By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 20, 2020 – The leader of the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in The Bahamas has strongly criticized the government of Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis over alleged fraud allegations related to the sale of the Grand Lucayan Hotel in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
In a statement released on Friday, November 20, Philip “Brave” Davis declared, “It is now day two since the Progressive Liberal Party laid in Parliament a writ of summons alleging a 20 million dollar fraud by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The Prime Minister has not said a word. The Deputy Prime Minister’s statement was arrogantly dismissive and missed the point of good governance entirely.”
The statement added: “First, the Prime Minister must be reminded that he has a duty to act when his ministers refuse to take the honourable course. There are two appointees of the Prime Minister. Each has different versions of the truth.
“Michael Scott Q.C. has placed in the public domain, by court action, allegations of fraud and dishonesty against the Minister of Finance. Mr. Scott is the Chairman of the Hotel Corporation and in charge of the sale of the Grand Lucayan Hotel in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
“The second appointee is Peter Turnquest, the Minister of Finance. Mr Turnquest has said that what Mr. Scott alleges in the writ is false. In other words, the Finance Minister said that lies have been told on him.
“How is this resolved in the face of two of the Prime Minister’s appointees alleging one has told lies on the other? One of the Prime Minister’s appointees must be telling the truth. Both have clear conflicts between their public duties and their private affairs.”
Mr. Davis’ statement concluded: “In our view, before the end of the day they must both act to do the honourable thing which our system demands. If they fail to resign, the Prime Minister must invite their departures forthwith.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Turnquest is the member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, and Michael Scott, is chairman of the Grand Lucayan Hotel, which is owned by the Government.
Earlier this week Kwasi Thompson, the Government’s Minister of State for Grand Bahama, expressed optimism that the Grand Lucayan will be “fully turned over” to the ITM Group/Royal Caribbean joint venture before year-end 2020.
Thompson said in a national address that the duo’s partnership, known as Holistica, remains “committed” to the hotel’s transformation and that of Freeport Harbour but the project’s start will be delayed due to COVID-19, according to an article in The Tribune.
“We are currently reviewing their post COVID-19 development plans and hope to fully turn over the hotel property before the end of the year,” he said, although few specifics or new details were provided.
The Tribune previously revealed that the Government was hoping to close the Grand Lucayan’s sale by December 10, but this will not happen until Royal Caribbean and its joint venture partner have sealed the deal for Freeport Harbour.
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