The controversy surrounding the $25 million contract awarded to JDL Cargo for managing the air freight terminal at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) highlights several significant issues involving government transparency, stakeholder engagement, and procedural integrity.

> Understanding Key Concerns and
> Criticisms of the “JDL Scandal”

Michael Pintard and the Free National Movement (FNM):

Michael Pintard, the leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), has been a leading critic of the Davis administration's handling of the contract with JDL Cargo. Pintard's primary concerns revolve around the following:

Lack of Competitive Bidding: Pintard alleges that the government failed to conduct a proper competitive bidding process, bypassing the usual Request For Proposals (RFP) that ensures transparency and fairness.

Legal and Procedural Concerns: He questions the legal framework under which the contract was awarded, demanding clarity on which laws or regulations permitted the Ministry of Finance to engage JDL Cargo without parliamentary debate.

Stakeholder Engagement: Pintard highlights the absence of dialogue with key stakeholders, particularly the Customs Department, before finalizing the contract, leading to confusion and discontent among customs officers and other affected parties.

Business Sector Reaction:
The business community has expressed significant concerns about the impact of the new fees introduced by JDL Cargo.

Notably:

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Increased Costs: The introduction of a 20 cents per pound air freight terminal handling fee, along with other charges, has raised fears of increased operational costs. Businesses worry that these fees will make margins too thin, particularly for smaller couriers, potentially driving some out of business.

Operational Disruptions: Due to uncertainties about the new fee structure, some businesses have started rerouting their shipments via ocean freight, causing a slowdown in the air freight sector.

Government Response:
Financial Secretary Simon Wilson has attempted to address these concerns by:

Assurances Against Monopoly Pricing:
Wilson has pledged that the government will not permit JDL Cargo to engage in predatory pricing practices. He emphasizes that the aim is to make the contract beneficial for all stakeholders.

Acknowledgement of Communication Failures:
Wilson admits that the government has not communicated effectively with stakeholders, promising to improve transparency and stakeholder engagement moving forward.

Justification for the PPP:
Wilson defends the decision to engage JDL Cargo, citing the poor state of the current air freight terminal and the lack of interest from other potential partners over the past decade. He argues that JDL Cargo was the only entity willing to undertake the necessary renovations and manage the facility.

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Parliamentary Debate and Legal Scrutiny
Pintard has called for a parliamentary debate on the contract, demanding that the agreement and the associated fees be scrutinized and validated through proper legislative processes. He stresses the importance of competitive bidding and transparent procurement practices to ensure public trust and accountability.

Incident at the Press Briefing
Tensions over the JDL Cargo contract escalated during a press briefing when journalist Youri Kemp accused Simon Wilson of lying about the government's dealings with JDL. The confrontation led to a heated exchange, with the Office of the Prime Minister condemning Kemp's approach as a personal attack. The incident underscores the high stakes and strong emotions involved in this controversy.

Conclusion
The JDL Cargo contract issue highlights critical challenges in public-private partnerships, particularly regarding transparency, stakeholder engagement, and adherence to legal procedures. As the government works to address these concerns and improve communication with affected parties, ongoing scrutiny from political leaders, the business community, and the media will play a crucial role in ensuring that the benefits of the contract are equitably distributed and that public trust is maintained.

You miss the key point in the awarding of this monopolistic government contract without a proper competitive bidding process imbued with complete transparency.

I suspect Youri Kemp has knowledge of the principals behind JDL and the tight connections they enjoy with certain government officials who stand to benefit greatly from the windfall profits the contract is virtually guaranteed to produce for them.

Bahamians should by now know that the term Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) is a euphemism for an exploitative arrangement whereby certain corrupt politicians partner with their cronies in the private sector get to enjoy unjust riches from unfairly heaving on to the people much higher costs for goods or services than they would otherwise have to pay.

And too often the monopoly subject to the exploitative PPP arrangement is not a natural one but rather one very deliberately created by unfair, and all too often, unconstitutional legislation that is financially harmful to the people.

What is the best way to defend a lie?
Answer... with another lie of course. Duh!

It is sad that they would condemn the press reporter for his actions in a question, but not condemn Wilson for his ghetto actions in leaving the podium and wanting to fight the press reporter.

Further, Wilson apology is not an apology. He attacked a press reporter and has yet to apologize to the reporter. Saying he apologizes to the media is garbage.

Clearly his actions required his termination. It does not matter what a person calls you. To leave the podium to go in the face of a person to attack them is a clear no no.

The bottom-line here is that Simple Simon, who is so obviously unable to control his innate blood boiling rage and anger, is much too unfit to serve the public as Financial Secretary. This guy has a lot in common with that arrogant, wicked and demonic tyrant Hubert Minnis who proved himself to be the most malicious, vindictive, wicked, cruel and harmful government official our people have ever known.

Davis should demand a resignation letter from Simple Simon because is now a permanently broken vessel with no ability to carry water for the minister of finance.

If you want to know why the youth of this country cannot peacefully resolve conflicts, look no further than the actions of this fool towards a member of the press. He is supposed to be setting an example...unfortunately he is...just not the right kind of example.

He displayed thuggish , gangsta behavior. He is an apparent educated thug. How can you pull up your dress for someone in your capacity as a government official. He should be transferred and demoted to another office.

Can the Tribune maybe report if what Mr. Kemp said is correct. Did Mr Wilson Lie in regards to the JDL matter?

He said JDL was not collecting any govt revenue, no customs fees, not doing any inspections they were only contracted to *construct* the air freight terminal, "*that's it*". A leaked memo sent by JDL to customs brokers referencing fees however seemed to hint at a greater management function involving collection of govt revenue. If customs officers would be responsible for collecting fees and JDL is responsible for construction only, theres no fee for them to collect from brokers

So the govt has alot of explaining to do. The real investigation needed is, was this freight management function entered into at the time Simon Wilson uttered "*that's it*"

Keishla is circling the wagon. Don't expect bwave to do the honorable thing and fire this jackass

Stumpy Davis just sat by and allowed Latrae Rahming and Keishla Adderley to make complete fools of themselves in their unbridled haste to support the contemptuously angry and ragingly misbehaved Simple Simon while wrongfully castigating in public the calm and cool headed Youri Kemp.

Those folks who live by the Bible’s golden (ethical) rule to do unto others etc. would have no reason to fly into such a rage as Wilson shamefully displayed this week.
I recall that the truth is supposed to set one free…

Furthermore it’s likely Wilson sought out the chance to rebuke this reporter again, perhaps explain himself…but all we’ve read here is the same self righteousness bluster and outrage at anyone who would dare to question what was vital, all important to him “as a public servant ..to be seen to observe the highest standards of integrity and transparency”.
Well to be fair, he ruined that with his public temper tantrum.

And for all his outrage, proselytizing, even given this opportunity to refute this charge he did not offer one iota of evidence that he was not a liar.

And yet the evidence is clear that JDL has taken over the air freight receivership as their prospectus shows.

So who’s lying? JDL, the customers and/or business owners forced to deal with these shysters?
Or the other shysters- the Minister of Finance Greasy Davis, and his bagman Wilson of the ‘sterling reputation’??
Surely Davis&Co haven’t lied..again?
Surely they haven’t handed the business that is sovereign to the Customs Dept without the legislative and judicial approval required to a private entity??

That this ‘private entity’ was leaked as owned by a gambling consortium nails the coffin shut on “transparency” and “integrity” doesn’t it?