Monday, April 14, 2014
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie’s bid to assist embattled tax consultant Ishmael Lightbourne has not threatened the integrity of the banking industry, according to RBC Bahamas managing director Nathaniel Beneby.
Mr Beneby, who has oversight of Royal Bank of Canada Bahamas, Cayman and Turks & Caicos Islands, said he felt controversy over Mr Christie’s intervention was politically motivated, adding that his own bank was governed by local and international regulators.
“The prime minister doesn’t make policy or change policy for banks, etc. We have our standards, we have policy guidelines, we are part of a global bank with international best practices and we don’t compromise policies,” Mr Beneby said. “I would say once he intervenes and makes the request then it’s up to the individual bank to say what they can do from what they can’t do. So in my opinion with him acknowledging that a request was made by a Bahamian and he’s responded, I think it’s a normal thing.”
“I think,” he added, “a lot of that was politicised a lot but that’s neither here nor there. Fundamentally a citizen asked him for help, he endeavoured to help as best he could and the matter is finished with.”
Last month, Mr Christie revealed that after learning about Mr Lightbourne’s financial situation, he called the managing director of First Caribbean Bank and asked her what he “as Prime Minister” could do “to stop (Mr Lightbourne) from being put out of his house today?”
In response, critics and opposition members condemned his intervention as an inappropriate “abuse of power”, one that has not been done by him to help other Bahamians who also face home repossession for non payment.
Last week, Prime Minister Perry Christie said he would “not apologise” for his attempt to help Bahamians who were hurting. He was criticised for calling the bank to find out what he could do “as prime minister” to help Mr Lightbourne save his West Bay Street home.
Mr Christie added that he had not been in touch with the First Caribbean since his first call last month to find out how he could help Mr Lightbourne with his financial difficulties.
Mr Christie told reporters that during his political career, he has had to speak with executives as far away as those headquartered in Toronto, Canada, for Bahamians needing assistance.
Yesterday, Mr Beneby said: “He is the prime minister for all the people, all Bahamians. It seems to me that if a Bahamian has a difficulty and they want to reach out to the Prime Minister that seems reasonable, and with the Ishmael Lightbourne matter that seems to be the case. He reached out to the prime minister and the prime minister endeavoured to help.
He added: “I really don’t have a comment on that and it’s just different opinions, but I can tell you that banks have policy guidelines procedures to follow and we don’t compromise those, and so he was just acting in his capacity as prime minister responding to a request by a citizen of the country and he is the prime minister for everybody.
“Anyone can call him anytime and he can call anyone.”
Comments
newcitizen says...
The integrity of the banking system was never in question. It is the integrity of the Prime Minister's Office that is in question.
Posted 14 April 2014, 1:44 p.m. Suggest removal
realfreethinker says...
I wonder what his point was IO agree with you. You expect him to say anything else with this vindictive crew ion power?
Posted 14 April 2014, 1:47 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
I always said it was all about the politics Butler Turner and some of her party members along with the Editorial page of one of the daily news papers were under the impression that it would help their party, so they jumped on it and keep it going until Mr. Lightbourne was seen on TV leaving the home. Is it usual for the press to take pictures and take their camera crew to witness such events.? It was just mean spirited and it does not say much for Butler Turner.
Posted 14 April 2014, 1:47 p.m. Suggest removal
newcitizen says...
Are you kidding? Lightbourne owes Bahamians, you and I and everyone, over $100,000. That's our money he has, and then the Prime Minister, who is supposed to represent all Bahamians decides to do this man a personal favour by trying to use his position to influence the bank, which in any real democracy is considered corrupt.
Only in the Bahamas is this considered acceptable by some people.
Posted 14 April 2014, 1:56 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
Objective, if news came out that President Obama wielded his influence to even **attempt** to cause a bank to bend rules for one of his friends, he would be in for a FIRESTORM. PGC is not in office to help his friends, his friends did not make him PM The majority electorate did and if the electorate feels slighted and misused by the abuse then so be it.
Posted 14 April 2014, 2:27 p.m. Suggest removal
CANDACESCOTT says...
it was the PM who made Lightbournes troubles public knowledge....with his big mouth!
Posted 15 April 2014, 10:40 a.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
Only this PLP government could drag the top heads of two leading banks into the ongoing public Ishmael tax dodging affair. Comrade RBC managing director Nathaniel could have added, and in conclusion let me reconfirm, there will be no "buttering up" over all them certain JOB losses which are STILL on we headquarters imminent table over at the Royal as our banking organization moves to "better manage operating costs" in a low-growth environment.
Posted 14 April 2014, 2:20 p.m. Suggest removal
Publius says...
Why was this stupid question put to Beneby in the first place?
Posted 14 April 2014, 2:23 p.m. Suggest removal
proudloudandfnm says...
No just the integrity of the Prime Ministers Office....
Posted 14 April 2014, 2:27 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
*I would say once he intervenes...*, said so casually for such a troubling statement.
Posted 14 April 2014, 2:34 p.m. Suggest removal
Reality_Check says...
The fact that Nat Beneby finds nothing wrong with the glaring abuse of power by the PM in the Lightbourne affair tells all of us something important about the character of Beneby himself: He (Beneby) clearly lacks sound judgement himself to the point where he is content to brown nose the PM at any cost! RBC needs to keep a careful eye on their number one Bahamian rep as it would seem his ability to judge right from wrong is seriously impaired! Also, Beneby needs to explain how the mortgage loans of Lightbourne originally granted by RBC managed to migrate themselves so easily to other banks like First Caribbean.
Posted 14 April 2014, 2:51 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
One should pray that more Bahamians would have the intelligence and moral character of Mr. Nat Beneby. The Bahamas would be a better place if we did.
Posted 14 April 2014, 3:17 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
Hmmm..I wonder why the manager had to called to give an account to head office in Canada...something must have seemed unusual to them???
Posted 14 April 2014, 6:40 p.m. Suggest removal
EasternGate says...
Vat wrong with you guys? Beneby is PLP and like Muslims they don't criticize each other
Posted 14 April 2014, 8:44 p.m. Suggest removal
jujutreeclub says...
Don't forget now, RBC is the government bank, so he will be on the offensive cause he don't want the govt moving to another bank.
Posted 14 April 2014, 10:29 p.m. Suggest removal
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