PM ordered to pay legal costs for Save The Bays

PRIME Minister Christie has been ordered to pay the full legal costs incurred by Save The Bays (STB) after his recusal application was rejected by the Supreme Court.

The Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minister for Crown Lands - appears with several other senior officials and controversial developer Peter Nygard - as a respondent in three Judicial Review cases brought by STB to challenge the environmentally destructive construction works that were allowed to take place at Nygard Cay over the past three decades.

In January, attorneys for Mr Christie filed a motion to have Justice Rhonda Bain recuse herself from these cases, and from a fourth Judicial Review brought by 103 of Mr Nygard’s Lyford Cay neighbours, on the basis that she is set to reach the legal age for retirement in April. Justice Bain has filed an application for extension that would have to be authorised by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister in consultation with the leader of the Official Opposition.

On February 7, Justice Bain ruled that Mr Christie’s application had “no merit” and reminded him of the independence of the judiciary, stressing that the Chief Justice’s role in deciding which judge hears a given case cannot be “usurped by the Prime Minister”.

Yesterday, Dawson Malone, attorney for STB, successfully argued that the environmental non-governmental organisation should be awarded full costs for the failed recusal hearing, which has since been appealed. It was also ruled that the Prime Minister will also have to pay the legal costs of Mr Nygard’s 103 neighbours.

Comments

B_I_D___ says...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Bugger!! Take that!! LOL

Posted 15 March 2017, 11:33 a.m. Suggest removal

ohdrap4 says...

in plead my right to silence.

Posted 15 March 2017, 12:48 p.m. Suggest removal

kairosmatt says...

To pay for this he's gonna have to book flights to Switzerland and Panama to go get all that money back he stole from us in the first place.

Good for the courts-keep his @$$ in the fire! (where it belongs)

Posted 15 March 2017, 1:34 p.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

**Jackass gets as jackass sows - Christie Looks Like Warmed Over Death**

Christies deal with the devil is paying back dividends.

Assholiness, stupidity, wanton corruption and absolute height of jackassiness come with a great price.

Posted 15 March 2017, 6:38 p.m. Suggest removal

Economist says...

It says "in his capacity as Minister for Crown Lands" that he has to pay.

That means that he has wasted the Bahamian peoples hard earned money defending Nygard.

Yup, our money to defend a foreign citizen who is a Billion air.

No wonder the Country is going broke.

Posted 15 March 2017, 2:15 p.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

No matter what had been the outcome of this case involving the PM, Justice Bain is to be lauded for the professional manner in which she conducted herself throughout her hearing of the matter. Honesty, integrity, sound judicial temperament, fair-mindedness and capacity for intellectual and logical thought are the hallmarks of a great judge possessed of a deep understanding and abiding respect for the rule of law. As I've said before, this talented lady should be regarded as a breath of fresh air for all of us. She has certainly had an uplifting affect on the public's faith in our legal system.

Posted 15 March 2017, 5:11 p.m. Suggest removal

MonkeeDoo says...

He ga be shooting double FU's now !

Posted 15 March 2017, 5:11 p.m. Suggest removal

EasternGate says...

Take that you purple head SOB!

Posted 15 March 2017, 5:22 p.m. Suggest removal

banker says...

Posted 15 March 2017, 7:56 p.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

**.................. Da Finger Man Goeth Where Angels Dare Not .....................**

Fooking I-D-I-O-T!

Posted 16 March 2017, 8:16 a.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

**Christie Lined The Judiciary With Corrupt Judges To Save His Ass After Losing Power**

He missed "at least one" that stands by the rule of law instead of ass kissing apologist & cronyism.

I wholeheartedly applaud ***Justice Rhonda Bain!***

Posted 15 March 2017, 6:27 p.m. Suggest removal

banker says...

Bet he doesn't pay.

Posted 15 March 2017, 7:52 p.m. Suggest removal

Socrates says...

most likely GOB (gov't of Bahamas) will pay this, meaning us. the strong-man, 'i'm above the law' politician mentality is ushering in a new era.. check Turkey, Phillipines, Trump now Christie.. all want to ignore and/or direct the courts. the line between democracy and dictatorship is becoming blurred..

Posted 16 March 2017, 6:37 a.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

Time for a completely new form of government. This so called Democratic system has been corrupted the world over by scumbags like Christie. Damn shame! Voting has almost completely become a waste of time when the absolute majority of people vying for power are nasty, ignorant, greedy, selfish... etc., etc., etc.

Posted 16 March 2017, 9:40 a.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

@Sickened: History has shown time and time again that our type of bastardized Westminster parliamentary system of government is dysfunctional, especially in the case of a small country like ours. It is a system too easily vulnerable to abuse by corrupt politicians who are inclined to introduce government policies aimed at creating a large class of "dumbed-down" and impoverished voters. This is typically accomplished by corrupt government leaders deliberately starving the education system of vital resources, including quality educators, while at the same time allowing unchecked illegal immigration from any nearby lesser developed countries. Eventually a ruling class of corrupt elitist politicians and their cronies emerges and becomes entrenched in all of the major political parties with little difference between the parties. Often this comes about quickly as a result of a flawed constitution that allows the judiciary and law enforcement to be made beholden to the executive arm of government. Honest hardworking taxpayers are crushed by the escalating corruption and are left to feel they have no alternative political solution that they can vote for. At this point, the one-man-one-vote democratic process is so compromised and dysfunctional (mainly as a result of the "buying" of the uneducated poor man's vote in general elections) that the country is well on its way to becoming a failed state usually run by the worst kind of power hungry and highly corrupt despot.

Posted 16 March 2017, 10:36 a.m. Suggest removal

stillwaters says...

Bahamians, please let us send these tired looking old men home!!!! So many of them don't want to let go. He looks exhausted, as so many of them and their 'advisors' and 'consultants' look.

Posted 16 March 2017, 11:10 a.m. Suggest removal

Craig says...

This man PGC, don't know his a$# from his elbow. He has got to go!! Such incompetence at such a high level is downright scary. We as Bahamians got to stop electing entertainers and opportunist and calling them politicians and leaders after they are elected and put in power. Just look at the cabinet. Who in here there is deserving of the title of CM? I am struggling to think of one. These people are playing with children's future.

Posted 16 March 2017, 1:32 p.m. Suggest removal

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