The Tribune

FORMER Attorney General Alfred Sears has criticised Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe for “lecturing him on integrity” while not giving full disclosure about the circumstances surrounding the postponement of the Caribbean Muzik Festival.

In a press statement responding to assertions from his former Cabinet colleague, Mr Sears accused Mr Wilchcombe of playing “gotcha” politics while withholding pertinent details about the controversy. He said Mr Wilchcombe was singling him out, although there were others attached to the event, and insinuated that his motivation was political.

Mr Sears was a director of the festival until he resigned last December. He has previously disclosed that he is also a “minor shareholder” in the company Caribbean Music Festival Ltd.

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.

Earlier this week, it was reported in The Nassau Guardian that Mr Wilchcombe said Mr Sears must be the one to answer why the festival has not been staged.

“The fact of the matter is that there is a commercial dispute between the Ministry of Tourism and the company, Caribbean Music Festival (2000) Limited, relating to the postponement of a portion, two of three nights, of the 2015 Caribbean Muzik Festival and about the fulfilment of duties by both parties, pursuant to the commercial contract between these two parties to stage a series of festivals over the course of five years,” Mr Sears’ statement said.

“It is unfortunate that in the interest of full transparency that the minister has not shared with the public the contractual claims made by the company against his ministry and its failure to fulfil contractual obligations. While the minister publicly lectured me on integrity, the minister failed to disclose to the public that there is an outstanding contractual dispute between the ministry and the company.

“In a letter dated November 4, 2015 from the company’s attorney, Obi Pindling complained that the Ministry of Tourism had failed to perform certain contractual undertakings, pursuant to clause 4 (a) of the Host Country Agreement dated December 8, 2014. Again, Mr Pindling wrote the Permanent Secretary at Tourism a letter dated November 30, 2015 reminding the ministry that this dispute had not been responded to by the ministry.

“Further, the minister of tourism failed to disclose to the public that the festival had been postponed at least on three occasions prior to October 2015, at the request of the minister, to ensure that the carnival festival had pride of place and no competition from the Caribbean Muzik Festival.

“In each instance of postponement, the company had already paid artists and service vendors for the dates which were vacated.

The minister also failed to disclose to the public that days before the scheduled Caribbean Muzik Festival on October 28, 2015, the minister of tourism inexplicably withdrew the support of the ministry for the celebration of the Nassau Accord Ceremony and Programme, after the prime minister and governor general had been committed to the event.

“After demanding an explanation, it was relayed to the company that rather than support the celebration of the Nassau Accord October 28, 2015 as had been planned in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the minister of tourism had suddenly decided to sponsor a year-long series of public events to celebrate the Nassau Accord instead.”

Mr Sears said while several persons were involved in planning the festival and served as directors of Caribbean Music Festival Limited, Mr Wilchcombe has “singled” him out for “whatever peculiar reasons.”

“I would expect that the comments of my esteemed colleague are not motivated by more than public interest.”

Mr Sears also said that Mr Wilchcombe met with Desmond Edwards, a director and minority shareholder of the company, on July 30. He said during this meeting, he was told Mr Wilchcombe “apologised for his ministry’s abandonment of the music festival and failure to live up to the terms of the agreements between the parties.”

“There was also an understanding that all parties would work together to realise the festival before the end of this year.”

He added: “I again reiterate that the making of innuendos, insinuations and allegations of wrongdoing by a public official, without full disclosure, against an individual without addressing the 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.

“It is not the right way to conduct the business of the country.

“The minister admitted in the interview that he has not contacted me with regards to any of the claims or assertions that he has sought to make in the press.

“I would expect that the honourable thing would be to contact me and request answers before making such reckless public statements.

“My numbers have not changed and as the minister has called me before he is welcomed to do so.

“Let us not allow internal politics taint the way we conduct business and address genuine commercial disputes.

“I live up to my responsibilities and do not deflect or play ‘politics’ with matters of business or national service.

“The minister, in the public interest, should meet with the company and seek to resolve the dispute in good faith or have the court resolve the matter.

“This old style of one-sided ‘gotcha’ politics must become a thing of the past,” Mr Sears said.

Mr Sears, the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for Ft Charlotte, plans to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for the party’s top post at its next convention.

Mr Wilchcombe has previously voiced his support for Mr Christie in the leadership race.