FNM Chairman says BTC bonus leaks ‘a deflection attempt by PM’

As of Wednesday, October 29, 2014

By RICARDO WELLS

FREE National Movement Chairman Darron Cash yesterday labelled the leaked reports of bonus payments at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company following its controversial sale to Cable and Wireless in 2011 a “deflection attempt” by the Prime Minister and the Progressive Liberal Party, adding that the $1.5m payments to executives were “well deserved”.

Mr Cash claimed that Perry Christie is trying to “divert attention away from his own government’s growing record of incompetence, corruption and scandal,” adding “his desperate acts will not work”.

It has been reported this week that 15 top BTC officials were paid a total of $1.5m, with payments ranging between $15,000 and $210,000. Reports revealed those bonuses were paid by cheque from the Public Treasury.

In a statement Mr Cash described the BTC payments, which were made under the former FNM administration, as “retention bonuses”, claiming that they were paid in an effort to keep the executives with BTC throughout the corporation’s privatisation process.

According to Mr Cash bonuses were paid to “experienced managers to add value to the company at that time” at which he said there had been “sabotage and unrest within the corporation”.

Mr Cash said that the PLP government has become so “scandal-ridden” that the party is now trying to shift public attention away. “The publishing of government financial information from the Prime Minister’s Ministry (of Finance) as some kind of leak says a lot about the extent of desperation of this Prime Minister and government,” Mr Cash said.

“It is nothing short of hilarious that Prime Minister Perry Christie would have anything to say about so called ‘shocking’ payments made by the Government of The Bahamas in connection with the BTC privatisation exercise.”

Mr Cash claimed that Mr Christie “cannot find his tongue to speak up on the growing list of financial and other irregularities associated with his present government”.

It was ironic that the PM remained silent throughout the entire Renward Wells fiasco, he claimed. “The Prime Minister can find time to talk about everything under the sun, but he cannot find breath to give an account to the Bahamian people. He keeps hiding behind his junior political appointee.”

He added that remaining silent on such an important issue made the Prime Minister look weak.

Mr Cash claimed that the Bank of the Bahamas has problems, alleging “insider dealing” and financial ”irregularities.” He also alleged that “BEC senior managers send the Prime Minister a report documenting illegal hook-ups and alleged financial irregularities.” However, he said, “mum’s the word yet again from this Prime Minister.”

“On all these matters, PM Christie is silent. We reiterate that it is amusing that the only scandal Mr Christie can point to is a set of payments from the Public Treasury with an audit trail as long as the island of Eleuthera,” Mr Cash added.

TalRussell 9 years, 5 months ago

Hey There Fellow Red Shirts Comrades. This is your looking for promotion red Chairman Daron. Today is a good day register for my exclusive coaching sessions These are more than just lectures. I will be working on highlighting and clearing your energetic negative blocks in each session - in every aspect of how duck ever having admit that Papa Hubert has past we must avoid at all costs. Now, I'm not saying as a red you should be considering forging a relationship with Comrades Minnis or Loretta, cause I is the red chairman and I will take full charge of matters, as I have done to date in ducking whatever PM Christie can digs up on Papa Hubert. Comrade leaders Minnis and Loretta, they's on they owns defend themselves. I will cover everything but not why it took over 2 years call party's mandated convention.. But you will have to act fast my Dear Red Comrades to save my own ass, cause my own 'upping my leadership role' in red party has in recent days come under some serious threat and not from our PLP enemies, but by them other two reds Dr. Duane and Senator Pintard. Some balls hey? Please ignore we reds are still burning the Papa Hubert flame at we's outdated website. Too damn busy like crabs in basket, pulling we's own red colleagues down. https://www.fnm2012.org">https://www.fnm2012.org

jackbnimble 9 years, 5 months ago

And as usual - just like the NIB fiasco - nothing will be done about it. A bunch of hip hip hoorah until the next shocking headline. We as Bahamians are always reactionary. We react to whatever is in the news and then quiet down until the next headline. No wonder our officials remain corrupt. There never has been nor will there ever be any accountability.

I am going to switch careers and either become a politician or a pastor. It's a sure way to goosey people out of their money and the quickest way to become rich just by duping people. Only in the 242!

GrassRoot 9 years, 5 months ago

Well it was plain wrong to pay those bonuses. It was done by the old government. Now we have a new government, it is understandable that PLP is making some noises. Bottom line for the new Government: 1. Fix it (drag them to court or ask for repayment or both) 2. Make sure that you are learning from this and don't shower your own crownies in money.

licks2 9 years, 5 months ago

Nobody in this fogging government can talk "nuttin". . .who just paid 20 mil for a 5mil building!!! I don't want to hear a damn ting frum this jackazz group er ninnies them so!! And they ger send dat big fool half criminal ta tell we about the money them!!! Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!

SP 9 years, 5 months ago

...........................Big Mouth Brad must think we are as stupid as he is....................................

The PLP think we are stupid enough to devour this "sweet bone" they threw out!

This whole "throw Hubert Ingraham under the bus" tactic is nothing but and attempt to cause a distraction from the Haitian-Colombian necktie, more of us than dem threats made by the PLP paper Haitian- Bahamian last week.

The real question here is why does the PLP continue to mismanage the countries affairs by not reporting this information to the nation when they found out 2 years ago?

Big Mouth Bradley Roberts and the rest of the pirates have not come to grips with the reality that this is the INFORMATION AGE.......not the STONE AGE.....The old tactic of withholding damming information about the opposition until the next campaign starts will not work now JACKASS'S......It will be old news.....and only make you look more dishonest and untrustworthy.

Darron Cash does still owe the country a statement on the Haitian migration problem and the paper Haitian-Bahamian threats last week...........We are waiting!

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