Thursday, January 22, 2015
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins said yesterday the government official who was allegedly bribed in 2001 to secure a contract at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation must be named to serve as a deterrent to corruption and “to keep politicians honest”.
During his contribution in the House of Assembly, Dr Rollins said this latest scandal is evidence that the country desperately needs a Freedom of Information Act.
He expressed support for an investigation into allegations that French energy company Alstom (formerly ABB) paid more than $300,000 to a government official to secure the purchase of a slow diesel generator for the electricity company in 2001. He said if the government wants to show that it is serious about rooting out corruption, it cannot sweep the matter under the rug.
“While trying to take out the politics from this situation, every single Bahamian needs to play close attention to the report by the US government, in relation to the purported bribe by a Bahamian national in swaying a very important decision relating to the energy of this country. Because what it means is that decisions were made not with the Bahamian interest at heart but on the basis of a single person being able to add $300,000 to their pocket book,” he said.
“I say that a Freedom of Information Act will do a lot to keep politicians honest...now we have hanging over the heads of this current government this allegation that the Bahamian government then was somehow a party to a corrupt act that sought to give an advantage to a French company seeking to do business with the Bahamas in providing energy equipment for BEC to the disadvantage of American enterprises and businesses that wanted to compete on a level playing field but were denied that opportunity because of an official seeking to profit him or herself.
“I agree with the leader of the opposition,” he added. “Let that man or woman be identified and let that serve as a deterrent for future individuals who wish to adversely impact the interest of the Bahamian people by seeking to gain a personal advantage that is counter to the interest of the man or the woman on the street that put us in this place.”
Dr Rollins said if nothing happens and there is no investigation, the Bahamian people will lose faith in the government.
“I am not suggesting that the former administration led by (Hubert) Ingraham had knowledge of corrupt intention, but what I am saying is that someone has to answer for what happened in 2001 and if nothing happens and it gets buried under the rug, it means that you have to question whether there is a sincere interest in rooting out corruption in this country. And then you start to have people on the street questioning whether or not you are serious when you say you want a Freedom of Information Act because information is in scarce supply.”
In response, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the government has taken note of the bribe allegations and has requested information from the US government on the matter.
The events surrounding the BEC “bribe”, exclusively revealed by Tribune Business last December, took place between 1999-2001, when the first Ingraham administration was enjoying its second term in office.
The allegations were revealed in a $722m plea agreement between Alstom and the US Justice Department.
Comments
Economist says...
Dr. Rollins is correct.
If we want to move our economy forward we must make people accountable.
Freedom of Information is one of the keys to any future success for this country. If it is not introduced we will continue to stagnate.
Posted 22 January 2015, 1:45 p.m. Suggest removal
realfreethinker says...
And whilst you at it we want the report on the ministry of housing scheme,and the bleachers,the korean boats,and all the others scandal in this country over the past 25 years
Posted 22 January 2015, 3:04 p.m. Suggest removal
duppyVAT says...
Doc Rollins has a very important role to play in Parliament on the PLP backbench ......... and he is playing it perfectly.
In Parliament every MP is an equal ........... but our system is so screwed up that there are those who will call Doc audacious and belligerent........ but he is not.
Doc Rollins is simply doing his job in the Westminster system............. Keeping the front bench (Cabinet) feet to the fire while supporting the government's broad agenda. This comes across to the unschooled citizen as anti-government or anti-leader ............ but it is not.
Posted 22 January 2015, 2:36 p.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
Can you imagine how many politicians are squirming in their seats at the thought of this person being named and the fear that this person names others involved and those persons name even more people. Once this comes out, and the 30 or 40 or so current and ex MP's, from both parties, are named, shamed and detained for corruption, then AND ONLY THEN can our country really start to move forward and develop.
Posted 22 January 2015, 4:25 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
AMEN!
Posted 23 January 2015, 9:08 a.m. Suggest removal
BahamaPundit says...
I would like to propose a toast to MP Dr. Andre Rollins, the only new PLP of the bunch. Dr. Rollins exemplifies what we the people voted for in the PLP, newness! Out with cronies, elicit deals, bribery and secrecy, and in with freedom of information, accountability, forward thinking and change. We were promised all these things by the PM. We were promised a new PLP! But, what we got instead was the very same old, failed, ancient system of cronyism, nepotism, corruption and secrecy. Good for you Dr. Rollins, for being the representative and embodiment of what the people of this country voted for -- the new PLP! Shame on those schemers, bamboozlers, shysters and reprobates that sold a pack of lies to the Bahamian people -- that sold us promises of newness and freshness while serving us stale-roach, burnt muffins of failure.
Posted 22 January 2015, 4:35 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
**YES.... GODDAMMIT !...THIS IS WHAT WE NEED MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE OF ! .....**
Please run....Don't walk to the head of the class Dr. Andre Rollins! You have most eloquently articulated what we the people desperately want expressed in the House Of Assembly.
The electorate are sick and tired of 40 years of spineless M.P.s towing party lines, ass-kissing, brown-nosing, creature worship that has yielded the highest level of political stupidity in the region, absolute failure across the board and unbridled corruption in our country.
PLEASE STAND YOUR GROUND Dr. Andrea Rollins......Our country needs many more MEN and WOMEN like yourself in the Honorable House and are prepared show our support.
**................................. We the people are behind you 1000% ......................................**
Posted 22 January 2015, 4:43 p.m. Suggest removal
Hogfish says...
I highly doubt the Doc will be allowed to run on a yellow ticket next time round.
Either that or he'll eventually be silenced via a fat cheque when the numbers money and nygard start to fill the yellow election chest again.
Posted 23 January 2015, 11:11 a.m. Suggest removal
duppyVAT says...
Definitely not ........... Doc Rollins will not be on a yellow ticket next election. He has two choices in politics: join the FNM or create a new coalition party with like-minded 21st century aspiring politicians (like Greg, Renward and Bran?????)
Posted 23 January 2015, 12:01 p.m. Suggest removal
themessenger says...
Kudos for Dr. Rollins for sure. Is this Renward you speak of the same Renward of Stellar Waste infamy? If this is what we're contemplating as a model for future parliamentary representatation/leadership in this country then God help us.................
Posted 23 January 2015, 12:57 p.m. Suggest removal
EasternGate says...
We should reconsider and reduce our National Anthem to just two word: "Brazen Hypocrisy". Every body is focusing on this alleged bribe -taker, who received some $300,000.00 over a period of time. A rose by any other name is still a rose, and a cesspit even if it is encased in marble is still a cesspit. Over the last 40 years, in Customs alone, there have been hundreds of middle and high ranking officers who pimped this country out of millions! For a $10,000.00 bribe on duty, officer(s) would allow 100,000.00 in customs duty to sneaked in. Some of those officers would have retired after 40 years after amassing hundreds of thousands in bribes, and defrauding the treasury out of millions. You know what? The politicians were aware of their thievery and did nothing. some Prime Ministers even brought them back on the job after retirement with promotions!
Posted 23 January 2015, 1:33 p.m. Suggest removal
Publius says...
Come on Rollins, of course someone in the Ingraham administration at that time knew at some stage what was going on. We know your association with Papa but lets be real here. We need to know who the bribe taker was (and it was a man Rollins, didn't you read the indictment?) and we also need to know the reason for decisions taken by the Ingraham administration in this matter.
Posted 23 January 2015, 1:39 p.m. Suggest removal
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