Bahamas, June 22nd 2017 – Nassau – CEO of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, Edison Sumner is now urging the government to “have a full comprehensive report done” on the contracts issued by the former Christie-led administration for relief and cleanup exercises after Hurricane Mathew.
This comes days after Prime Minister Hurbert Minnis “let the cats out the bag” according to Sumner, in the House of Assembly and accused Christie of using Hurricane Mathew – which damaged parts of the Bahamas in October 2016 – to channel money to certain companies.
Minnis said by the Christie-government discontinuing the Tropical Cyclone Policy 2016, they caused the country over $32M. Of all the contracts issued also, it was revealed that in a matter of months, 46 payment transactions amounting to almost $8M were issued to one sole contractor, John Ash. This has since raised even more suspicions, as two of the four businesses owned by John Ash were not registered.
As a result of these exorbitant amounts, Minnis also revealed that the Attorney General is reviewing the matter and according to the results, possible legal actions may be taken. Sumner also stated that he has already made a formal request to the Ministry of Finance for the release of a report that is in hoping that the former government kept proper documentation so that the money could be traced. As for his advice to the present government, Sumner said, “it is necessary to name individuals, then you can do it in a report, and have those who were responsible for making the payment justify why the payments were made.” Sumner also stated that the matter would not be laid to rest that easily.
In his first address as Prime Minister in the House of Assembly, Dr. Minnis told the opposition, “What you have done to this country should never ever happen again.” Minnis then revealed that the Tropical Cyclone Policy would be reactivated.
Story By: Kay-Marie Fletcher
#MagneticMediaNews
