The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Kindly allow me space to respond to the interview with Wayne Munroe published 23rd September in The Tribune, on the Blackbeard’s Cay matter.

When the Prime Minister, Perry Christie, and his Minister of Agriculture, decided to issue approvals to Blackbeard’s Cay without observing the legal process, they broke the laws.

They did what they did, for reasons best known to themselves. Certainly, those reasons were not known to the public, which under our laws, had a right to a public meeting; had a right to raise questions and get answers. This meeting was never held. Correspondence on the topic was ignored – for years. The Government throughout this process has shown contempt for the law, and disregard for the public.

The Supreme Court found that the PM and the Minister of Agriculture failed to comply with our laws. The approvals they granted to the Blackbeard’s Cay redevelopment, did not meet legal requirements. The Court quashed those approvals. This means they are not in effect.

Blue Illusions, the operator of Blackbeard’s Cay, was at all times aware of these proceedings. It had lawyers attending these proceedings; it had opportunity to intervene in these proceedings; it had opportunity to be heard. But did nothing.

Wayne Munroe’s client sat on its hands. It let the Government spend the Bahamian public’s money, fighting this action, in an attempt to defend the interests of a private enterprise.

That attempt failed. The Court decided against the Government. Now Blue Illusions says it is unhappy with the consequences. It stood by and watched the litigation for almost two years, and did nothing. To complain now that enforcement of the Court order would be in breach of its constitutional rights, is mischievous at best.

Let’s consider our constitutional democracy. It mandates that we have a rule of law; that no man is above the law; that all are equal before the law; that breaches of the law bring consequences.

The Government broke the law when it allowed Blue Illusions to proceed with an illegal development. Blue Illusions broke the law, by proceeding with an illegal development. But Mr. Munroe claims “It’s not cricket” to enforce the law.

Here’s where we would ask ourselves:

When the parties to the development, and these proceedings, (being Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture, Director of Town Planning, international business men, developers, financiers), set out on a path which avoided compliance with our laws, did they not contemplate any consequences?

To add to the issues, Blue Illusion’s attorney indicates that it may sue the Government if Blackbeard’s Cay has to return to its permitted use. Mr. Munroe says the Company’s claim would cost the Bahamian people $12 million in damages. Whether Mr. Munroe’s client has a valid claim is a discussion for another place. Mr. Munroe says also that 60-100 Bahamians would lose their jobs.

Before we are alarmed by these numbers let’s ask ourselves:

If our Government cared about liability to the Bahamian people, why did it allow BoB (the Broke Bank of the Bahamas) to mismanage $100 million of the people’s money?

Why has it put $200 million more of the People’s NIB money, into a bank seemingly rocked by corruption?

If the Government truly cared about Bahamian jobs, why has it forced Baha Mar into a chronic and probably fatal liquidation process, at the loss of about 2,500 Bahamian jobs?

But the fundamental question here is: Does the Government care about good governance?

The Government did not do right in the first place, by Blackbeard’s Cay, when it broke the law.

It is not doing right in the second place, by ignoring our Court’s order.

This amounts to contempt of Court. Court orders can be enforced by committal proceedings.

Justice Stephen Isaacs’ ruling on Blackbeard’s Cay requires the PM and his Minister of Agriculture, to act within the limits of our laws.

This is how an independent and impartial judiciary in a democracy is supposed to function: it prevents the misuse and abuse of power, or corrects it.

And here’s where the PM could lead brilliantly by example – comply with the Court orders, and uphold the law of the land.

It would set the gold standard this nation so very much needs to follow.

It’s an historic moment in our development as a nation. It’s an historic decision, and not just for dolphins.

It’s about our democracy, and administration of the rule of law: without prejudice, without fear or favour, without corruption.

It’s about prudent government, with vision.

It’s about us, and what we want for our country.

It’s about making it better in the Bahamas

Let’s take a look at the short list of Government issues so far:

BAMSI; Bank of the Bahamas; Baha Mar; Bahamas Air; BTC; BEC; Crime; Education; Carnival Junkanoo Accounts; Urban Renewal Accounts;

And now Blackbeard’s Cay.

Shooting the messenger, whether it is ReEarth, or the Public Accounts Committee, is not the answer. The problems will still be there.

But the beauty of the Blackbeard’s Cay case, is that these wrongs can be put right – the dolphins can be relocated to a suitable place, and the island can be restored to its legally permitted use – once the rule of law functions in our democracy.

Justice Isaacs’ ruling in the Blackbeard’s Cay case, gives the PM, the Minister of Agriculture, and all of us, a window of opportunity to do the right thing.

If we are truly proud to be Bahamian, we can make it happen.

LEANDRA ESFAKIS

Nassau,

September 27, 2015.