The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper yesterday spoke out against the “paid agents hiding behind lies and digital anonymity” that circulated videos “riddled with outright lies and intentional distortions”.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr Cooper rejected “misinformation” about himself and the Rosewood Exuma project.

“I know who the actors are. But more importantly, I know who the benefactors are — the shadowy financiers behind this coordinated smear campaign, pouring foreign funds into efforts designed to disrupt our democracy and discredit the leadership of the Progressive Liberal Party,” said Mr Cooper.

He added: “In recent weeks there has been an active, growing local and international campaign driven by Bob Coughlin, an American businessman, the principal of Turtlegrass Resorts, a project approved for Sampson Cay.

“Mr Coughlin has protested the plans of the adjacent development of the Rosewood Resort being developed by Yntegra Resorts that also has an approved heads of agreement by the Government of the Bahamas. The people of Exuma welcome both developments and are of the view that they can co-exist.”

Mr Cooper maintained the Rosewood Exuma project must acquire the necessary approvals and permits from government agencies and rumours of the resort contracting foreign labour and constructing over water bungalows were false.

“Let me state the facts plainly. No Chinese work permits have been issued. No Singaporean construction companies are involved. There are no approvals for over-the-water bungalows as falsely claimed. And the assertions that Crown land is being secretly given away is not only false — it is dangerous misinformation meant to stoke fear and confusion,” said Mr Cooper.

“This is nothing new. These tactics — familiar to anyone who remembers previous smear campaigns against the PLP portrayed as environmental advocacy – are designed to weaponise social media, sow public distrust, and discredit public servants.”

Mr Cooper said he has taken “immediate and decisive action” by filing a criminal complaint and involving his attorneys to take legal action against the video’s originator.

“A formal criminal complaint has been filed with the Royal Bahamas Police Force in relation to both videos. My lawyers have been asked to pursue civil legal action to hold the culprits and their enablers accountable for their defamatory conduct,” said Mr Cooper.

In addition, I will ask tax authorities and the Office of the Auditor General to investigate any local entities, particularly those suspected of receiving foreign funding under the guise of charitable work. If they have violated Bahamian law, they must be held to account.”

Eric Carey, environmental consultant for Turtlegrass Resorts, emphatically denied that Mr Coughlin and Turtlegrass Resort had anything to do with the video.

He said that although his client has environmental concerns about the project, which he has voiced publicly, all videos produced by Turtlegrasss Resorts are branded and posted on their social media platforms.

“My client has nothing to do with that video. We did not fund it. We were not aware of its production. It is not in any way affiliated with his resort. All of his videos are clearly marked and identified as coming from Turtlegrass.”

Mr Carey has also launched a petition urging the government to protect Exuma’s marine ecosystems from the $200m Rosewood development which currently has over 1,300 signatures. That campaign has a video with testimonials from local and international environmentalists raising concerns about the project but makes no direct mention of Mr Cooper.

The identity of the party behind the video is currently unclear. The video, which was clearly AI generated, accused Mr Cooper of “facilitating backroom deals” and ignoring environmental concerns to appease foreign investors.