While confirming that her husband was granted retail space within Baha Mar along with her two daughters, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson yesterday hit back at Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis who insists that she is in “an overt conflict of interest”.

Mrs. Maynard-Gibson has come under heavy criticism for her family’s interest in the $3.5 billion Cable Beach development.

“Pending the opening of the resort, my husband’s company alone – as are so many other Bahamian businesses waiting on Baha Mar’s completion – is shouldering liability for the risks related to the delay,” she said in a press statement yesterday.

“There is no conflict of interest. Baha Mar’s opening will serve all Bahamian businesses hoping to work within, or for the resort – including my husband’s – and I make no apologies for this.”

The attorney general said the opposition leader is “merely seeking to manufacture an issue where none exists.”
Minnis’ remarks came following the attorney general’s admission that her two daughters – ages 30 and 28 – had invested in retail space within the $3.5 billion resort, a situation she says Prime Minister Perry Christie is fully aware of.

She said prior to leading two government delegations to China in an effort to act as mediator between Baha Mar, its contractor China Construction America (CCA) and lender China Export Import (EXIM) Bank, she again reminded the prime minster of her family’s situation.

According to Minnis, no FNM member of parliament has any interests of any kind in the Baha Mar development.

He then welcomed the prime minister to confirm whether he could say the same about his own members of parliament.

“I have no interest in or control of any company with ownership in Baha Mar,” she said.

Mrs. Maynard-Gibson also said that while Prime Minister Christie is aware of her children’s interests in the company, the Government of The Bahamas had absolutely nothing to do with her family’s business transactions.

She stressed that she only wants things to work in the best interest of Bahamians.

“In the meantime, I pray that history will record that my driving purpose as attorney general is to approach each day with humility and integrity, seeking justice, excellence and the best interest for Bahamians, and all those living within our borders.”

Baha Mar is currently in negotiations in China to resolve its financial woes.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Delaware court on June 29 – placing blame on its contractor for being unable to complete the project on time.

Shortly after the Delaware filing, Maynard -Gibson filed a winding up petition against Baha Mar which would place the beleaguered development into the hands of a provisional liquidator.

The winding-up petition is slated to be heard on August 19 before Justice Ian Winder.