By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Progressive Liberal Party Cabinet minister George Smith yesterday alleged that Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis “violated” the Cabinet code of conduct by continuing to accept cheques for his company which had a contract with the Public Hospitals Authority while he was the minister of health.

However, FNM Chairman Michael Pintard was adamant yesterday that Dr Minnis was on “good grounds” and did not violate Cabinet protocol, having disclosed to then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham about his financial interests.

Mr Pintard added that the Killarney MP was not in conflict as long as he did not demand a higher standard of behaviour from PLP Cabinet ministers.

Mr Pintard questioned whether the PLP was now criticising the FNM leader in an attempt to distract Bahamians from the litany of errors the government has made in its handling of the unopened Baha Mar resort.

As for PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts’ threats to release documents that would expose the alleged extent of Dr Minnis’ conflict of interest, Mr Pintard said: “Don’t sing it. Bring it.”

The month-to-month contract held by Dr Minnis’ company – Leechez Investments – started in May 2005 under the PLP, before he was in active politics and has straddled two administrations, Mr Pintard said. This same contract continues now month-to-month under the PLP, he added.

Yesterday, Mr Smith was asked to weigh in on the conflict of interest claims against Dr Minnis, raised by Mr Roberts last week.

Mr Smith said the Killarney MP should have either sold his shares in the company or cancelled his contract to quash the perception of a conflict of interest.

He said, as Dr Minnis did not ensure ties were severed, the ongoing situation suggests that the man who wants to be prime minister did not exercise good judgment.

“There is a price you pay for being in public life,” Mr Smith said, “it’s not telling the prime minister or your colleagues, even if they agree, that don’t make it right. You have to do something to make it right.

“In the case of politics or the ministerial code – he should have sold his shares if the contract is going to continue or he ought to (have) asked the PHA to cancel the contract. Telling somebody you are about to place yourself in a position where you are benefiting from a building, doesn’t make it right.”

He added: “Do I think it will have a lasting effect on Minnis? It points to judgment, a man who wants to be prime minister has to be above the fray. If he didn’t exercise good judgment, how does he then stand above ministers and say do the right thing?”

“He has bad judgment. This isn’t the court of law, this is the court of public opinion and Minnis benefited from a rental contract from the ministry he was in and doesn’t see the inherent danger in that? This points to bad judgment.

“Declaring it doesn’t negate your responsibility as a minister.”

Mr Smith added: “He needs to stop, his defenders do a gallant job about talking about legalities – we are talking code and conduct of ministerial procedure. It isn’t up to me to judge whether I think the fella is (in a conflict), either you are living by the rules or you are not.”

Defence

Meanwhile in his defence of his party’s leader, Mr Pintard urged Mr Roberts to pull his own file, as he has done with Dr Minnis, to reveal what took place at the Ministry of Works when he was stationed there. He also said Mr Roberts’ reputation was, at best, questionable.

“Cabinet protocols require that ministers disclose to the prime minister or Cabinet any interest which they or their immediate family may have which conflicts or might reasonably be thought to conflict with his public duty,” Mr Pintard explained. “Even more so the minister should recuse him or herself from any decisions that relate to their enterprise.

“I, as chairman, and we as FNMs believe that our leader is on good grounds in this regard. If Bradley Roberts, whose reputation is at best questionable, knows things we don’t then he should put up or shut the hell up. At the same time, Mr Roberts should explain to the Bahamian people why the PLP’s attorney general did not abide by the Cabinet protocol that required her to avoid situations in which her private interest and that of her family might reasonably be thought to conflict with her public duties.”

The Cabinet manual of procedure says that a minister “must avoid situations in which his private interest, whether pecuniary or otherwise, conflicts or might reasonably be thought to conflict with his public duties.”

However, the manual adds that any minister’s interest which could lead to perceived conflict of interest with public duty must be disclosed to the prime minister or the Cabinet.

Dr Minnis could not be reached for comment yesterday. However, he has previously dismissed the accusations, saying the matter is a distraction from the government’s problems. Dr Minnis has insisted he declared his interest in the company in question when he became a politician in 2007.