The Tribune

By TANEKA THOMPSON

and RASHAD ROLLE

AMERICAN diplomats last night defended the controversial US Department of State’s 2014 Investment Climate Statement on the Bahamas as government officials present and past strongly criticised it for its lack of balance and empirical evidence.

The US Embassy’s statement said every effort is made to present “accurate and complete” information, dispelled suggestions the report was prepared by a Bahamian and stressed that non-Americans have a very “limited if any role” in the preparation of such documents.

That came a day after Acting Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis met US Charge d’Affaires John Dinkelman to secure a “full and frank explanation”.

The US State Department’s report had labelled the PLP’s campaign promises “unfulfilled”, spoke of corruption in high and low levels in the government and described government-issued contracts as “problematic”.

In its statement yesterday, the government said that during Wednesday’s meeting, Mr Dinkleman “admitted that the report was a departure from the traditional format of other similar reports and assured the Bahamas government that its concerns were duly noted, the report will be further reviewed and the appropriate measures will be taken.”

The fallout continued as Investment Minister Khalis Rolle claimed that US Embassy officials interfered in Bahamian government contract and procurement processes by lobbying on behalf of two American companies, which later complained about Bahamian government interference.

Meanwhile, former State Minister for Finance James Smith said the report failed to uphold the high standards one expected from the US.