"Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette's admission over his family interest in a company awarded a Bahamas government contract is a 'constitutional crisis" ... What a lot of political hogwash!

tribune242 editorial

Nassau, The Bahamas


"DEPUTY PM's admission over contract is a 'constitutional crisis'" reads the headline on page 7 of today's edition. The article claims that the Bahamas is now constitutionally compromised because Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette has admitted -- as though it were ever a secret -- that his family has an interest in a company awarded a government contract.

What a lot of political hogwash! It's now election time -- silly season-- and the Opposition is trying to either knock out or neutralise as many politically strong opponents as it can - the most important of which, of course, is the team of Ingraham and Symonette.

According to Mr Symonette this is an "election attack" by the PLP. We agree.

We understand that a survey of sorts was taken to discover whether the team of Christie and "Mother" Pratt could beat Ingraham and Symonette. The finding was that it could not. It is believed that neither can Christie and "Brave" Davis. Ipso facto, government's lead team has to be broken up. The chisel has now been put to the base of Mr Symonette, and chipping away has started.

We find it highly amusing who is among those leading the charge against Mr Symonette on a matter of conflict of interest, integrity and ethics. There is no space to go into details here, but those who want to understand our sarcastic amusement should read from pages 103 to 109 of the Commission of Inquiry Report (Volume I) December, 1984 into "the illegal use of the Bahamas for the transshipment of dangerous drugs destined for the United States of America."

It is claimed that Mr Symonette's admission of a conflict has not only doomed him, but should remove him from the seat of government.

The admission to which George Smith, former Exuma MP and minister in the Pindling cabinet, and Loftus Roker, also a former cabinet minister from the Pindling era, refers is announced as though it were a new revelation. It is not. The public -- ever since Mr Symonette's resignation as chairman of the airport board in 2001- has had full knowledge of the fact that although Mr Symonette personally owns no shares in the company in question --Bahamas Hot Mix Co., Ltd - his children's trust does.

As a matter of fact Mr Symonette, a highly successful businessman, owns shares in many companies. Are all of these companies to be denied a right to bid on government contracts, because some member of Mr Symonette's family might own shares? How many Bahamian jobs are being jeopardised by such a policy? We agree that when such matters come before Cabinet, Mr Symonette should step aside to remove any suggestion that his presence has influenced a vote. But we do not agree that he should be removed as deputy prime minister just because certain politicians want to entertain sinister thoughts.

Bahamians must remember that this is a small country. Our problem is that we have too many lawyers and not enough successful businessmen in the House. And although on every declaration that he has to make -- and which is public -- Mr Symonette lists all of his interests in the various companies, his success is used against him. No wonder persons, who really have something to offer this country and who should be serving in parliament, refuse to volunteer.

If we had more MPs with the business acumen and the means to do for their constituencies what Mr Symonette does for St Anne's, this little Bahamas would be a better place.

But many Bahamians with much to offer are discouraged when they see the mean-spirited behaviour of petty politicians, particularly against successful persons like Brent Symonette. No wonder they want nothing to do with politics. To them it is a dirty game, best to be shunned.

The company that the PLP are now railing against is Bahamas Hot Mix, founded in 1984 by a group of Bahamian businessmen with construction backgrounds.

It is one of only two hot mix plants -- with the exception of government -- in the Bahamas.

It is the only business of its type with international accreditation.

It has about 255 well paid Bahamian employees -- all earning about $35,000 a year -- who between 7pm and 5am nightly, when most Bahamians are asleep, are now out repairing sewer pipes on Bay Street to make ready for the road improvement programme for downtown.

Were these Bahamians, who also have families to feed, to be denied this government job, just because Mr Symonette's children's trust hold minority shares in their company?

And was the Treasury to forego a savings of about $200,000 on this contract because Mr Symonette is being judged by the low standards of others?

We think not. We shall return to this subject tomorrow.

September 19, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Bahamas Blog International