Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.
This story has been updated HERE.
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis today in Parliament admitted his administration made a number of missteps regarding the controversial $5.5bn Oban Energies deal proposed for Grand Bahama.
During his contribution to the mid-year budget debate, the prime minister said these missteps should not have happened, but did in the government's haste to boost the economy of the nation's second city.
He further announced that Oban's embattled non-executive chairman Peter Krieger has resigned from the company.
“Mr Speaker, my government committed to Grand Bahama and to the Bahamas to do all within our power to bring economic development and growth to Grand Bahama as a matter of urgency. This has been our focus at all times,” Dr Mininis said.
"We intend to fulfill this commitment. It is one of the keys to our overall growth as a nation. The Oban Energies LLC project was intended to bring growth and jobs to Grand Bahama. In our haste to boost the economy of Grand Bahama we made a number of missteps in the Oban Energies project.
“While our hearts were in the right place these missteps should not have happened.
“We must, we can and we will do better.
“We should have done more comprehensive due diligence,” he added.
• SEE WEDNESDAY'S TRIBUNE FOR MORE
Comments
ohdrap4 6 years, 7 months ago
who signed his resignation letter?
Publius 6 years, 7 months ago
ha!
BahamasForBahamians 6 years, 7 months ago
Now that Minnis has acknolwedged that he IS (we can use was once the deal is cancelled) wrong.
Can he also admit the magnitude of his missteps which is now criminal?
Over the past 4 weeks nearly everyone that cares about this nation has done their research and learned that there are no circumstances at which a person's unique signature can be used by multiple parties. There are no provisions for it under Bahamian Law.
With that being established, it is not necessary to say that the Prime Minister, on national Television - acted outside the provisions of the law of the country.
NOW----
This will be a run out
BUT, given the FNM's stance on public officials turn criminals (like Hubert Minnis effectively is now) should we expect an arrest - and court shackled news clip to follow ?
truetruebahamian 6 years, 7 months ago
So - cancel all agreements with Oban, show a truly clean slate and start again - but do your due diligence AS YOU WERE TOLD TO DO FROM THE OUTSET!
Baha10 6 years, 7 months ago
Now that the Elite Media have extracted a mea culpa out of our PM, can we please now focus on the tremendous economic stimulus that this Project would bring to the much depressed People of the Island of Grand Bahama ... if not, are we in Nassau proposing to declare our designated “industrial” Island in effect Closed for Business, given that this Project neigboirs an existing Oil Facility some 35 miles from Freeport, and in turn, accommodate approx. 50,000 impoverished Grand Bahamians to our already over populated, congested, crime ridden, polluted Rock comprising a mere 19 x 6 miles, not even the 21 x 7 we market to Tourists?!?
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 7 months ago
It's Kreiger's company!!! The entire goofey management team is comprised of his goofy fishing buddies, Dhuna's current employer said as far as he knew Dhuna was just doing some work for the company he wasn't aware that Dhuna was managing director. Then you have the failed car salesman. The oil refinery being plopped in the middle of a nature reserve and the language that said we're going ahead no matter what the EIA says. Don't even speak about the weird clause about being able to buy commercial property to build residences. Any sixth grade student could tell you what that meant. This was not a mistake. This was deliberate.There were most likely dozens of civil servant technocrats who would have warned you that you couldn't do what you were doing
If you want to fulfill anything you promised to the Bahamian public you need to start hiring qualified people who know what they're doing. Rather than Mrs Curry leaving Social Services, Lanisha should have been made to hand in her resignation. We need a qualified Minister of Finance and Financial secretary. Those two guys will be just ok. They both have extensive networks. The country needs experienced knowledgeable economists in Finance.
If you continue to appoint people who are loyal only to you, you will see the Oban antics repeated over and over again, because the cronies won't tell you anything you don't want to hear. They like their pocket better than they like you.
screwedbahamian 6 years, 7 months ago
Should have been jailed and deported from the country for committing fraud while sitting next to the PM, in front of Cabinet Ministers and in front on the the Country of the Bahamas. The Financial world is watching and so are many others.
BONEFISH 6 years, 7 months ago
Acting FS Johnson spends quite a bit of time on facebook defending the government policies. But that is not his job or responsibility. However that is his true calling. He really should be Press Secretary. Like some one told me,the treasurer Cartwright was promoted to DFS to save Marlon. He at the moment,can't do a job he was groomed for.LOL
John 6 years, 7 months ago
Question: Who signed Peter Krieger’s resignation letter?’ Answer : ‘Which one?’
TigerB 6 years, 7 months ago
Its obvious most of us have miss the point. There was 2 signings, the one Krieger signed was the ceremonial or the camera signing, the real signing had taken place a number of days earlier. It seem straight forward to me. The oil refinery will be be some distance away from STAT OIL, not one lives in that area and its many miles away from our national park. The island is 96 X 17 not like Nassau. Some of us are upset, but I guess we will wait an see if anything changes, I doubt it will.
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 7 months ago
I'm going on the assumption that the BNT knows exactly where the oil refinery will be, and going out n a limb that they know exactly where the national parks are. This is Kreiger's company, he was a "ceremonial" CEO, so him "resigning" makes no sense. Him signing Dhuna's signature makes no sense. The removal of the BEST commission from Environment makes no sense. That the management team is made up of a failed car salesman and a failed boat builder makes no sense. If I remember the car salesman's former employers statement correctly, ~"hes not too bright, I don't know who would give him all that money". The storyline that this was a "mistake" doesn't make any sense, this was deliberate, they knew exactly who Kreiger was, they asked him to stay hidden to deceive the Bahamian people and he didn't. Then they told us the contract HAD to be signed on the 19th and Dhuna showed up a few seconds too late.nothing about this makes sense. There's a reason they're pushing this and it has nothing to do with caring for Grand Bahamians
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 7 months ago
If the government cares about Grand Bahamians and this area is a pristine as I've heard, the Ministry of Tourism should be down there scouting TODAY on how they could advertise it to the world in a massive Eco tourism campaign. The government should then assist GRAND BAHAMIANS to construct a quaint well organized native village two miles from the location. THAT would show support for Grand Bahamians. The last thing anyone with sense would think when looking at such an area was "this is perfect for an oil refinery"
My belief is these people, while bungling , aren't dumb. This is all about grabbing that land.
joeblow 6 years, 7 months ago
A 10 year old could have negotiated a better deal. There were no missteps, there was gross negligence to do their due diligence on behalf of the people they represent. Heads should roll!!
There are real mental deficiencies in the decision making hierarchy that will cause poor deals to be made in the future. I hope I am wrong!
birdiestrachan 6 years, 7 months ago
Those FNM fellows note especially doc, Turnquest and small things Symonette and the rest look in the mirror and ask who is the dumbest of us all, and then who is the best liar of us all small things may not be as dumb. but on a how rich can I be?? campaign.
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