By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE two assurances by Prime Minister Perry Christie to set the record straight over the Stem Cell controversy and fashion tycoon Peter Nygard’s involvement, he has yet to do so.
Mr Christie told The Tribune over the weekend that he would speak on the matter when Parliament convened yesterday, however after a disruption in the chamber by Opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis the session was adjourned. The House of Assembly is not expected to sit again until August 7.
The Prime Minister was slated to speak last week Wednesday in the House but at that time, proceedings were suspended before it was his turn.
Mr Christie told this newspaper on Saturday that he did not make the contribution because Parliament would have run on too late.
Last Tuesday he said: “I can’t wait to go to the House of Assembly on Wednesday for the Stem Cell debate. They been saying that Nygard cause me bring the stem cell legislation.
“Listen let me tell you something, I want them to tell me about those FNM politicians who does be down by Nygard house. This what they should be telling me about and they want my ministers to resign? Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you the Bahamas is a very special place. A part of the political game is to cause distractions.
“They introduce what they call red herrings to cause to stop what you are doing...I told the younger fellows over and over, try not to make mistakes with personal behaviours and integrity issues and be the best you can because you can be judged more harshly than anybody else.”
Mr Christie suggested that former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham had taken flights on helicopters with the Aga Khan, but had not received the backlash that the PLP had after it went public that several Ministers had met with Mr Nygard shortly after the May 2012 general election at Nygard Cay.
The Stem Cell Research and Therapy Bill has been described as a groundbreaking move for the Bahamas, which is expected to create another multi-million dollar stream of income.
However, sitting FNM parliamentarians have said they will not support the legislation because they have little faith that the Christie administration will properly police stem cell procedures.
Comments
banker 10 years, 9 months ago
Now that the affidavit has surfaced and produced by Minnis, Perry Christie, Peter Nygard and the PLP have shown themselves to be the liars that they are. This government is truly for sale, just like all of the PLP governments in our history.
JohnDoes 10 years, 9 months ago
Yep, couldnt agree more. Mr Christie has been exposed and seems to be stalling on setting the record straight because the record has been broken.
realfreethinker 10 years, 9 months ago
The record has been set straight. That's what the affidavit does.
JohnDoes 10 years, 9 months ago
I dont think Mr Christie would even dare to define Mr Nygards affidavit as false because it was filed for Nygard's own lawsuit against rival Mr Bacon. If he throws a blind-eye toward this it would be because the so called 'Stem Cell Research' that has been the headline of this country, will of course be in jeopardy hence giving the current government another bad reputation. The Stem Cell was not even apart of the agenda as I can recall. It only became top priority since Nygard agreed to donate his $5 million. In darkness their will always be light.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago
Those FNM politicians were voted out of office on May 7 2012....who knows, maybe because they actually were at Nygard's place. I suggest we focus on the activity of the current ministers who today have their fingertips over the Implode button for the entire Bahamas.
realfreethinker 10 years, 9 months ago
You are so right. Every time they get caught the FNM did it too.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
This wouldn't be a such big deal if this was just an ordinary native making such an anxious rush to clarify his position in the House. But wasn't Hubert also in a rush to get elected to represent Cooper's Town for the next "five years?" I forget now, tell me, how long did Hubert sit in the House for, after his regime's 2012 firing? One to like four days maximum, I think?
242 10 years, 9 months ago
Please explain what that has to do with the article. I would like to know more.
ayatollah 10 years, 9 months ago
Lord help my P.M.he always. Puts his foot in his mouth
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
The House seat left empty by a fired PM. Take note PM Christie, is my concerned message. What better way to illustrate than to draw attention to both former law partners, bad political ways?
by TalRussell
banker 10 years, 9 months ago
We are talking about a current scandal and a sitting PM caught in a lie. Why do you always manage to bring up the name of a PM who is no longer in politics, and no longer in public life? We are talking about the here and now, and the perfidy of a brain-dead, loquacious, corrupt Prime Minister currently in office. Your constant reference to HAI proves that he has god-like powers that still permeate every waking breath and thought that you have. Hail to the GOD of the Bahamas Hubert Alexander Ingraham. Long Live King Peter the First of the Bahamas.
The agenda here is the rotten PLP government. End of story.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
@banker the deeper PGC,s nonsense gets the more comrade Tals brings up HAI , at lest you can say he is consistent ,hey for HAI billion put on the debt in five years we got ,roads ,airports ,hospitals ,,harbours,,unemployment benefits if you had worked and paid NIB,,,for PGC billion in a year we got ,a useless referendum , urban renewal ,nygard ,,,a slow red boat ,,even if half went to satisfy what HAI spent i still feel cheated
242 10 years, 9 months ago
Oh great that explains it. Thanks TalRussell
Stapedius 10 years, 9 months ago
FNMs and PLP are all full of crap. Both sides know full well that they receive contributions from certain individuals in our community. The fact of the matter is, we need campaign finance rules in the country. These foreigners always seem to want to ensnare Bahamian politicians and like the guppies they are they simply fall for it every time. I've always said that our politicians need to stare clear of these folks. This is seriously taking too much time away from important issues. All this over a man who is not even Bahamian and can pick up and leave any day he wishes. So why bother ourselves with his crap.
JohnDoes 10 years, 9 months ago
Repost: Perhaps later on in the years, the Bahamas will consider being consumed by America and become an 'Unincorporated Territory' like Puerto Rico & the Virgin Islands. There is no excuse as to why we should not. We are not even technically regarded as being located in the Caribbean. I think it would be better than being independent because our independence shows that we are very dependent and our people, the citizens are suffering, while our lands and jobs are being bought out by foreigners because too much of our Bahamian dollars are spent paying back loans rather than investing in the well being of the people. Something to think about. Of course this will cause a governmental/parliamentary reform along with her majesty being removed as head of the state while we welcome Uncle Sam and strengthen the western hemisphere. Only then can I see the Bahamas actually moving forward, it has been 40 years too long dealing with the same aristocrats and this kleptocratic system.
banker 10 years, 9 months ago
I totally agree. However it will have to come after the total and inevitable collapse of the Bahamas. The kleptocrats will do anything to avoid justice.
Ironically (or perhaps inevitably) in my position, I see businessmen who do make money in this country, as desperately trying to diversify their funds into hard currency. This includes everything from creating another wholesale step in Florida to supply their businesses, to accumulating American dollars floating around from the tourist industry. I know of one major store owner who discounts large purchases of up to 20% if the payment is made in American dollars. Others use web payment processing where the funds stay in an offshore bank account. These business people are sorely afraid of devaluation of the Bahamian dollar and their life savings go up in smoke. They are the lucky ones. They have a fighting chance at diversifying their money.
Tarzan 10 years, 9 months ago
The construction by the Aga Kahn in the sea park was an issue that was repeatedly raised in Parliament by the PLP minority at the time of Prime Minister Ingraham's trip. This despite the approval from every involved governmental agency for the construction, and further the approval of the BNT.
In light of the PLP making a national issue over the legality of that construction and in light of serial accusations that the legally issued permits were not being adhered to, the P.M. decided to visit the site and make a personal inspection. The Aga Kahn had a helicopter making daily trips to the island and when invited to use that means of transportation which undoubtedly saved at a minimum a full day of his valuable time the P.M. accepted.
There was no gift to the FNM. There was no benefit to the serving P.M. other than saving him time. The Aga Kahn did not construct without valid permits, the law was scrupulously followed.
How can that be compared to what was depicted in the Nygard Saves His Bahamas video? How does that compare to the concrete structures on the seabed adjacent to Mr. Nygard's home that are clearly shown in that video. Those constructions he continues to claim resulted from "natural accretion".
How can that be compared to the published suggestion of $5 million dollars in "slush funds" handed to the current government but still unaccounted for?
These attempts to suggest that "our hands may be dirty but we're not the only ones" are not only irrelevant (I theeft but everyone does it?) but are inapposite.
P.M. Ingraham's use of the helicopter was in the public service. There is nothing about the public service associated with a bunch of cabinet ministers sitting around fawning over a egoist who admits to a $5 million dollar contribution to something the public is not permitted to know about.
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