‘GOVT TARGETING FNM MP GIBSON’: Police seize rental vehicles belonging to party’s Long Island representative

Monday, May 16, 2022

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION Leader Michael Pintard has accused the Davis administration of targeting former Water and Sewerage executive chairman Adrian Gibson, after several rental vehicles belonging to Mr Gibson were allegedly seized on Long Island as part of a police investigation.

When contacted yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Leamond Deleveaux confirmed that officers were in Long Island conducting investigations concerning WSC.

However, he would not confirm whether police had taken several of Mr Gibson’s rental vehicles into custody. Further, he would not say whether the Long Island MP was being investigated.

But sources familiar with the matter told The Tribune yesterday that some of Mr Gibson’s vehicles were seized by police last week.

This newspaper also understands that Mr Gibson is currently out of the country and is scheduled to return this week, after which he will speak more to the issue.

Meanwhile, during a press conference held following the Free National Movement’s conclave on Saturday, Mr Pintard told reporters that the FNM was still waiting to be appraised of all the facts.

He said it was apparent to the party that Mr Gibson was being targeted, adding that officials were hoping that whatever allegations being made against the Long Island MP would be found false.

He said “As you are fully aware, the present Progressive Liberal Party has targeted Mr Gibson. We do not know all of the facts in this matter, but they are going out of their way to drip feed the public with a fair amount of information suggesting a conclusion that has not been arrived at yet. So, we are waiting to hear the full set of accusations being made by the Progressive Liberal Party and Mr Gibson is a young talented Bahamian and we’re praying that anything that they’re asserting is absolutely false, but we are going to hear all of the facts. He’s a member of our family that we care about dearly and so we’ll wait and see.”

Mr Pintard was also asked how the FNM felt about Mr Gibson being allegedly investigated by police.

However, the opposition leader only said the party felt troubled over the fact that many FNM supporters were being unjustly victimised and targeted by the Davis administration.

“Listen, we feel terrible that many FNMs are presently being savaged by the Progressive Liberal Party,” the Marco City MP added. “Urban Renewal workers and members from social services throughout the Ministry of Environment where contracts have been ended.

“In almost every ministry, this government has determined that persons who have been hired or contracted over the last four years will be the focus of their attention both in terms of how they characterise them and in terms to how they end their livelihood. So, when you ask about my feelings, don’t confine it to one person. I ask you to look broadly at the incredible savagery that is being meted out to so many Bahamians who are challenged economically at the moment.”

Earlier this month, The Tribune reported that police questioned WSC General Manager Elwood Donaldson for hours as part of their investigation.

He was placed on leave in December.

The details of those investigations are not clear but an audit into the corporation –– which was leaked last month –– allegedly found red flags in the operations of the institution.

Reportedly, the Internal Compliance Division at the institution allegedly revealed “high-level corrupt transactions” concerning multiple projects. The audit accused a former executive member of conflict of interest and fraud.

The investigation, according to the report, is part of a probe into the issuance of contracts and the management of the corporation under the Minnis administration.

Mr Gibson’s tenure at the corporation was put under spotlight last year after he was accused of awarding no bid contracts to a company that was allegedly owned by people he knew.

However, he has since denied the allegations, saying the false claims were the sad reality of “silly season” and “mudslinging” that have become features of Bahamian politics.

Comments

M0J0 says...

Where was his voice prior when others were being accused.

Posted 16 May 2022, 10:12 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

I wouldnt be using the word "targeted". If the police have gone as far as seizing vehicles I'd hope they have a reason to do so. I'd be spending my time questioning Mr Gibson on the source of his funds , especially as he's a sitting MP in "my" (meaning Pintard) party, especially if his wealth increased dramatically after he was appointed chairman. This is precisely the intent of the Disclosures act. So FNM do your due diligence

Posted 16 May 2022, 11:51 a.m. Suggest removal

Well said. It really is not looking good for the red party, if the leader has this outlook.

Posted 16 May 2022, 11:56 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Is the Red Party's leader *playing the fool when he like most have *heard the exact same growing noise ... yet he could've been the *least bothered to have *communicated with his party's House-elected MP **an attorney-at-law,** educator, businessman and **protégé of the Tribune** to to ask ...** why you think** you've might've now been singled out as one of the targets of an **sewage** instigation. ― Yes?

Posted 16 May 2022, 1:23 p.m. Suggest removal

BahamasForBahamians says...

Pintard is missing the mark as an FNM leader. The conclave on saturday to decide whether or not to publicly support Adrian Gibson's corruption was obviously a fail if this his position coming out of it.

I'm sure law abiding FNM's who can smell the stench of corruption... like the FNM company Rowdy Boys.. who had their road contract whistled away to Brent Symonette's Bahamas HotMix for an alleged price of $1m to Adrian Gibson's bank account..

They know the truth!!

Posted 16 May 2022, 1:39 p.m. Suggest removal

Kofi says...

Offering anbrube is a crime. So is accepting a brube. If what you write is true, the. the paving company should be investigated as well.

Posted 16 May 2022, 2:58 p.m. Suggest removal

Just incase you misread.

The allegation is that Brent Symonette paid Adrian Gibson $1m to replace Rowdy Boys with his company for the contract.

Posted 17 May 2022, 9:46 a.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

Too many of us are too easily distracted by dirty politics from the much more important matters facing our country. Weaker minds will always tune in to the daily soap opera show of dirty politics and no one knows that better than the very cruel Davis..

Posted 16 May 2022, 4:40 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

If Shameless Gibson won $2 million .... Imagine how much Adrian will win when he is vindicated in court ( if it reaches that far).

Posted 16 May 2022, 5:57 p.m. Suggest removal

@ComradeSheepie, being we nosey about others business affairs ... just tell ... has the House-elected MP an attorney-at-law, educator, businessman and protégé of the Tribune to ... placed you on a retainer ― Yes?.

Posted 16 May 2022, 6:23 p.m. Suggest removal

No, Tal ............. Just my opinion, based on how ludicrous this "investigation" appears to be (witch hunt on steroids)

What if some of Davis' Cabinet Ministers are found to be included in the WSC contracts??

Don't you think an astute lawyer like Adrian kept files????????

Do you think that Davis is the only lawyer who keeps files???????

Posted 16 May 2022, 6:33 p.m. Suggest removal

@ComradeSheepie, you're entitled to expressing just your opinion but not your own facts ... Let's allow the police to do their job ... And keeping files are okay but not if any might be the property of W&S ― Yes?

Posted 16 May 2022, 7:04 p.m. Suggest removal

So you're counting on a corrupt PLP official stopping a corrupt FNM official from being investigated. Given our history it's certainly in the realm of possibilities. But my goodness that's not a defense I'd be using for a representative that I'd support to the death.
.

Posted 17 May 2022, 3:27 a.m. Suggest removal

There's a few glaring differences between this and the Shane Gibson case. The biggest is the use of the word "fraud" in the audit report. Auditors do not randomly use that word, esprcially in this country, it means they have evidence. This isnt the usual "*the procedures werent followed*". Having evidence though doesnt say who's implicated. However the 2nd glaring difference is the seizure of Mr Gibsons rental cars. So my first question is did he have those cars prior to being appointed chairman? Not the company, the specific cars that were seized. I dont know about you but haven't heard of police seizing assets of a sitting MP in my lifetime.
This is an extra extraordinary event and I would assume required extra extraordinary justifications. The 3rd question is why were the assets siezed? Were they seized for non payment or for something else?

Posted 17 May 2022, 3:20 a.m. Suggest removal

realitycheck242 says...

In the end This case will simply prove who was the better Autorney General. The last red one or the new red one. my guess is the one who gets the least funds from the treasury prosecuting political cases will be considered the better.

Posted 17 May 2022, 6:03 a.m. Suggest removal

Agreed ...... Our Judiciary is also on trial. Can they maintain their independence in the face of overwhelming political influence????
We shall see ....... Our Executive is now acting almost as a dictatorship. It's tentacles are wrapped around all of the other branches

Posted 17 May 2022, 6:43 a.m. Suggest removal

The new AG will certainly not go o and 3. Too bad they got rid of the bank lane shuffle The ongoing Reckley urban renewal case is an interesting read.

Posted 17 May 2022, 7:29 a.m. Suggest removal