five. That’s the only way he is sitting here today.”

He added: “I even told him he could use my people in Mason’s Addition to carry to public meetings, pay them $30 a piece and carry them to meetings, I even told him that.”