The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

The Office of the Attorney General is awaiting “certified copies of certain documents” before deciding the next course of action in its investigation into the Bahamas Electricity Corporation bribery claims, State Minister of Legal Affairs Damian Gomez said yesterday.

Mr Gomez told The Tribune that the Office of the Attorney General is currently looking into “evidential matters” pertaining to the investigation. He said officials were looking into the matter “as quickly as we can but as thoroughly as we can also”.

Mr Gomez could not say when officials would make an announcement on the results of their findings. He also did not reveal the name of the former BEC official accused of accepting over $300,000 to secure a contract for a French energy company.

Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Gomez said: “That matter is presently being dealt with. There are some evidential matters that are being looked into, and we’re looking into it as quickly as we can but as thoroughly as we can also.”

When asked for a timeline as to when officials would release any further information, such as the identity of the Bahamian in question, he said: “As soon as we have the certified copies of certain documents, we will be in a position to say.”

Mr Gomez’s statements came a day after Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said the investigation is “totally out of my hands” as police chief, but said that a senior assistant commissioner of police is investigating the matter with the Office of the Attorney General.

Earlier this month, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson confirmed that US authorities had provided her with the name of the Bahamian who allegedly received a bribe from a French energy company Alstom (formerly ABB) over a decade ago to help it secure lucrative BEC contracts.

However, the name has not yet been made public.

The bribery claims were unearthed in a $772m plea agreement between Alstom and the United States Justice Department last year.

In December, Tribune Business exclusively revealed how, in its multi-million dollar settlement and plea bargain with the US Justice Department, Alstom admitted to paying an unnamed Bahamian, called “Official 8”, more than $300,000 through intermediaries to ensure it won the contract to supply BEC with a slow speed diesel generator nearly 15 years ago.

The alleged bribe was made between 1999 and 2001, during the time of the former Ingraham administration.

It was claimed that Alstom falsified records, ultimately paying millions in bribes for help in obtaining more than $4 billion in projects in various countries, including the Bahamas.

This week, former FNM Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson said the revelation of the identity of the former BEC official who allegedly took the bribes will not negatively affect the FNM nor have an impact on the public’s perception of the party.

Mr Watson had responsibility for BEC at the time of the alleged bribe taking.

“I can’t think of any member of the FNM team to even pinpoint or suggest any name from the board (that would’ve engaged in this),” he said.

Despite this however, he has conceded that he believes the allegations to be credible and reiterated his call for the investigation to be finished and its results released.

“I don’t have any reason to believe that they will do anything but the right thing,” he said.