PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis. (File photo)
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis accused critics yesterday of making “silly, confused and uniformed statements” about Monday’s pledge conference for Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts.
The government has announced $1.5bn in funding and in-kind services were pledged during the event. However, attention has centred around the largest pledge made: a $975m concessionary loan from a US-based company, The P3 Group, which promises to provide funding upfront while requiring repayment from revenue generated from completed projects.
Critics say the offer should not have been included in the tally of pledges because it is not a donation. During yesterday’s opening of the Business Outlook conference at Baha Mar, Dr Minnis did not mince words addressing them.
“Like most donor conferences, and as was clearly understood at the (Pledge) Conference, most of the aid pledged was not in the form of cash donations,” he said. “I have noticed some confusion in the public sphere as to what a pledging conference is and what these commitments mean.
“Unfortunately, some who were not present at the event seem very confused and very poorly informed. Had they informed themselves they would not have made silly, confused and uninformed statements in the press. Some, who have an obligation to be more responsible, are irresponsibly making up false narratives of what happened. Again, some seem not to understand what transpired or the nature of a donor conference.”
While the international community has made various offers and pledges, Dr Minnis said: “It is up to the government of the Bahamas to carefully review these pledges and to decide what is best for the Bahamas and for the people and communities in affected areas.”
Katherine Forbes-Smith, managing director of the Disaster Recovery Authority, has said officials have not examined The P3 Group’s business affairs or its offer. On Wednesday, former Central Bank Governor James Smith told The Tribune it is not likely the government would seek access to concessionary loans from private groups, insisting the terms are unlikely to be better than what could be obtained “through the normal capital markets.”
Dr Minnis said yesterday: “The Bahamas has never experienced a storm like Dorian. As a result, we have not had a high-level pledging conference of this nature. The Bahamas received pledges of financing, grants, technical assistance, intellectual assistance, humanitarian aid and other forms of assistance. The categories of pledges funding included: concessionary loans, equity, grants and guarantee financing. Let me emphasise that there were different types of funding pledged and that potential loans are only one type of possible funding.”
Pledges on Monday included initiatives for homebuilding and repair, educational assistance, renewable energy partnerships, relief aid, grants, direct assistance to storm victims, parks restoration and loans and financing, according to the Office of the Prime Minister. Among those pledging were the United States of America, which pledged $2.1 million to restore law enforcement capabilities to the affected islands; Baha Mar, which announced a $300,000 donation and delivery of furniture to affected residents in Grand Bahama; and Global Ports Holding, which pledged more than $500,000 for infrastructure needs, restoration of coral reefs, mangroves, small home rebuilding and small business projects.
Comments
The_Oracle 4 years, 11 months ago
Seems to be the new norm: Accuse others of your own affliction.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 11 months ago
The only one who consistently comes across as being 'silly, confused and uninformed' is the very arrogant, nasty and incompetent Minnis himself.
When even a PLP slime ball like James Smith can make you look most foolish, you know you're in serious trouble. LMAO
jus2cents 4 years, 11 months ago
It is Your fault We are uninformed, you and other administrations intentionally keep the nation in the dark. We are not in your boys club, we need FOIA now!
What an arrogant man, the nerve!
Minnis Always comes across as arrogant and condescending, and from a man who can't even talk properly.
Minnis, if you can't do the job of keeping us Informed, just get a proper information officer, the ones you had are not cutting the mustard..
jus2cents 4 years, 11 months ago
Also thank you to all the people and organisations who have donated out of the goodness of their hearts, the storm damaged areas need all the help they can get, and I totally respect and admire them all for doing so.
Observer 4 years, 11 months ago
Well-mudda, you refer to Mr.James Smith as PLP slime ball; boy you better 'ketch ya sef'.
bahamianson 4 years, 11 months ago
"silly, confused, and uninformed".wow! a pledge is a pledge, and a loan is a loan , in the Bahamas. try pledging or loaning { incorrect because loan is a noun and not a verb} your church $500 in the Bahamas and see where it gets you......
Millennial242 4 years, 11 months ago
On one side, considering the sensitivity of the public, the response probably could have been worded better. However, on the other side, [1] a pledge is a promise/commitment to provide something (it can be anything), and [2] the government does not have to accept all pledges if the details ("strings") don't support the interest of the people. So if $1.5 Billion in pledges were offered, then that's factually what happened. It doesn't necessarily mean that's what The Bahamas will ultimately accept.
I am a totally independent voter (always have been); and I think the focus really should be on the fact that The Bahamas is getting the attention it needs in order to be helped. The more people see that the pledges are coming in, then the more others will be willing to jump on board. The bickering back and forth is distracting from the ultimate goal here -- HELP FOR THE BAHAMAS.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 11 months ago
My first thought when I heard 1.5 billion was, wow, they can fix all those people's homes. If they had said they had 500m in pledges I would have had the same reaction.
Why this elaborate ruse to throw in 1 billion in loans and call it a pledge? Why ????? Why can't we ever get a straight stiry from this govt and why when we complain that were not getting straight stories were told were being silly. Remember Oban Kreuger tell us he don't listen to the noise in the market? Noone would have thought any less of the effort if it was never brought up
TalRussell 4 years, 11 months ago
However, Comrade Celebrity First Viscount a.k.a prime minister, when the very daily lives thousands Abacoians and Grand Bahamalanderders - have had their way of living turned upside, down and out to be designated as among world's new Homeless. and when stench death lives on in their unable shake away nightmare of memories - they shouldn't be cast as nothing but bunch "uninformed, silly, confused Out Islanders" - by the very people they elected to represent them. Such painful, degrading, shameful remarks, should've been absent mindset of the 35 MP's, who were constitutionally privileged be confirmed by the Queen to have been duly elected as the majority governing party to the Out Islanders Honourable House of Assembly!
joeblow 4 years, 11 months ago
Did I read this headline right, Minnis called someone silly, confused and uninformed?
moncurcool 4 years, 11 months ago
Most people only read the headlines in the papers and never took time to read the fine print in the article. If people had read the article they would have seen P3 was offering a loan. And also as was previously remarked, you have the option to accept or not accept the pledge. Besides, people may pledge and then choose not to deliver. So why all the noise in the market? Crazy
TalRussell 4 years, 11 months ago
Comrade Abacoians, whether you want to believe it or not, if jibs talk has it right - if you be's amongst the 1000 - 4 persons families pre-approved by government's politically appointed Igloo Matchmakers - it's going set you and family back a upfront fee $20,000 cash, prior being handed a key move-in to one them Igloos? Can't write this. You just, can't.
TigerB 4 years, 11 months ago
It was an offered loan, it wasn't accepted yet.. if I'm reading and watching the news correctly...not sure what the stink is about...maybe the PM should let everyone fix their own homes.. it a thankless job. I had hurricane issues here in Freeport, like most of us. My place is fix, like many of us...I did not get a copper from the government... like most of us...I think the conference was to try and help... look what its has come to now on here.. we always miss the point.
moncurcool 4 years, 11 months ago
You are spot on point. What people do not realise is that is NOT the responsibility of the government to find your home after a disaster. That is YOUR responsibility as a homeowner. I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Donors pledged what they wanted to give. The government cannot force a donor to give something particular. They ought to be happy that in light of the volcano eruption in the Philippines and the earthquakes in Puerto Rico and the attacks in Yemen that people even pledged to give $1 to the Bahamas.
John 4 years, 11 months ago
It is the PM's own silly (and unusual behavior) that led the public to respond the way it did. it was the PM and his entourage that went dancing through the streets of the country claiming they had raised $1.5 Billion in donations. And in the middle of the celebrations of sorts, and even before the PM could catch he won breadth, he dropped the bombshell, "O but the largest portion of the pledge, $950 Million, was in the form of a loan offer, that the government has not yet decided to accept. So silly as Silly does. . P“Being silly is still allowed, not excluded by adulthood. What's excluded by adulthood is thoughtlessness, so be thoughtful and silly” ― Hank Green
moncurcool 4 years, 11 months ago
It was the media that placed on their headlines 1.5 billion in pledges and people ran with that rather than read the particulars where Mrs. Smith mention the P3 pledge was a loan pledge.
TalRussell 4 years, 11 months ago
Consider this, I can agree posts that colony's PM, was telling the truth - however, is it possible he do so simply by telling an untruth? I can't write this, I just, cant.
birdiestrachan 4 years, 11 months ago
The Government gave the Media the announcement. They pated themselves on the back and said how great they were.
It was only after the exective said how many millions the loan was that MS Smith who should have been shamed face started to talk.
what is the Consultant Smith and doc saying to the Cruise line of which she is a consultant. These FNM folks have no credibility. They lie for every thing.
John 4 years, 11 months ago
The fact is the details about the large portion of the pledges/donations being a loan did not surface until later
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