By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

IN response to being called a PLP crony and cast as a “thief”, Grand Bahama bus driver Kevin Ferguson denied the latter characterising himself as ‘Robin Hood’ – a person with a “big heart” who shares what he has with his poor fellow Bahamians.

Mr Ferguson, according to Free National Movement vice chairman David Thompson, was among the “all for me baby” crew who had received various contracts under the Progressive Liberal Party government, including repair work at the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre that was not completed, and a number of home repair contracts for hurricane relief, in addition to his public school bus contracts in Grand Bahama.

Mr Ferguson is among some 20 disgruntled bus contractors from Grand Bahama whose five-year contracts - which would have expired in 2020 - were prematurely terminated by the FNM last October. They are accusing the FNM of wrongful termination and victimisation.

During a press conference held by several of the bus contractors in Freeport, The Tribune asked Mr Ferguson about those various contracts that Mr Thompson said he had received under the PLP.

“The press conference that David Thompson called I would like to clear the air…and give my position with regards to David Thompson’s allegations,” Mr Ferguson said. “While people believe that I get all of this, it is not the facts.”

Mr Ferguson indicated he is someone with a big heart and a champion of the underprivileged.

“I have a big heart; I am a champion for the underprivileged; I am a champion to those who cannot speak or afraid to speak for themselves. That’s why you can see it is four of us here, but behind the scenes there are many who are happy that Ferguson, Mr Jason Laing, Ms Malvina Albury, and Mr Marvin Williams have the testicular fortitude to stand up against the government for what they believe and what has been proven victimisation,” he said.

The bus contractors, led by Mr Ferguson in a protest earlier this month, have now retained the services of attorneys Anthony McKinney and Wayne Munroe, both QCs, to sue the government for lost revenue and damages.

In reference to the hurricane home repair contracts, Mr Ferguson said he met all the criteria required by The Bahamas government to qualify as a contractor, including having a VAT Tin, certificate of good standing and a business licence.

“There was a limited amount of contractors on Grand Bahama based on the volume of work so I would have gotten some of that work because I complied unlike some of these fellas,” he explained. “In October of the hurricane year (2016), I got some 20 houses to repair throughout the island.”

Mr Ferguson said while he has the licence for the work, he would get the job and subcontract the work to others. “I used to be a local government chief councilor, and I have allegiance to people, so I try to be helpful and so if a brother does not have a licence, but he could do a job, he comes to me, and I have this contract to do certain work, I give it to a brother. When he has completed the work, I get the cheque; I give him his share. So contrary to popular opinion, it is not all for me, I am not that baby.”

Mr Ferguson said that he completed all of the contracts for the hurricane home repairs in November and December of the year in question.

Moving to the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre, Mr Ferguson said that he got a contact under PLP to do certain repairs at the courthouse building. “It was not a written contract, but I had gotten verbal instructions to get started because of the publicity that the courthouse was getting. Me being a good and loyal PLP, without money I would have jumped into it head-on.”

According to Mr Ferguson, he said this was in May or June. After hiring people and commencing work, he said that he had not received any monies for three months and suppliers and workers wanted to be paid.

“Everybody wanted their money; the workers were calling me all sorts of things. I had to borrow from here and there to get these fellas paid, so they don’t kill me and to get my name off the street. So when the government decided to give me a couple of dollars way down then, they wanted me to continue; I did not see the reason to continue until they give me what was owing to me before I got the contract - but that did not happen.”

The Garnet Levarity building has been in a state of disrepair for many years. In addition to poor physical upkeep, roof leaks, workers complained of health concerns due to mould infestation issue.

Mr Ferguson said that when the government changed and the FNM took office, he was paid the monies that were owing to him. “The FNM gave me what was owing to me, and they had their quantity surveyor Larry Bastian there who quantified the work I would have completed and paid me accordingly,” he said.

“I made payments to this one and that one. And with regards to those houses they say I got paid for, let me be clear, as a contractor I had workers 20 to 30 of them, and minister of agriculture was saying ‘that young man going all around throwing money around the place.’

“I was not throwing money; I was throwing help. All those young men you see on the roof trying to get people sorted out, I was not being paid to do that. Some of those persons could not get help, and I was the local government councilor for the area, and they called on me because they could not get help, and I took on myself and sent people there, and Kelly’s and Albuild gave me credit to repair people’s houses.”

Mr Ferguson said that Bahamians must look beyond the headlines and propaganda. “All I am saying…is do the research, ask questions and stop calling people’s name because ever since this (bus contract termination) happened, I am getting calls left, right and centre as this champion fighter who cannot be compromised, who will call a spade a spade that Ms Hall has done this, John Doe has done that, and they are calling you and (others) thieves. You understand what I am saying,” he said.

“When someone calls me a thief because I know I am not a thief, I reflect on Robin Hood because whatever I have or would have acquired, I share. So if they want to call what I do stealing, I am proud to be just that because I know whatever I acquire I share . . .”