Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts noted that Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis “cowardly” remained silent on issues surrounding the Baha Mar deal after Attorney General Carl Bethel suggested the deal was legitimate.
Throughout the Free National Movement’s (FNM) campaign, Dr. Minnis criticized the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government for sealing a deal that was not in the interest of the Bahamian people.
Dr. Minnis constantly promised to unseal the deal if and when the FNM assumed office.
However, last week the attorney general went on record stating that there was nothing illegal or wrong with the Baha Mar deal, and insisted it remains sealed.
Since this statement, Dr. Minnis has not commented on the matter.
This prompted the PLP chairman to believe that the prime minister conveniently used the attorney general as a vehicle to break the news.
“Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis knew at the time he tabled Heads of Terms on the completion, sale and opening of Baha Mar unsealed by the Bahamas Supreme Court that there was absolutely nothing unusual, wrong or illegal with the agreement, but cowardly remained silent on this important matter that dominated the message of the FNM election campaign,” Mr. Roberts said.
“The FNM told the world that the PLP was selling 500 Bahamian citizenships; selling tens of thousands of acres of land in Andros and selling out the country to the Chinese in some secret deal yet not a peep from the prime minister. Dr. Minnis went as far as to say that the Christie administration illegally gave away Bahamian assets and the Bahamian patrimony with no evidence to support these false and deceitful claims. His reckless and dangerous claims that were all bold faced lies hurt the international reputation of The Bahamas and intentionally deceived thousands of Bahamians.
“Instead of admitting his gross error and offer a contrite apology, Minnis instead directed Attorney General Carl Bethel to make the declaration.”
The PLP chairman charged that Dr. Minnis’ reasons for doing this raises some suspicions.
“From the June 29, 2016 Baha Mar Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Dr. Hubert Minnis and the FNM threw their full support behind developer Sarkis Izmirlian and his then fellow Baha Mar board director and demonstrably outspoken surrogate and willing mouthpiece Dionisio D’Aguilar, who is now minister of tourism. They accused the Christie government of interfering with the Delaware bankruptcy filing and Dr. Minnis specifically accused the Christie government falsely of a corrupt ‘under the table’ secret deal, wrong doing and malfeasance.
“I hasten to point out firstly that the details of the Heads of Terms were revealed by the former prime minister at a press conference at Baha Mar. In the House of Assembly and at various times, still Minnis and the FNM continued with their barrage of lies and distortions. Now that the Heads of Terms are in the public domain, what will Minnis say now? He has lost his arrogant bombast and I dare say his voice.
“The shocking allegations and over the top statements by former Baha Mar Director Sarkis surrogate and willing mouthpiece Dionisio D’Aguilar are all in the public domain. He said that CFE is unfit to own and operate Baha Mar because the organization has connections to the mob and organized crime.”
Noting that the FNM is consistent on its message of transparency and accountability, Mr. Roberts suggested that the prime minister expose the details of the original deal between the FNM and Sarkis Izmirlian.
“Did the FNM receive financial contributions from Sarkis Izmirlian? What was promised to Sarkis in return for his support?” Mr. Roberts said.
“Dr. Minnis must come clean and disabuse the general public of this view – what with the FNM government being this honest, accountable, transparent and open government that is about to table anti-corruption legislation in Parliament. Man Minnis should be snappy and jump at this opportunity to clear the proverbial air.”
