The Tribune

By TANEKA THOMPSON

Tribune News Editor

tmthompson@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Attorney General Alfred Sears wanted to know whether Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcome’s recent statements to the press about the Caribbean Muzik Festival were sarcastic references to him.

Mr Sears was a director of the festival until he resigned last December. In a statement released on Friday, he disclosed that he is also a “minor shareholder” in the company Caribbean Music Festival Ltd.

He challenged officials to “call the police” if they suspect “criminal wrongdoing” over the delayed festival or to let the matter play out in court, where both sides can present their cases, if there is a contractual breach. He added that “innuendos, insinuations and allegations of wrongdoing by a public official” do not foster confidence in doing business with government.

Mr Sears, the PLP’s 2017 election candidate for Ft Charlotte, took issue with comments his party colleague made last week to The Nassau Guardian.

According to the report, Mr Wilchcombe lamented the fact that “distinguished gentlemen” did not fulfil their obligation with the festival and also threatened to take legal action against them.

Mr Sears said in response: “His statements are reminiscent of how lawyers in court refer to their opponents as ‘my learned friend.’ Whether these references by the minister of tourism were intended as sarcasm or compliment, presumably, one of those so-called ‘distinguished men’ is referring to me, thus prompting me to issue this brief statement on my sole behalf.”

He said there is a commercial dispute between the Ministry of Tourism and Caribbean Music Festival Ltd over the postponement of a few nights of the festival and “about the fulfilment of duties by both parties, pursuant to the commercial contract to stage a series of festivals over the course of five years.”

He added: “Surely the making of innuendos, insinuations and allegations of wrongdoing by a pubic official, without full disclosure against a party in contract with a public entity does not contribute to the ease of doing business in the Bahamas or increase the confidence of Bahamian and foreign investors in contract with the government.

“If there is alleged criminal wrongdoing, call the police. If there is an alleged breach of a commercial contract, then the parties in good faith should seek to settle their dispute amicably, failing which one or both parties can take the commercial dispute to court or to arbitration to be judicially determined ... It is my hope that both parties can come to an amicable conclusion to ensure that the Bahamian people are not shortchanged or disadvantaged, as alleged by the minister of tourism.”

The four-day festival was postponed last year after two nights of activity. It was scheduled to take place from October 28 to October 31.

Although the Bahamas government is not responsible for the event, the Ministry of Tourism is one of its major sponsors, having invested more than $600,000 in the festival.

The festival was a part of the government’s efforts to fill the Bahamian calendar with musical and sporting events that would promote culture, encourage commerce and put a spotlight on the country’s tourism products year round.

Michael Tomlinson, a Jamaican, is chairman and CEO of the festival.