The Tribune

BY LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

FNM leader Michael Pintard criticised Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis for his comments on a recent court ruling favouring Baha Mar’s original developer, arguing that the Prime Minister’s shifting stance undermines public trust and risks the credibility of any independent investigation.

Justice Andrew Borrok ruled that Sarkis Izmirlian had proven his fraud claim against China Construction America (CCA) “beyond doubt”. CCA has filed an appeal.

Following the ruling, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that Attorney General Ryan Pinder would review the judgment, with no further comment until the review’s completion.

However, days later, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) chairman Fred Mitchell dismissed the ruling and called allegations of fraud involving officials from the Christie administration during the Baha Mar saga “salacious”, asserting there was no evidence to support the claims.

Mr Mitchell accused Mr Izmirlian of promoting a narrative “misaligned with the facts” and urged Bahamians to treat commentary on the US ruling with “caution”.

The comments sparked backlash, with Mr Pintard accusing the PLP chairman of making “silly, nonsensical, and comical” remarks that contradicted the OPM’s position.

Defending Mr Mitchell, Mr Davis described his criticism as “fact-checking” of statements by “pundits”.

He also dismissed Mr Pintard’s concerns about the ruling’s potential impact on the country’s foreign investments, saying it does not affect investment in The Bahamas.

“The Prime Minister has the consistent problem of flip-flopping on matters,” Mr Pintard said.

“You cannot call for an investigation because you believe there are sufficient grounds for one and at the same time endorse the statement of your chairman that flies in the face of what the public wants, which is an open, transparent inquiry into matters raised in the judgement against the China Construction Company.”

Mr Pintard added: “The Prime Minister had to work harder in terms of being consistent in his statements, and so now he has just eroded any possibility of an independent, transparent investigation. He is now doubling down on this position that they often take that absolutely nothing inappropriate has been done, and I believe it is going to hurt his credibility in the long run.”