The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Health Minister Dr Duane Sands defended pandemic-era water tank painting projects as the defence opened its case in the criminal trial of Adrian Gibson and others yesterday, but told the prosecution he could not say who received the contracts.

Dr Sands, now chairman of the Free National Movement, testified before Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson. He said the projects gave people work and stimulated economic activity during the pandemic. He said he did not believe painting the tanks would affect water quality, and that he was only vaguely aware of the projects on Baillou Hill Road.

Questioned by Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, he also could not say who the beneficial owners or shareholders of Elite Maintenance or Baha Maintenance were.

Ms Frazier asked whether the projects benefited ordinary Bahamians, whom she called the small man or Joe Blow, rather than someone in a position of power. Dr Sands said the policy was directed at all Bahamians, and that many ministries carried out projects to keep commercial activity going during the pandemic.

As Ms Frazier continued to press him, defence attorney Ian Cargill objected that she was badgering the witness. Asked whether the painting of tanks had taken priority over the loss of people's lives, livelihoods and homes, Dr Sands said no.

He said he knew no specifics of the contract to paint Somerset House. He was not present for the Cabinet decision on June 14, 2020, to paint Somerset House and the George Moss building, because he had resigned as Minister of Health on May 6, 2020. He said he could speak only to matters before his resignation, and that the projects never came before him.

Dr Sands said that as health minister in the Minnis administration, he led the national response to COVID-19. He said he had to make life-changing policy decisions, including social distancing measures and recommendations for handwashing, which he said reduced mortality by 32 percent in the early days of the pandemic. The economy was devastated, he said, and ensuring people had access to potable water during lockdowns was a priority.

Dr Sands said that when travelling to Long Island, he rented cars from Gibson once or twice and did not have to pay rental fees. Gibson's car rental business has come up earlier in the trial, with the allegation that proceeds of WSC contracts helped buy vehicles for it.

He also said he had used Silver Linings before the pandemic, and that it provided research staff and advertising material for his campaigns. He did not use it in the 2021 election.

The defence also called Patrick Dorsett. He said Rashae Gibson, Gibson's cousin and a prosecution witness, had once lived with him, and that he had treated her like a daughter.

Mr Dorsett testified that while planning a funeral for Luna Ann Bethel at his house in 2021, he saw Gibson count out $10,000. He said he did not know where the money came from but was told it belonged to Gibson. He said he was not privy to conversations between Ms Gibson and Gibson about a $10,000 loan, and he described them as brother and sister.

Ms Gibson previously testified that Gibson gave her $10,000 in 2021. The defence suggested at the time that the money was for a funeral, which she rejected.

Questioned by Gibson's attorney, Damian Gomez, KC, Mr Dorsett said Ms Gibson had mentioned Gibson's ex-fiancée, Alexandria Mackey, in passing. He said he had been told the two women had a dispute that led to a falling out.

He said he did not know where Ms Gibson is now. He said she packed up and left without telling him, which upset him greatly.

Under cross-examination, Mr Dorsett agreed that he was a God-fearing man and that he could speak only to things he witnessed in person, which did not include discussions between Ms Gibson and Gibson. He said he was unaware of Gibson having access to about $120,000 transferred from Edwelino Holdings. He said he knew nothing about Elite Maintenance, Baha Maintenance or WSC projects, describing them as foreign to him. He said he was aware of Gibson's case because it was all over the news.

The prosecution suggested that he could not assist the court and that the crux of his evidence related to Gibson's help with a funeral. Mr Dorsett disagreed with both suggestions, including that the funeral planning had nothing to do with the case.

The case centres on allegations that contracts awarded during Gibson's tenure at the WSC benefited companies linked to him and his associates. Gibson is on trial alongside former WSC general manager Elwood Donaldson Jr, Joan Knowles and Jerome Missick. All have denied wrongdoing.

Gibson pleaded not guilty in 2022. Jurors were selected in May 2023, and the trial has been under way since November 2023.