PLP leader Philip 'Brave' Davis.
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
IF the “reckless” Oban Energies deal continues to be shrouded with “incompetence and dishonesty” then the $5.5bn agreement will not continue under a Progressive Liberal Party-led government should the organisation win the next general election, party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis, pictured, said yesterday.
He also warned the PLP is not prepared to do business with Peter Krieger, Oban’s non-executive chairman, who is now caught in another round of controversy after it was reported he did not sign his own name on the heads of agreement for the deal, which was inked two weeks ago, but signed the name of Satpal Dhunna, the company’s president.
Asked pointedly if the PLP would do business with Mr Krieger, Mr Davis responded: “No”.
He added: “We have called upon them to clean up this act. If it’s cleaned up by the time we are in office and we see it’s enduring to the benefit of the Bahamian people, it would not be right for us to stop it.
“But if it continues in the manner in which it is, it is more likely that it will not continue,” Mr Davis told reporters yesterday.
He spoke during a monthly PLP press conference at the party’s headquarters on Farrington Road.
“When we are in office, we will have to see where they are with this project. We have to see whether or not it has been cleaned up. That will be whenever the election is called.
“If it remains as it is today and we are in the same position that we are in today, the answer is it is more likely that we will not continue with this project than to continue with the project.”
Mr Davis also said a PLP government would not have agreed to the concessions outlined in the Heads of Agreement when it comes to jobs and the agreed upon change to the Bahamas’ tax incentives to accommodate Oban. According to the document, the Minnis administration will speedily introduce legislation to amend the Industries Encouragement Act so that Oban can enjoy an extended period for tax concession, Tribune Business reported previously.
In the meantime, Mr Davis said the Official Opposition might opt to call for a select committee in Parliament to review the agreement and the events surrounding it.
He said the issue has been compounded by the government’s lack of transparency and frankness leading him to raise several questions as far as the deal is concerned. Among these was the level of involvement of the BEST Commission and the thoroughness of consultation with the Office of the Attorney General.
“We are advised that the BEST Commission, the government’s official policy advisor on the environment and its protection, preservation and sustainability, was kept out of the loop on this project. Why is that?
“BEST is reportedly unaware of the location of the proposed project therefore was unable to offer any policy advice to the government on this matter,” Mr Davis claimed.
“I am sure the prime minister has an explanation for his decision to exclude the BEST Commission in this environmentally sensitive project,” he added.
He repeated his call for the government to table the agreement signed by Mr Krieger, suggesting the prime minister had not been forthcoming because he did not disclose that the agreement signed two weeks ago was ceremonial.
“The prime minister did not disclose to the House that there was a ceremonial signing and therefore possibly two different documents. The impression was that there was one document and that was the one he produced to the House.
“So questions have to be asked whether there are two documents or one? Is the document signed by Mr Krieger with Mr Dhunna’s name the document that was tabled by the prime minister in the House?
“Is the document tabled in the House then a true and valid agreement?
“Whatever the answer to these searching questions, this represents a fundamental dishonesty and government by sleight of hand.
“The country is entitled to implicitly rely on the word of the prime minister. The prime minister has an ethical responsibility to tell the truth. He has a legal responsibility not to mislead the House.
“In any other system of parliamentary democracy, this would be (a) ground to move a vote of no confidence and censure the prime minister and the government from materially misleading the country and the House.”
Mr Krieger’s participation at the event marking the Heads of Agreement’s signing reportedly caught some members of the Minnis administration by surprise, The Tribune was told.
His involvement was owed to a family connection he has to at least one of the project’s beneficial owners, two sources in the Minnis administration have said. He has since been permanently removed from his public role in the project, this newspaper was told.
Comments
BahamaPundit 6 years, 1 month ago
No words. PLP please just leave The Bahamas. Please!!!!!
TigerB 6 years, 1 month ago
I found this story and decided to post. the PLP was the government then, we all familiar with this, its just happened in 2016.
BY Steven Stradbrooke ON November 01, 2016 TAGS: BAHA MAR, BAHAMAS, CHOW TAI FOOK ENTERPRISES The Chinese conglomerate looking to buy the $3.5b Baha Mar resort is pushing back against allegations that it’s “unsuited” to do business in the Bahamas. Late last week, word broke that Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) was negotiating the purchase of the unfinished Baha Mar resort from its Chinese bank owners. On Sunday, Dionisio D’Aguilar, a former director of the project’s original developer, publicly accused CTFE of (among other things) having links to Chinese criminal organizations. On Tuesday, the Bahamas Tribune published written responses from CTFE to D’Aguilar’s public broadside, which included a claim that CTFE had been denied gaming licenses in the United States. CTFE countered this claim by saying it “has never applied for a casino license in the US.” CTFE is controlled by the family of the late Cheng Yu Tung, a Hong Kong billionaire who died in September at the age of 91. Cheng held a 10% stake in STDM, the parent company of Macau casino operator SJM Holdings – the likely source of D’Aguilar’s claims re failed US licensing. In 2010, gaming regulators in Atlantic City forced MGM Resorts to choose between their ownership of the Borgata casino and their Macau joint venture with Pansy Ho, daughter of SJM founder Stanley Ho, after determining that the elder Ho was too chummy with alleged members of Hong Kong’s triads. CTFE told the Tribune that the Cheng family’s role in SJM “is strictly as an investor with no involvement of day-to-day management of the casino or oversight of the gaming industry in Macau.” The family stressed that “there will be no affiliation on [Baha Mar] with STDM or SJM.”
The Then Government, PLP trusted these guys even though much noise was made against it. I made noise too, they had a with shady past, now we see the hotel starting to come into its own, and its just the beginning. So now the shoe is on the other foot, another "shady project" I am convinced its all for political votes, That we talked about doing ease of business, but in reality, we always hurt our own self with our mouth, the world is watching all this stupidness, why should they invest here...I rest my case. That Krieger fella is not OBAN, he is an individual, But we interested in the company OBAN, not Krieger,
Tarzan 6 years, 1 month ago
Does anyone anywhere care what Brave has to say?
joeblow 6 years, 1 month ago
Well there's one pre-election promise that will never happen!
bogart 6 years, 1 month ago
Given the past threats publictly made to close reverse derail one govts contracts after ellections if the other side gets elected.......the foreign (and local )investors huge investments.......common sense is that the investor will now react and common sense will DEMAND additional protective clauses to ensure their investments are not mired or stopped from making returns they expect.........Forcing the govt to make unnecessary forced concrssions as a result of threats .....will be a burden making the entire nation and especially the ....poor whom is to benefit bring relief..and nation be burdened with additional protective clauses.....from these public outbursts and threats.
There are many other disadvantages to the entire nation when these threats to scrap one govts contractual dealings by opposing political parties if and when they get in power.
proudloudandfnm 6 years, 1 month ago
Anybody who believes this please message me. I have a toll bridge in NY to sell dead cheap...
TheMadHatter 6 years, 1 month ago
"He said the issue has been compounded by the government’s lack of transparency and frankness..."
Too bad he didnt get Perry to put in some "transparency" and "frankness" laws while thet were in power.
Ya make ya bed - now lie in it.
TalRussell 6 years, 1 month ago
Sorry, Comrade "Brave" this requires more immediate action, not kicking action down to goalpost of 2022. Okay, maybe not throwing Mace out House's window but thinks more likes this is your House hour to shine to do something more take-charge leadership exciting for those down below in square - begging for thriller from you. And, please - this is your day - don't allow the Speaker silence Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in and from speaking in People's House. Look at Minnis - just likes Loretta did when she had Governor General fire Minnis..... look and take advantage his many leadership weaknesses. Amen!
realfreethinker 6 years, 1 month ago
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
sealice 6 years, 1 month ago
Did they finally pass the law / act that makes the BEST commission actually exist? Like the spy agency wasn't / isn't legal?
sealice 6 years, 1 month ago
But this does make you think... if those shady ars MFin PLP's think this guy is bad then how bad must he be.... you know it takes one to know one!!
stillwaters 6 years, 1 month ago
Brave has some gall!!!!! I hate these PLP goons!!!!!!
TalRussell 6 years, 1 month ago
Ma Comrades, didn't the voices Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition not just AGAIN get shutdown by the Speaker - from discussing Oban on floor People's House with the Speaking ruling- Oban's much too controversial to talks abouts on floor People's House....and did the opposition not just quietly sit back down rather than challenge the Speaker? I guess there's no moving ahead these weak but a shadow 196O'S opposition House MP's. Where's a Clearance, Milo, Randol and a Pindling, when the nation most cries out strong voices?
licks2 6 years, 1 month ago
And to think of it. . .THEY BROUGHT THE COMPANY IN THE COUNTRY. . .was it not Kreiger who approached them? I hope yinna see that only the PLP and Guardian continues to "scratch" at this issue. . .throwing things them into the air to see what will stick! Hell. . .all they had to do is go and grab any public servant who work in government and they will tell ya that persons signing a document do not have to be the persons whose name is on the document! For example, I have seen many official documents . . .for example. . .the LOI signed by Mr. Major of the behalf of MOW Mr. Davis. . .which is legal. . .even though Mr. Davis said that he did not give instruction for his jr. to do so. Mr. Jr was an agent of the government. . .an agent with signing powers. . .so who give a damn if Davis did not give the ok. . .Mr. Major signed for the minister. . .IT IS BINDING EVEN AT THE PC LEVEL! So why the guardian is "going down that rabbit trail" is eye brow raising to many persons. . . Hell. . .we all know why them PLP and DNA them are gern down that trail. . .lol!
juju 6 years, 1 month ago
It’s just Brave running his mouth again. PLP rhetoric.😝
John 6 years, 1 month ago
This project is grounded in fraud and gangsters. There is little or no benefit for Bahamians. Stop the deal and negotiate at least 25 cents a barrel on refined products and 10 cents a barrel on crude imports to be refined. So you don’t think us Bahamians tired of being broke and watching millions of dollars circle around us. So who’s time is it ? Ok then!
BMW 6 years, 1 month ago
The plp is grounded in fraud and gangsters and they are no benefit to Bahamians!
stillwaters 6 years, 1 month ago
Exactly!!!!!
moncurcool 6 years, 1 month ago
I remember the PLP dais the same thing about Atlantis when the FNM brought Sol Kerzner to the Bahamas. Also, they said the same thing about BTC and taking back ownership. Didn't Brave learn anything while being the understudy? Guess not.
SP 6 years, 1 month ago
After 5 years of proven Pillaging Looting Plundering, failed election promises, double talk, lining friends, family, and lovers coffers from the peoples treasury, smoke and mirrors, bobbing and weaving, habitually lying every day and then lying about their lies the next day, and doing the shuffle, suddenly Brave has the gall to talk about "government’s lack of transparency and frankness"?
AND this idiot truly thinks we the people are stupid enough to reelect Pillage Loot Plunder back to office!
Next, he'll say "we believe in Bahamians and Bahamians first"!
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