This is the same Attorney Anthony Thompson who was found guilty of “gross misconduct” by the Bahamas Bar Association’s Disciplinary Tribunal in late 2013 in another matter relating to the Oceania Heights development in Exuma. The Tribunal’s decision against Thompson at that time stated that, “The professional service rendered by the Respondent (Thompson) to the Complainant falls far below acceptable standard.” The Disciplinary Tribunal found Thompson guilty of several things: conflict of interest (representing both the vendor and purchasers); withholding Stamp Duty from the government; misleading property purchasers; and being party to a tangled web of corporate ownership structures which appeared intended to confuse both purchasers and the Bahamas government (aka a scam).
At the conclusion of their decision, the Bahamas Bar Association Disciplinary Tribunal wrote, “The Tribunal is of the opinion that the Respondent’s (Thompson’s) conduct in this matter is gross and his breach of conduct merits more than a reprimand.”
That reprimand turned out to be a fine of $750 to be paid to the Bahamas Bar Association and six months suspension from legal practice. A slap on the wrist.
Following this decision, local media opined that this kind of behavior, and the light penalty, have “damaged both the Bahamas’ and Exuma’s reputation as an attractive second home and investment destination.”
Now as the Bahamas sinks closer to being relegated to junk status by international financial institutions, Thompson appears to be carrying on as before. Why does the Bahamas government tolerate this kind of self-serving and nation-destroying behaviour?