Members of the Committee of Privilege say they will request that the proceedings on a corruption scandal take place publicly.
Inquiry into statements made by Dr. Fabrizio Zanaboni, CEO of Stella Waste to Energy, referencing Parliamentarian members who requested money from him, will be probed on January 20th by a Committee of Privilege.
Speaker of the House, Dr. Kendal Major, orchestrated the committee after Dr. Zanaboni made claims that some members of parliament requested funds from him although he had business before the government.
Dr. Zanaboni said parliamentarians of both parties sought contributions ranging from $200 to $300 for community efforts
Dr. Major said the aim of the committee is to determine if there has been any breach of privilege in the matter.
“The committee believes unanimously that the proceeding should be open to the public and in order for that to be achieved we need permission of the house and we will seek that permission on the 20th,” said Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera Damien Gomez, a member of the Committee of Privilege.
According to Mr. Gomez, members also received a communication from Dr. Zanaboni indicating he would not be available until after January 20th, which requires the committee to seek permission of The House to extend the time for providing the report.
Also on the Committee of Privilege along with Mr. Gomez are Mount Moriah MP Arnold Forbes; Marco City MP Greg Moss; Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant and Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner.
Mr. Grant last year condemned the comments and Prime Minister Perry Christie then urged the Speaker to intervene.
Dr. Zanaboni has since then written to the Speaker in apology to members of Parliament.
In his statements, Dr. Zanaboni said that his comments were taken out of context and he has a hearing problem, which makes him understanding others difficult.
He also said that he never meant to insinuate that any member of parliament was asking for a bribe and it was not his intention to tarnish their reputations.
Since then, the committee has brought together three witnesses. One of them appeared yesterday at the meeting and was encouraged to bring along a tape he had along with a transcription of what is being said on the tape.
