The Tribune

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday questioned why Prime Minister Perry Christie has not “fired” Agriculture and Fisheries Minister V Alfred Gray for his alleged endorsement of the $2.1bn agri-fisheries venture with Chinese investors.

Dr Minnis claimed that Mr Christie’s admission in Parliament that his Cabinet would have never approved such a deal, was a telling sign that the Agriculture Minister “continues to subvert the will of the people.”

In a statement, Dr Minnis asked if the Prime Minister did not agree with the proposal, then why is “he allowing Minister Gray to continue supporting these ongoing negotiations and why does Minister Gray still have his job?”

On Monday, Mr Christie emphatically stated that the proposed agreement with Chinese investors at the centre of widespread public controversy would never have been approved by his government.

The proposal reportedly projects a $2.1bn injection into the local economy over ten years through an equal partnership between Bahamians and the People’s Republic of China. The proposal also reportedly included the option to lease 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros.

Mr Gray has admitted that he gave Bahamas Ambassador to China Paul “Andy” Gomez the go-ahead to have discussions on the proposal, but has stressed that the matter is not before the government for consideration.

Mr Gray has said the ideas put forth in the proposal, which was leaked to the media, came from Mr Gomez and not Chinese investors.

“The embattled Prime Minister has finally broken his silence on the secret proposal to give away 20,000 acres of Crown land and our fishing rights to the Chinese Government and this is not good news for Minister Gray, nor the Bahamian people. On Monday, Prime Minister Christie said, in front of Minister Gray, that his Cabinet has not approved the proposal that Minister Gray signed off on,” the statement said.

“This begs the question how could the embattled Prime Minister not know of such an ill-advised and ill-conceived proposal that was being conducted by his own Minister right under his nose? Even a blind man can see Minister Gray continues to subvert the will of the Bahamian people, yet he goes on unimpeded.  This is insanity, who is in charge of this Government?  The people deserve an answer and more importantly they deserve action.  After weeks of all but ignoring the growing scandal the embattled Prime Minister was forced to address it. But this ill-advised deal still lives, and this inept and hopeless Minister still hasn’t been fired!”

Dr Minnis said the Bahamian people are tired of the PLP and its broken promises, however, he said, it is something “we all are used to”.

“After weeks of backlash from the Bahamian people the Prime Minister is serving up his typical double-talk when he suggests this in Parliament.  Does he mean his dealmaker, Minister Gray, is sitting next to him?  This is bizarre, but unfortunately unexpected from this Government,” Dr Minnis said.

“The Bahamian people are tired of their empty rhetoric and broken promises. We must institute a true reform agenda that includes a Freedom of Information Act and brings transparency and accountability to government. A Minnis led Government will be a people’s Government, answerable to the people, not the chosen few like the PLP’s Chinese allies.”

Last week, Mr Gray called Dr  Minnis a “hypocrite” over the latter’s call for him to resign. He accused Dr Minnis of being party to a “secret deal” between the FNM and Chinese officials for the “agricultural development” of thousands of acres of land in Abaco seven years ago.

Mr Gray accused the previous FNM administration, of which Dr Minnis was a member, of allegedly striking a “private deal” with China Shandong Expressway Investment Holding Company Limited in 2009 for the “rent free” development of 10,000 acres of land in Abaco. Mr Gray claimed that the deal allegedly called for some 1,354 Chinese workers versus just 167 Bahamians.