The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Fort Charlotte candidate Alfred Sears called yesterday for more transparency from the government concerning its dealings with China and other countries.

The Christie administration has faced a barrage of criticism following revelations of its consideration of various business ventures involving the Chinese, including its granting of an “approval in principle” to a company, Caribbean Global Timber Limited (CGTL), for a forestry project on 4,500 acres of land in North Andros.

Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett has said that no license has been issued to the company because it has not met all the conditions necessary to obtain them. It has been reported that the majority of CGTL’s directors are Chinese, however Mr Dorsett said on Monday that the principals of the company include Bahamian and American citizens who have sought additional assistance from a Chinese industrial and commercial investment company.

This revelation comes after reports that Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries V Alfred Gray gave the go ahead to embassy officials in China to pursue a potential agriculture and fisheries partnership between China and the Bahamas.

Reacting yesterday, Mr Sears said if he were prime minister he would be particularly transparent about deals that could impact the sovereignty of the country.

“There should be a complete disclosure to the Bahamian public and to the Parliament of the contracts and other commitments, loans, that the government has made with all state agencies, including with the People’s Republic of China as well as proposals which are being considered by the government for any commercial or other commitments from the Bahamian state to any foreign entity either directly or not,” the former attorney general said.

“This level of disclosure will avoid any mischief, public hysteria, or distrust and therefore assure the Bahamian public that the conduct of its affairs is being done in a transparent manner and the public will be able to evaluate for itself whether there is any concentration of investment or commitment to a foreign state entity that could have geo-strategic implications for the Bahamas and for the sovereignty of the Bahamas.”

Mr Sears said he would apply certain principles when considering when he would inform Bahamians about certain deals.

“If there is any application that contravenes a long standing policy, such as the policy with exclusivity for Bahamians in fishing, that should be a non-issue unless one is prepared to seriously consider the policy. If that is to happen, it should be after widespread consultation with stakeholders, the industry and also Parliament. Any Heads of Agreement, as the Privy Council has indicated, one that would have a material impact on people’s way of life, there should be prior consultation, details of proposals should be put up for public comment and this is before consummating any agreement. Agreements which involve concessions of public goods should always be transparent and there should be a comment period and also where agreements are consummated they should be released and laid on the table of the House of Assembly so there should be a public record and the representatives of the people have an opportunity to review and make public comment on it.”

Mr Sears has announced plans to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for the PLP’s top post at the party’s next convention. He recently released a platform of his policy ideas.