D’Aguilar refuses to back down over claim airport directors were fired

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE letters that contradict his claims that the Nassau Airport Development’s former board of directors was fired by the Minnis administration over the write-off of $1.2m of $3.3m in rental fees of an airport tenant, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday said he will not “budge an inch” from accusations he made regarding the matter last week in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday these remarks among other assertions were “reckless,” made with a view to “scandalise” the board and the tenant and “were not true”.

He further argued that the $1.2m write-off to the tenant was “not fair” considering the circumstances surrounding the dispute.

Yesterday, when Mr D’Aguilar was questioned by the press over his account of the situation regarding PatMor Holdings and its $3.3 rental dispute with NAD, the minister was defiant.

Asked if he stood by the claims and maintained that the board was fired despite the former board chairman saying most, if not all, of the board members submitted letters of resignations on May 16, the minister replied: “Everything I said is in the Hansard. I stand by what I said. I don’t budge an inch.”

Last week Mr D’Aguilar asserted that an airport tenant was allowed to rack up a rental debt over five years under the Christie administration and was allowed to remain delinquent due to “direct intervention by the political directorate.”

While the minister did not name the tenant in the House of Assembly last week, he further claimed that she approached NAD’s board of directors two months before the general election and was allowed to enter into an agreement to “write off” $1.2m of this debt on the condition that she give up one store and pay her balance. He suggested that this was done as a personal favour to the tenant because she was well-connected politically. The minister explained that this was the reason NAD’s board was dismissed shortly after the Free National Movement won the May 10 general election.

While in the House, he did not refer to the additional terms of the tenant’s write off neither did he go into the terms of PatMor’s settlement agreement.

Speaking during the start of the afternoon sitting of Parliament, Mr Davis sought to distance the former Progressive Liberal Party from certain parts of the agreement.

He said: “So the FNM government who granted to that tenant four outlets, that tenant having successfully complied with the request for proposal being awarded the four outlets by the FNM government. It was not offered as any one store. And so, it is very reckless in the observations.

“Further, Mr Speaker, she then again under the FNM government was asked to assume two more shops that was in the name of some other entity that she at their request assumed. She ended up with six (shops).

“But again, the PLP government had nothing to do with it.

“It was also said by the minister that she paid nothing under the PLP government. Again, not true and it is being repeated from the seat of members opposite.

“You who are in the vineyard of the law please hold your ministers accountable to tell the truth.”

Mr Davis continued: “Now when the FNM was relieved of their responsibilities as we were in 2007, the new board inherited the problems because the tenant had been making complaints and had joined in a dispute with NAD over two things.

“One she raised a point that she was being discriminated against. She raised a point that her assuming the two stores had a challenge with it that involved, and I’m going to let them find this out, perhaps a conflict of interest with an employee of NAD.

“There was another issue and that was that NAD fees and rent were predicated upon their undertaking that 3.8m travellers would be passing through the airport and that being the case the rent was pegged at 38 per cent. NAD acknowledged that they never met their undertaking, but yet still they continued to charge the 38 per cent and continued to charge others, 10 per cent. So that was a dispute that they were handling, they were dealing with it.

“And if the minister was responsible enough he would not have come in here to say that she paid nothing under the PLP administration.”

Mr Davis said the tenant had been paying 10 per cent as were other tenants.

“The write off in the circumstances of the case was not unfair because if you look at the whole circumstances of the case. I still think the tenant was hard done in the arrangement and the board of NAD perhaps ought to have done her better.

“But that’s the case and she has lived up to the arrangement despite what I would call onerous positions in which they took.

“And then he fired the board? Mr Speaker there was no firing of the board and the correspondence speaks to that,” Mr Davis also said.

On Sunday, former NAD and Airport Authority Chairman Anthony McKinney released his resignation letter and other correspondence.

A letter dated May 16, 2017 and sent to both Mr D’Aguilar and Transport and Local Government Minister Frankie Campbell from Mr McKinney read: “As you are aware, I was first appointed for one year to act as chairman of the Airport Authority on July 1, 2012. This appointment, by inference, meant that I would also act as chair of the Nassau Airport Development Company Limited. As of today, those appointments continue.

“Technically, my current term as chairman of the above boards is due to expire on June 30, 2017, however, protocol dictates that I should tender my resignation from both boards at this time as my appointments were made by another minister and executive.”

On May 17, Mr Campbell replied that he received Mr McKinney’s previous letter, adding that the matter was discussed with Mr D’Aguilar and they both agreed that he should continue as chairman of the board.

Later, on June 8, Mr McKinney tendered his resignation with immediate effect.

Comments

TalRussell says...

Comrades! Not like this Red Regime's MP's would dare want to be shielded under the very same "legislative immunity" that they have done announced they are not prepared to defend before the courts? I pray it comes back costs some you Red Shirts in your private pockets cause certainly none you would dare ask the Public's Purse to foot your legal costs?
Step outside the protective walls of the People's Honourable House and still conduct your finger pointing - without editing.
In fact, while you Red Sherlock's are at it - isn't there is some leftover scandals from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Red Shirts regimes that AG Carl should be investigating deeply?

Posted 20 June 2017, 2:39 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

He does not have to back down He is the man the people put him there. So he can lie and
say what ever he pleases. In the main time he gets a reduction on commercial washing
machine parts. It does not get any better than this at least for him.

He does not care about those people reputation.

Posted 20 June 2017, 2:46 p.m. Suggest removal

Publius says...

> “Everything I said is in the Hansard. I stand by what I said. I don’t budge an inch.”

The Board was not fired, but such is life in The Bahamas Parliament. Yes it is in the Hansard because the Hansard is simply a record of your words. But your words are exactly the problem in this regard. Just want the FNM to act at a higher standard than we have seen in Parliament over the last five years.

Posted 20 June 2017, 3:01 p.m. Suggest removal

bahamian242 says...

Fired, Quit you cares! All we know is that they are not there anymore! Good Riddance to them all!

Posted 20 June 2017, 3:01 p.m. Suggest removal

BahamasForBahamians says...

Actually there is a big difference. The Minister Tourism lied to us about the board's option to demit office.

We are especially watching this team because the premise of their campaign was to provide Bahamians with a 'new day'. D'aiguilar is effectively "pulling a play out the old political playbook" we are accustomed to. No sign of a new day with this act.

He does not have the humility to accept the fact that he spoke without research.

If he is prepared to continue like this I would admonish him to enjoy this 5 years as it will be his only time in Parliament.

Posted 21 June 2017, 9:58 a.m. Suggest removal

banker says...

Heh heh heh. Trow a stone into bunch of potcakes and see who yelps. The first two comments are from PLP-tards. Funny as hell. Ad hominem attacks on the guy who was hired to clean up the government cronyism from the PLP criminals. I am really looking forward to visiting all of the PLP MPs in Fox Hill and bringing them gifts of dog crap and spitting in their faces.

Posted 20 June 2017, 3:03 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

Banker is just another meaner than the grave FNM. I use to think he might have been
a decent human being. Can anything good come out of the FNM?

Posted 20 June 2017, 4:06 p.m. Suggest removal

Honestman says...

Can anything intelligent come out of Birdiebrain?

Posted 20 June 2017, 6:18 p.m. Suggest removal

banker says...

>Can anything good come out of the FNM?

We shall all wait and see if good comes out of the FNM government. As for me, I don't claim decency in every facet of my character. I am an extreme patriot, and I could easily be a psychopathic brute if I were a PLP jailer. I could happily waterboard Perry Christie. I would reserve brutish, indecent, thuggish behaviour if I were responsible for punishing Shame Gibson.

I am a complete azz of a human being when it comes to interactions with the PLP. There are two reasons for that. The first is that they are sub-humans who have screwed over 300,000 Bahamians and sold their patrimony and stole from us. And secondly, they are sociopaths and psychopaths without a hint of remorse for their criminality. They have no goodness in their core, and do not deserve even the courtesies extended to cockroaches that are about to be squashed.

You are too blind, too stupid, and too cognitively impaired to see the absolute damage that they have done to our homeland. They have made us the laughing stock of the world, and are living proof that monkeys cannot judiciously govern themselves.

I don't claim to be a decent human being when it comes to the PLP. They are vermin.

Posted 20 June 2017, 6:43 p.m. Suggest removal

MassExodus says...

Did you just ask if anything good could come out of the FNM??? They already did GREAT by getting rid of your cocksucking cronie friends the plop.

Posted 20 June 2017, 7:38 p.m. Suggest removal

CatIslandBoy says...

If the facts are, as presented by Mr. McKinney, and Brave, Mr. D'Aguilar owes the Bahamian people an apology. I expect the FNM to govern with honesty and integrity. The PLP has done enough wrong with the Bahamian people's money and other assets. There is no need to manufacture issues, just do some serious digging. He should have done his homework before standing in parliament and maligning the character of those who are unable to defend themselves. I hope this is not the way forward for Tourism under D'Aguilar.

Posted 20 June 2017, 6:42 p.m. Suggest removal

banker says...

Sorry sir, you are wrong. This is not a manufactured incident. D'Aguilar will clean it up.

Posted 20 June 2017, 8:42 p.m. Suggest removal

CatIslandBoy says...

Maybe you have information to which I am not privy. I am only relying on what's in the public domain. So far, the facts as presented, including the recommendation from a reputable law firm and audit from the accounting firm, do not support Mr. D'Aguilar's version. It would appear that the Tenant had a reasonable dispute about the rental fee, and, based upon independent recommendation, came to a just resolution. Of course there may be legitimate questions about the ability of this tenant to lease 5 stores, etc.

Posted 20 June 2017, 9:05 p.m. Suggest removal

banker says...

I appreciate your civility in this discussion.

Posted 21 June 2017, 10:24 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

It looks strange. The "I've already spoken refer to what I said" as opposed to owning up to mistakes was a common tactic of the PLP, he can't be made to think that it's "ok", it's been one month, it's too early for this.

Posted 21 June 2017, 5:12 a.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

Fully agree. The little white-haired poodle is predisposed to yapping without first ascertaining and then carefully considering the facts. His irresponsibility will impede the new government's efforts to properly investigate and, where warranted, arrange for the pressing of formal charges against those who have in fact committed serious crimes.

Posted 21 June 2017, 1:42 p.m. Suggest removal

MassExodus says...

Don't back down Sir. The majority of the people, less Birdie and Tal have your back! As an old coach once said 'Go get em Tiger!!'

Posted 20 June 2017, 7:40 p.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

@MassExodus and @banker are one and the same. He's a real.....well, what can you say?

Posted 21 June 2017, 1:30 p.m. Suggest removal

Reality_Check says...

Don't forget he/she/it also posts to this website under the handle @Honestman.

Posted 22 June 2017, 6:03 p.m. Suggest removal

Truism says...

Current gone of and there was no diesel in the generator so we tell them get they clothes out of our washer and dryers and go home. Why people ain't understanding this? FIRED/FRIED doesn't matter. They just ain't there anymore.

Posted 20 June 2017, 7:43 p.m. Suggest removal

BahamasForBahamians says...

There is a huge difference when the Minister of Tourism misquotes it..

And refuses to say it outside of parliament.

This is essentially what The Bahamian people have been accustomed to seeing over the past 40 years. Minnis promised us a new day and this act by D'Aguilar is not a step in that direction.

Be humble and accept the fact that you misspoke Dionisio!

Posted 21 June 2017, 10 a.m. Suggest removal

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