Six public private partnerships put on hold by AG's office

As of Friday, June 23, 2017

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel yesterday revealed that his office has put six public private partnerships on hold, one of them including a grant of 30 acres of Crown land that was executed "days, if not on the day" before the election.

Mr Bethel said it was initially believed that only one contract had been formalized. However, it was later discovered that two other contracts were entered into for two of the public-private partnerships (PPP’S) without oversight from the Attorney General's office.

He said that one of the contracts was signed on May 9.

The PPP contracts include proposals to: "construct an administrative office building on 30 acres of prime agricultural Crown Land on Gladstone Road; reconstruct an administrative office for the Administrator and Police Station in Harbour Island, entered into with the same company that had agreed to build the Gladstone Road complex; construct a new Administrator’s office and Police Station in Eight Mile Rock; construct a new General Post Office at the Independence Drive Plaza; construct a new building to house the Road Traffic Department at TWD Highway and Knowles Drive and provide contractual works pursuant to a scope of works, which had no pricing information, all in respect of the Fox Hill Community Centre".

For the company that had undertaken the two jobs at Gladstone Road and in Harbour Island, the MOUs were combined, according to Mr Bethel.

"That MOU called for the 30 acres to be granted to the builder by a Crown Grant," Mr Bethel said, "so that it could then lease the same land back to the government. The transfer of title was said to be so as to enable that builder to borrow necessary funds from a Bank to fund the construction.

"I am informed, that the Crown Grant was executed by the former government within days, if not on the day, of the general elections."

Mr Bethel continued: "It now transpires, so far as we know now, that in fact two other contracts were entered into, one for the new General Post Office, and the third for the Eight Mile Rock building. Officials of my Ministry, although they were briefed and working on the proposed contracts, had not “signed off”, or given the O.K., to the signing of these two contracts, and were never informed that officials in another Ministry had gone ahead, and signed them, one on the 9th May, 2017, a day before the general elections.

"All of these MOUs or contracts," he said, "have now been put on hold pending a thorough review to determine if they or any one of them are truly in the best interests of the People, in respect of their pricing or other terms and conditions, and whether there was anything untoward in respect of any of them."

ohdrap4 6 years, 10 months ago

is this ppp thing a way to launder public assets or money to political cronies?

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 10 months ago

It's a way to award no bid contracts

Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 10 months ago

Notice how Carl Bethel refuses to name all of the parties involved in each of these six PPP ventures put on hold even though we, the people, have every right to know who they are. Where is all of that transparency we were promised by Minnis during the election campaign?!

bahamalove 6 years, 10 months ago

Just think Numbers!

Naughtydread 6 years, 10 months ago

My sentiments exactly bahamalove

licks2 6 years, 10 months ago

Bran why don't you try to use ya head some times. . .ain't you a lawyer? You know that everybody have some right to privacy aye? The word in the Minister's press release in "REVIEW". . .AND IN CASE YA DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WORD MEANS. . .TIT MEANS HE CHECKIN IT OUT FOR ANY SKULDUGGERY. . .then let the chips fall where they may! I done see that if yinna did get the government we would have been paying a hell of a lot of money in legal actions for breach of constitutional rights!! So just shut the heck up and carry ya foolishness somewhere else!! Hump!! Errytime people talking sense you and them two PLP around here just keep talking cow pies! Man just chill hear. . .

Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 10 months ago

You're a real idiot, and no doubt McCartney himself must be getting a good chuckle off of your idiocy. Most of us will simply continue ignoring just about everything you post to this website, and with good reason!

happyfly 6 years, 10 months ago

Yep, think of numbers and what pretty things grow in your garden

PPP's can be great way for broke governments to get infrastructure projects going but everywhere else in the world they are set up a little more transparently than Pig Greedy Christie style

TalRussell 6 years, 10 months ago

Comrades!I can't imagine why it is that members this "4th" Red Shirts Regime- will talk about any other people's business dealings but think that despite the state funds of to the tune of some $1.9 Billion handed over to prop up Baha Mar - they still decided they need keep certain Baha Mar dealings all secretive? Was their promises to tell all about Baha Mar and to reduce the costs on "Bread Basket" items - just the two most perfect campaign illusion ever to hit our Bahamaland campaign trail? {There's nothing funny to fib about lowering prices on "Bread Basket" items}.

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by TalRussell

sheeprunner12 6 years, 10 months ago

The concept of PPP was considered a good thing to get the Bahamian private sector to invest in the communities ......... but the PLP PM/Cabinet even succeeded in making that a government rip-off to benefit their cronies .......... I agree with the sentiments above ...... NAME THEM

BahamaPundit 6 years, 10 months ago

Mr. Bethel seems like the opposite of what the people were looking for in an AG. Too bad. He seems too much a part of the old school boys club (let sleeping dogs lie) to be of any use to this younger generation. An AG who refuses to prosecute obvious wrong doing will be the immediate death of the FNM. Hey Mr. Bethel, why not be qiet until you've reviewed all the files. I'd start with the 11 million hurricane payment. Duhhhh!!!!

BahamaPundit 6 years, 10 months ago

Instead of It's the People's Time seems like all we going to get is It's the People's Crying. Crying without action is a damn waste of time!!!

BahamaPundit 6 years, 10 months ago

The last straw for me was when the AG quoted Shakespeare. Keep your jokey qoptes to yourself please. This is not a clowning matter. Shut up and get to work prosecuting these criminals.

Truism 6 years, 10 months ago

Why are you angry? Didn't you get your wish. Your party won. They have access to every file. I guess they're unable to find what they told you they would. LMAO. It's looking more and more with each passing hour like you get swing. I understand your anger and feel your pain.

SP 6 years, 10 months ago

Every contract Pillage Loot Plunder AND former Foreign National Movement entered should be forensically audited to flush out and prosecute these pirates that have destroyed our country for personal gain.

PM Dr. Minnis must be made to understand the electorate demands that either we are going to purge our country of corruption, confiscate all illegally obtained monies and punish those responsible to the fullest extent of the law or not. No halfway measures will suffice.

These pirates took turns pillaging the country and the Bahamian people and must NOT be allowed to walk away laughing scot-free with the peoples' assets!

ohdrap4 6 years, 10 months ago

If you can find the contract. I overheard a plp saying that 'the ministry cannot find a copy of his contract'. Then, if he does not have a signed contract, just stop paying him , just like they did the culture contractor.

They could save a lot of money that way. no one has to honour a non existent contract.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 10 months ago

Excellent Rap4 ........ If a person cannot present his/her signed contract, why should anyone just pay them from the Treasury?????? ......... That is what the auditing should be about ....... find the money trail

jusscool 6 years, 10 months ago

Carl Bethel ,a PLP in disguise!

sheeprunner12 6 years, 10 months ago

He may not be a PLP ............. but he is part of the political brotherhood (like the Lodge system of secrecy and codes) ............. The Bahamian political brotherhood will circle the wagons when the masses begin to rise up

Truism 6 years, 10 months ago

The public Treasury requires a copy of contracts to be filed with them before they make payment. A part of the required supporting documents. At least I know this to be their policy.

BahamaPundit 6 years, 10 months ago

If the FNM do not prosecute it will be due to fear that should they lose the next election they will be prosecuted too. Fear is sn unacceptable reason. Grow some balls and pursue justice for the Bahamian people!

licks2 6 years, 10 months ago

I am so glad that doc does not allow himself to be "swayed" any which-a-way like PGC. . .because if he follow some of these dumb crap posted here he will be just a stupid as the PLP was in government. . .but I hope that yinna will support "governance by cabinet's whim" like so many of yinna are advocating when the gun is turned yinna way! Then yall would want fair and balanced and constitutional reviews!! I am beginning to feel like I am down on Minnie street with Roffie them who never finished high school trying to tell the government how to run the nation!! The international community must be looking at this site and others like it and saying to themselves: " they have a good opportunity to break the back of corruption in the Bahamas. . .but if the government follows some of those asinine advice given by joe public. . .they would lose that golden moment to get it right"! Thank God for teaching doc how to "hold he head in the mids of plenty stupid talks" during the time LBT them was chappin him all over he head for all them years!! So yinna partisan voices on this site keep in mind. . .THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S TIME". . .we are the opposition. . .so act like yinna got some dang sense and keep ya childish nonsense to "ya sef"! We done teach the PLP that as said Dr. Munroe. . .the old stupid
way of "doing politics" IS OVER!! Only sane, common sense and acting like ya got some smarts about ya needs to apply!!

Truism 6 years, 10 months ago

Honestly tried to comprehend what you said, but couldn't make sense of it. What exactly are you advocating?

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