NASSAU, Bahamas – Declaring that the Bahamian people deserve to know the truth of what this FNM government has been hiding, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip “Brave” Davis commented on the serious allegations of corruption that “continue to engulf this FNM administration in its dying days in government.”
“Last Thursday (September 2), it was revealed in the media that Desmond Bannister, as Minister of Works, awarded contracts worth almost $1 million to his brother,” Mr. Davis said in a statement released on Sunday, September 5.
Mr. Davis added: “This is the same Desmond Bannister who falsely accused me of awarding contracts to my brother while I was Minister of Works. He was then forced to apologize to me and to parliament when he was proved wrong. What a hypocrite!
“Earlier in the week, documentation was released by the media which supported allegations of corruption against the Chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, Adrian Gibson. I issued a statement on this stating my concern. This appears to be a classic case of corruption!”
Mr. Davis noted that with “each serious allegation of corruption, members of the government have adopted the same tactic.”
“First, a deafening silence,” Mr. Davis declared. “Then, after days of outcry by members of the public and the media, they issue statements condemning the PLP.
“They don’t dispute the facts. They don’t deny the wrongdoing. They merely blame the PLP when the media and public are asking simple questions. This would be pathetic if these allegations weren’t so serious.”
Continuing, Mr. Davis added: “As I said earlier in the week, some of the facts and evidence produced by the media suggest clear breaches of the Bribery & Corruption Act, and of acts of malfeasance by public officers.
“Once again, I call on the Attorney-General and the Commissioner of Police both to uphold their statutory duties, and instruct the Anti-Corruption Unit at the Royal Bahamas Police Force to launch investigations into these scandals IMMEDIATELY. This unit exists specifically to investigate allegations such as these.
“These are extremely serious allegations which is why the penalties include fines and imprisonment.
“The Bahamian people deserve to know the truth of what this FNM government has been hiding.”
