NASSAU, Bahamas, November 17, 2019 — I have read recent media reports indicating that an investigation is being conducted by the authorities in the Netherlands concerning the award of a contract to the Damen Shipyard Group by the Bahamas Government for the construction of ships and certain civil works for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
Let me state at the very outset that I am not aware of any impropriety or irregularity of any kind in this matter. Further, that the result of the contract has been a transformative and defining improvement in the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in its policing of our waters and the protection of our marine resources.
When my Government was elected in 2012, we met in place a recommendation from our predecessors — the FNM government — that Damen Shipyard Group (DSG) be awarded the contract in question, as it then was.
The recommendation made to my Government supported the recommendation previously made to the FNM and was made by the same public officials. However, under my government the scope of works was expanded to include the following:
- The construction of a specially designed landing craft for use in natural disasters, especially hurricanes. Bahamians should be reminded that this landing craft enables the Defence Force to establish in the aftermath of a disaster a fully functioning and equipped base camp with water production, food preparation, medical facilities, and significant generator capacity. This base camp was used in Crooked Island after Hurricane Matthew and is currently being used in Abaco after Hurricane Dorian.
- The major repair and restoration of two out of use Defence Force vessels HMBS Nassau and HMBS Bahamas both in a state of deterioration at Prince George Dock. Efforts were made to repair them in Freeport but eventually, we were obliged to have them repaired by Damen in the Netherlands.
- Provision of a simulator for use in training officers in command positions of Defence Force vessels.
- Major transformative dredging works for the better berthing and accommodation at three locations used by the RBDF: The National Headquarters base of the Defense Force at Coral Harbour, New Providence; Matthew Town, Inagua; and Gun Point Ragged Island towards ensuring that the ships of the Defence Force could be accommodated as well as having some protection for Bahamian fishing boats.
It was that considerable expansion in the scope of the contract that accounted for the increase in cost.
My Government’s payment was to Damen Shipyard Group (DSG) and not to anyone else. The process was a transparent one involving a tender process and negotiations. Moreover, the Attorney General’s Office and our legal advisors in Washington, Hogan and Lovell, played major roles in the finalization of the contract for which I again thank them.
I also take this opportunity to state for the record my appreciation and thanks to the late Dr. Bernard J Nottage the Minister of National Security for the magnificent work he and his team performed in the superintendence of the performance of the contract inclusive of his traveling to the Republic Vietnam to accept delivery of the specially designed landing craft at a time when as I now know he was terminally ill. I also thank him for his leadership in the fostering of national pride when the Government named the ships after prominent Bahamians who made defining contributions to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The Hon. AD Hanna, Sir. Durward Knowles, Captain Rolly Gray, Commodore Leon Smith, and Former Assistant Commissioner and Superintendent of Her Majesty’s PrisonLawrence Whitfield Majorare all rightfully deserving.
All the more reason why the present Government, which is in possession of the files, should provide full information to the Bahamian Public and they should do so without delay. They should also co-operate fully with any investigation by the Dutch authorities. There is nothing to hide.
Secondly, I would suggest that the public officials involved in this matter be called upon to publicly confirm whether they are aware of any influence-peddling or politically-connected lobbying or other improper or irregular conduct involved in the contract awarded to Damen Shipyard Group (DSG).
In the meantime, I confirm, without any reservation whatever, that I am not aware of any such irregularity or impropriety on the part of either my government or the government that preceded mine, or on the part of anyone connected with either government.
