The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PLP chairman Fred Mitchell yesterday defended Prime Minister Philip Davis’ angry response to questions about his administration’s alleged ties to murdered businessman Warren “Spy” Ellis, saying the Prime Minister recognised a “put-up job” and invoking the term “propaganda prostitute” to describe a reporter perceived to be pursuing a gotcha question.

Mr Mitchell rejected claims that Mr Davis attacked the press when he appeared visibly frustrated with reporters last week while being questioned about Ellis, who had for years been linked to serious criminal allegations.

Mr Mitchell said the Prime Minister believed the journalist was “making something out of nothing”.

“You now see why the US president Donald Trump reacts the way he does,” Mr Mitchell said in a voice note, “when he thinks that a reporter has asked a question which is a gotcha question.”

“The feeling is,” he said, “that he is not dealing with a genuine inquiry by a journalist, but a propaganda prostitute.”

Mr Mitchell said Mr Davis did not attack the reporter or call her names.

“He simply indicated,” he said, “that two plus two is not five. It’s four.”

The defence comes as opposition scrutiny intensifies over the Davis administration’s alleged dealings with people linked to serious criminal activity.

Well-placed sources told The Tribune that Ellis was linked to contracts for housing work in Central Pines, Abaco, in 2022.

The Ministry of Housing has since denied awarding contracts to Ellis, saying it found no record of a company owned or controlled by him receiving a housing contract from the Davis administration.

When questioned on the matter last week, Mr Davis dismissed the claim as an allegation and asked reporters to provide the factual basis for the question.

Mr Davis said he was “tired of these allegations” and questioned why journalists were not asking him about ongoing government initiatives, including the school breakfast programme.

His response drew fierce criticism from the opposition.

FNM leader Michael Pintard said: “Lashing out at news reporters only confirms that you know what you are doing is wrong, and that no responsible government would do business with persons known to be actively involved in nefarious activities.”

Mr Mitchell yesterday praised Mr Davis for being “perceptive and smart enough to know a put-up job when he sees it.”

He also dismissed as “utter crap” controversy surrounding housing contracts awarded to companies linked to Eric “Player” Gardiner, a convicted drug offender.

Corporate records have linked Gardiner to Top Notch Builder, a construction company awarded contracts for housing projects.

The firm also owns Complete Construction, the company developing the government’s Carmichael Village affordable housing project, which got underway during the Davis administration’s first term.

Tribune Business previously reported that $20m intended for an educational scholarship trust was instead used to finance the government’s affordable housing project being built by a contractor linked to Gardiner.

Butterfield Trust (Bermuda), trustee and depository for the Heritage International Scholarship Trust, has since promised to investigate the matter.

Mr Mitchell has argued that the fund suffered no loss and that the loan was repaid in full with interest.

He also attacked a Tribune Business article on the matter and dismissed as nonsense speculation that “the government was helping Mr Gardiner to launder money”.

“These are the put-up examples,” Mr Mitchell said, “of why our prime minister and our officials have to rebuke stupidity in a but respectful manner.”