Tents at the Fyre Festival site for the event.
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
CUSTOMS Comptroller Dr Geannine Moss yesterday defended the integrity of the Customs official named in a recent documentary on the failed Fyre Festival.
Dr Moss confirmed all import fees owed to the Customs department have been paid, adding she was disappointed by the reaction of Bahamians on social media to scandalous assertions made by event producer Andy King in the Netflix film “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened”.
Mr King claimed he was asked by festival founder Billy McFarland to perform sexual favours on a Department of Customs official in exchange for the release of imported water. Mr King said he was prepared to perform the act but the customs official was nice to him, and released the water on the condition the import fees were promptly paid by organizers.
"What was very disappointing was that Bahamians in general rather than stand up and say who is this foreign entity blackening the eye of the government official, customs official, ministers of government," Dr Moss said, "social media decided to cannibalize the officer and also the members of parliament current and former. And I think we go right back to the black crab syndrome of pulling one another down.
She continued: "I didn’t hear anybody pulling down that documentary or demonizing Netflix or Andy King or anybody else and I think that's what's wrong with our society.
Dr Moss said: "The officer in question is a veteran of some 34 years and he has served through many islands in the Bahamas, all the island persons know him very well.
"There has never been any kind of scandal on his professional or personal life and I think that’s grossly unfair of how social media took a hold of that to the extent that they even put somebody’s picture there, and purported it to be him and it wasn’t.
"He’s an upstanding fine officer in this department," she added.
Dr Moss spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a national security conclave at Island House.
She explained it was a longstanding practice for Customs to receive a deposit for goods imported on a temporary basis.
Dr Moss underscored all import fees owed by festival organizers had been paid, adding leftover goods like mattresses were auctioned off in Exuma last summer.
“That festival happened April 2017," she said, "deposits were collected. The officer in charge of the whole Exuma customs was very much aware of it. That festival was endorsed by the ministry of tourism and there were a succession of meetings prior to the actual event as is required for any event coming into the Bahamas.”
Dr Moss continued: "Any exemptions or waivers would come from the Ministry of Finance or Tourism to accommodate any event that's coming in here."
Comments
BMW 5 years, 10 months ago
The doc is openong pandoras box!
Clamshell 5 years, 10 months ago
The film makes it clear that Billy McFarland is a serial liar who lied about everything involving that “festival”. Nobody should take his lies seriously when it comes to stupid claims that a Customs guy wanted a BJ in return for a clearance. It’s part of the scam. Billy is probably trading BJs for Marlboros in prison right now. Just let it go ...
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
Even we Bahamians don't come across "nice" customs officials who are willing to release our imported goods on the basis of a simple promise that we will pay the duty later. Perhaps the real question in this matter is who exactly gave who the BJ (?) LMAO
hrysippus 5 years, 10 months ago
Hey Well_ruther_take_a lick, I once met a customs official who was "nice" and iI did not have to take one for the team either, It did cost me a marlin though. lol,
TalRussell 5 years, 10 months ago
Yes or no - the comrade doctor head customs is about learn no matter how much untrue - ain't goin' be easy put dick back in pants after the spreading across colony of out islands of what just ain't decent and proper character assassination information.... not that even mainstream media's people - haven't been playing with their own journalistic dicks on this not hard news story. Yes, no?
John 5 years, 10 months ago
A pig with lipstick on is still a pig
TalRussell 5 years, 10 months ago
Yes or no ma comrade, wouldn't it be more likes lipstick on head Dick.... and, if crowned - with colouring pencil shade for eyebrow. Yes, no..... can't just makes stuff up?
My2centz 5 years, 9 months ago
Why doesnt she say what happened that made this man believe such an offer was on the table? And why he was so confident in calling this man''s name publicly? Running on about his tenure and clean record doesnt clarify anything. If it was said sarcastically this means at worst, the department is unprofessional, but not corrupt. They should be reaching out to Netflix for a retraction if absolutely untrue.
licks2 5 years, 9 months ago
Her whole contribution just seemed juvenile to me. . . she is the director of one of out premium offices. . . carrying on "like a mad black woman" een come over to nice. . .to jungles. . .hahahahahahahahaha!
joeblow 5 years, 9 months ago
Bahamians did not stand up in the defense of the officer because Customs is one of the most corrupts departments in all of the Bahamian government! Everyone except the Comptroller seems to know that!
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