PM blasts FNM over China deals

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

TEASING documents that detail the previous administration’s efforts to partner with the Chinese government for the development of agriculture and fisheries, Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday criticised the Free National Movement and its leader Dr Hubert Minnis for “emotionally exploiting” Bahamian’s anxiety over Chinese investment.

In Parliament yesterday, Mr Christie revealed that the previous FNM administration held talks with the People’s Republic of China and private Chinese companies through the Bahamas State Investment Administration Bureau for projects and co-operatives, which included Crown land acquisition.

However, he stopped short of tabling the documents, and instead invited Dr Minnis to review the files so that he could be informed without “having to make it into some ridicule of a nation”.

“Before I put into the public domain, I would wish the government to give careful consideration to it because we have a different obligation to the FNM.

“They can oppose or say anything however reckless it is, even though there is documentation of a MOU (memorandum of understanding) of agriculture cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China, talking about how they are going to deal with land, how they’re going to deal with matters to do with agriculture, fish farming.

“These are all documented evidence dating 2009, and if they are talking about projects, they had a wonderful undertaking of a project where they said the subject of the project is 10,000 acres of land.”

Mr Christie was responding to the Official Opposition’s rebuke of his administration following reports on a $2.1bn agriculture and fisheries proposal with Chinese investors for Andros, which he called a “non-issue”.

During his closing statements on a Bill for an Act to amend the GB Port Area Investment Incentives Act, Mr Christie leafed through a cache of documents but did not table any supporting evidence. Instead, he told Parliament that he is open to having a parliamentary inquiry to further explore the matter.

“The advocacy here is this,” Mr Christie said, “that we have an obligation to try and diffuse what is intended to be emotional exploitation of a population and it is wrongful to do it.

“The files will speak for themselves,” he said. “I don’t want to start another debate but this is a very interesting collection of papers that was engaged in by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

“We have a lot of time to determine as a Parliament how we want to deal with this issue, the only concern I want to express is that we have an obligation not to cause people to wrongly draw conclusions about other countries. We must be very careful when we do that and especially the group (FNM) who brought the Chinese to the Bahamas.”

Mr Christie told parliamentarians that the documents, which he said he would make available to the FNM, detailed the involvement of the ministry and BAIC, and specified land acreage for fruit production, cow milk production, and pig cultivation. He noted that the “very comprehensive set of agreements” were signed by the current permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Mr Christie said it was the FNM government that gave Hutcheson Whampoa veto rights for all port development on Grand Bahama, adding that this development has disadvantaged new initiatives like the proposed $200m port in East Grand Bahama for Carnival Cruise Lines. He said that the government has approved the project, and is awaiting agreement from CCL on its terms.

“It was subject to the fact that as a result of the 1994 letters signed by the FNM government of commitment, which constituted an agreement, the government of the Bahamas had to negotiate a waiver agreement with Hutcheson Whampoa in which they agreed to move to another level of sharing some of the proceeds with the government of the Bahamas,” he said.

“So when the member asks should we not take note that we are allowing a sovereign, another government to diminish the government of the Bahamas – I’ve been able to satisfy anyone that has been listening that you did that a long time ago with the agreements you’ve signed.”

Mr Christie added: “I’ve tried my best to get even lawyers in England to support our being able to change it. Not being able to change it, we then renegotiated with Hutcheson Whampoa something that may not be as good as we ought to have had as a country, but something that allows us to save face.”

On Sunday, Dr Minnis called on Bahamians to mobilise against the Andros agri-fisheries proposal, stating that he believed would bring the country one step closer to “being colonised once again”.

The FNM leader also called for the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries V Alfred Gray to resign from his Cabinet post. Additionally, Dr Minnis put the government of China “on notice” that if elected, his party would review and reverse any “secret deal” that gives land or fishing rights to foreigners.

Yesterday, Mr Christie noted that Dr Minnis commented liberally on matters that involved countries with which the Bahamas had established diplomatic ties, and were represented by local embassies.

He said: “I want to be careful that we don’t allow our innocence and naiveté to cause us to make colossal errors of judgment that you can’t roll back.

“It has to be nothing but a childlike innocence to ask me to account for something his government had both hands, head, feet involved in. All that you said my government should be charged with, you have already done and established in this country, and you ask me to account for it?”

Mr Christie added: “All of this they did and then with a straight face trying to say that I brought the Chinese here. I applaud you for making decisions that are based on developmental issues of this country, but don’t fool yourself. We are not in the Bahamas going to allow any foreign country whether it’s the United States, whether this or that. We sit down as equals as best we can.

“We have to somehow elevate our national discussions in such a way where we are able to put things in proper context and not allow our people to deal hysterically with something that’s a non issue to start off.”

Point of order

Standing on a point of order, Dr Minnis said that Mr Christie was comparing “apples and grapes.”

“Whatever the FNM has done in the past, with respect to any foreign investor,” Dr Minnis said, “was brought here and debated. When they spoke even about Baha Mar and the 7,000 workers that was debated and which they agreed to. When he spoke about his timber in Abaco that was brought here, the scientific evidence was presented to show why it was a selective process, that was debated and agreed to.

“So all we’re talking about is transparency versus non-transparency,” Dr Minnis added.

As he concluded his contribution, Mr Christie recalled his relationship as an opposition leader with former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

Mr Christie explained that he was “sufficiently secure” to discuss issues of national import with Mr Ingraham, and noted that Mr Ingraham would meet with him privately out of respect.

“Why don’t you just try it?” he asked Dr Minnis.

“When I invited you to come down there (to the Office of the Prime Minister), you brought people and said you can’t come by yourself - why don’t you try it?”

Mr Christie said: “Why don’t you as a leader of the opposition test the constitutional relationship you should have, prime minister to leader of the opposition, that’s how it works in this country.”

In response, Dr Minnis claimed that there was no comparison between Mr Christie and Mr Ingraham, adding that the PLP leader should “understand that clearly”.

To this Mr Christie said: “I know I’m not Hubert Ingraham, you ought to know I’m not Hubert Ingraham, just like I’m not Hubert Minnis, so you understand that clearly. I respect you for what you have become, I say it openly and publicly.

“If you disrespect me I have no difficulty with that, I will allow you to disrespect me. I don’t know why you had to say that, you lower yourself by doing that.”

Comments

ohdrap4 says...

Yes, the FNMS may have. Perhaps that is why they were voted out of office.

Since the giveways continued or picked up pace, people will not stand for it. And that is why there are so many leaks.

Let the leaks continue, until FOIA and fiscal responsibility come about.

Posted 8 November 2016, 11:15 a.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Yes Christie has become a puppet of Red China ....... so what does that make us?????

Posted 8 November 2016, 11:59 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrades! To the The Rt. Honourable Prime Minister. If the talk among some has legs, would you as PM be equally prepared to table if such an documentation of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) floating around the PM's Office that would clarify if the Chinese government is to build and donate the Official Residence (Compound) for Bahamaland's prime minister? That China also has lobbied the PM to declare The Bahamaland to become a Republic nation, by the end of 2017/18?.

Posted 8 November 2016, 11:41 a.m. Suggest removal

stislez says...

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

Posted 8 November 2016, 11:59 a.m.

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

Minnis said yesterday while standing on the floor of the HOA in open session that ***"the FNM had no fundamental issue with the Chinese, but with the level of transparency, or lack thereof, with which the Christie administration conducts business with the giant eastern trading partner."*** This statement from him is unfathomable as it speaks to the fact that he obviously has no difficulty whatsoever with the sovereignty and national security issues arising from the Bahamian government's continued dealings with Red China. It seems Minnis's concerns are limited to the lack of transparency in these dealings on the part of the corrupt Christie-led PLP government. In other words, Minnis readily admits that if he ever became PM he would have no difficulty in the Bahamian government continuing to invite Red China to make significant investments in key sectors of our economy (including granting them Crown Land and work permits to facilitate doing so) as long as the investment deals are done in what he considers to be a transparent way. This admission on Minnis's part only serves to show he is hoping to get his turn to drink from the same trough of riches that Red China has bestowed on Crooked Christie, Baltron "Bag Man" Bethel and our AG, the Evil Wicked Witch. Minnis is no different than Crooked Christie when it comes to not caring an iota about the sovereignty of the Bahamas (and the souls of Bahamians) being sold to Red China. Anyone who votes for the FNM (or PLP) candidate in their constituency in the next general election needs to have their head examined! Unfortunately the DNA candidates are not much better because McCartney has also refused to say he would discontinue inviting Red China to make additional investments in our country because of the very significant concentration of such investments that already exist.

Posted 8 November 2016, 12:03 p.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

Why is this fool not boo'd out of the House as soon as he stands up? The PLP response is always the same "The FNM did it in 1990 or in 1975 they didn't oppose this or that" What kind of reasoning is that???

Posted 8 November 2016, 1:03 p.m. Suggest removal

avidreader says...

Bear in mind that both the major parties are anxious for someone or something to bring money into the local economy so that at least a portion of the numerous school leavers who emerge into the real world every June can hope for some type of employment. With the cost of living increasing and wages not moving upward at the same pace no politician wants to see a situation where there is mass unemployment, especially among volatile youth who have great expectations.
The delicate balancing act is to attract the type of investment that creates opportunity without an excess of controversy. This is the real challenge facing politicians on both sides of the aisle in the House of Assembly.

Posted 8 November 2016, 1:32 p.m. Suggest removal

licks2 says...

In that case why not sell-out to some other government. . .USA, CA, FRANCE UK. . .why to China government. . .a nation with a poor track record. . .bad business dealings etc.! The Canadians just told China that its government is not private citizens. . .but another state. . .they sent them home. . .if you think that another state owning the "lion share" of the economy of another state is good sense you are in for a rude awakening . . .Hilton, Baha Mar, Pointe, ship yard in Freeport, now fishing in Andros. . .they have become the biggest economic player in this nation. . .except for the government. . .THEY ARE ANOTHER STATE!

Posted 9 November 2016, 11:44 a.m. Suggest removal

Agriculture and its known to be BS in the Bahamaland saga continues!
Comrades! When it comes to Andros…ask any crab lover and they will tell you that there’s more money to earn from those juicy Androsian land Crabs scuttling hither and thither, than from any Chinese cash input which only means even more free crown lands giveaway.
Had the PM and his Minister V. Alfred, stucks with investing in crabs scuttling everywhere. over Andros and by the millions, they would've been caught red handed negotiating for farming that is simply unsustainable due to Bahamaland's soil conditions which any ass must knows is not suitable for large-scale commercial farming beyond farming for personal household or restaurant use or as a small cottage industry.
We Androsian Crabs can also be turned into a lucrative "tourism watching" cottage industry which unlike non-spending cruise ship stopovers - can actually attract tourists with real cash in their damn pockets to spend within the local communities.
To date thousands of acres Crown Lands have been signed over to foreigners with grand scale schemes and promises of farming only to have their much promised projects go nowhere, or left to rot, rust or die in the fields - plus to date taxpayers have wasted in excess of $3 BILLION of their hard-earned cash, or via government borrowing to hand over to foreigners.

Posted 8 November 2016, 1:48 p.m. Suggest removal

TigerB says...

They raising hell bout the FNM bringing in the Chinese, that is true but every Bahamian knew exactly what was happening with the projects they did. Nothing was seal, and the PLP had Bahamar to prove it when they took office. No hidden deals, nothing seal in court from the Bahamian people. Seems like very day some new deal is being exposed.

Posted 8 November 2016, 1:51 p.m. Suggest removal

BahamaPundit says...

The PM's school boy reasoning is the worst ever. Imagine telling a judge, I should not be convicted for murder because another person did it too. This makes no sense whatsoever. We voted for you to be different, to be better. Further, our issue is the fisheries, not so much the land. How insulting for him to say the opposition is to blame for stirring up descent. Have you not eyes? Can you not see that Chinese depleting our fishing reserves is a bad for the Bahamas period and has nothing to do with the opposition. One of the little tricks God played on me was having to suffer this complete fool as a leader.

Posted 8 November 2016, 3:53 p.m. Suggest removal

John says...

"In Helping Others You Help Yourself

If you want happiness for a day - go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month - get married.
If you want happiness for a year - inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime - help someone else.

In every crisis, there is opportunity. (Classic Chinese idea)

Most entrepreneurial ventures arise from solving a problem. If you are faced with a problem, craft a solution and sell that solution to others.

Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.

...(v3r)
You craft your destiny with your actions, habits and character. You make your destiny, it doesn't make you.

A fly before his own eye is bigger than an elephant in the next field

When you focus only on the opportunities that are right in front of you, you might miss the larger ones that take effort to find.

Failing to plan is planning to fail

Easy to run downhill, much puffing to run up. It's easy to run a business when the going is good, but the true test of an entrepreneur is how he or she behaves when faced with challenges.

To open a shop is easy, to keep it open is an art."

Posted 8 November 2016, 6:15 p.m. Suggest removal

Yall, tinkk this funny:
Man who run behind car get exhausted.
Man who run in front of car get tired.
Man who walk through airport turnstile sideways going to Bangkok.
Man with one chopstick go hungry.
Man who scratch bottom should not bite fingernails.
Man who eat many prunes get good run for money.
War does not determine who is right, war determine who is left.
Wife who put husband in doghouse, soon find him in cat house.
Man who fight with wife all day get no piece at night.
Man who drive like hell, bound to get there.
Man who stand on toilet is high on pot.
Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement.
Man who pass wind in church sit in own pew.
Crowded elevator smell different to midget
你们都PM甚至开始看起来像一个中国
Nǐmen dōu PM shènzhì kāishǐ kàn qǐlái xiàng yīgè zhōngguó

Posted 8 November 2016, 6:25 p.m. Suggest removal

Abaconian says...

He is desperately trying to save face.. classic response from Christie when under fire.. "well.. I may have screwed up, and will probably continue to screw up, but the other party has screwed up too so let's talk about that instead!!"

Give us a break Christie. You're not fooling anyone. No one wants this deal and you have given far more power to the Chinese than the FNM has.. furthermore, you have had the opportunity to learn from mistakes and not make them again..

I find it interesting that most of the young bahamians who went away to school in China, who now speak chinese, and who are now getting involved in various ways... support the PLP. Why do you think that is?

Posted 8 November 2016, 7:27 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

The farming may be all right if it is done on leased land. there are so many new ways
to farm. and they say Andros has lots of water. perhaps my belief comes from the fact
that I love to see things grow. Sweet potatoes, cassava goat peppers and the list goes
on. It could be a good thing.

Posted 8 November 2016, 9:01 p.m. Suggest removal

Farming our land is a GREAT thing. Silent deals and corrupt politicians is a bad thing.

Posted 9 November 2016, 9:30 a.m. Suggest removal

This dilemma has nothing to do with growing a dang thing. . .it has to do with our government headlong stupidity in "giving" the whole nation over to the government of another state. . .not some private Chinese investment group. . . we are talking about the Chinese government becoming the largest economic owner of out nation!

Posted 9 November 2016, 11:51 a.m. Suggest removal

happyfly says...

The PLP has done nothing but carry out and advertise it's crooked ways and the only people that respond to their calls for FDI are crooked people and China State is the most crooked organization in the world. Whilst the USA is implementing a global regime to stamp out corruption, the Chinese are preying on small weak nations with dishonest, greedy politicians at the helm. This is not healthy FDI that will provide employment for our children. They are not our friends. The Peoples Republic of China is here to take everything they can from us for as cheaply as they can and anyone doing 'sealed' deals with these guys should be labelled a traitor

Posted 9 November 2016, 7:36 a.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

**..................................... Six Of One Half Dozen Of The Other ........................................**

PLP and FNM are equally guilty of disenfranchising Bahamians, destroying our country and decimating our people.

We must take our country back from these corrupt so called "elites" and their parasitic crew of friends, family and lovers!

Posted 9 November 2016, 8:11 a.m. Suggest removal

Did the FBI deliver the USA 🇺🇸 up to Donald Trump

Posted 9 November 2016, 8:12 a.m. Suggest removal

mangogirl01 says...

Christie is taking the focus off him and the PLP after been caught with their pants deal, that is all, pure deflection!

Posted 9 November 2016, 1:18 p.m. Suggest removal