U.S. envoy says FNM had no influence on report

Sat, Jul 5th 2014, 11:54 AM

U.S. Charge d'Affaires John Dinkelman yesterday emphatically denied that the Free National Movement (FNM) had any involvement in producing the U.S. Embassy's 2014 Investment Climate Statement on The Bahamas.
The U.S. diplomat spoke to The Nassau Guardian after suggestions by Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson that the son of former FNM Chairman Johnley Ferguson wrote the report.
"The Bahamian opposition had nothing to do with this report," Dinkelman said.
"The Bahamian employees of the [U.S.] Embassy did not write the report.
"American diplomats wrote the report for Americans to consider the Bahamian investment climate."
The report raised concerns about an alleged lack of transparency and "undue government interference" in The Bahamas' bidding and procurement process.
Gibson said on Thursday that Hank Ferguson, commercial specialist in economics in the commercial section of the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, wrote the controversial report.
He questioned whether the criticisms of the government are those of the United States or those of the son of a "staunch FNM".
But in a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau said non-American staff members do not author such documents.
At the end of the report, Ferguson is listed as the "contact point at post for public inquiries".
Dinkelman explained that Ferguson was listed as a point of contact for potential U.S. investors.
As it relates to Ferguson's political affiliation, Dinkelman said he does not know and does care as a foreign diplomat.
"I am only concerned about the quality of his work, which has been superlative," he said.
"Any aspersions that Mr. Ferguson may have twisted any report that the United States Embassy puts out, in any sort of partisan manner, I reject entirely and categorically.
"The products, which come out of our embassy are unfettered by any domestic partisan disagreements or differences that may exist."
Dinkelman was also asked to respond to Prime Minister Perry Christie who asserted on Tuesday that the information in the report was likely gleaned from opposition sources.
In response, Dinkelman said, "Undoubtedly, a series of American diplomats assigned to Nassau contributed from every conceivable source, from the private sector to the public sector, from non-governmental organizations, international organizations and, as cited in various parts of the reports, from international watchdog organizations, which measure The Bahamas and The United States, but literally every country of earth to provide, as I would stress, a snapshot of where things sit in The Bahamas as of today."
The report also said many of the Progressive Liberal Party's "ambitious campaign promises" remain unfilled more than two years after the Christie administration took office.
Christie suggested it is "simply inappropriate" for the U.S. officials to draw negative conclusions on the success of his government's plan, based on a "snapshot" of the current situation.
Dinkelman said the document, which has 19 sections, is an overall positive review of The Bahamas.
"Anybody who is overly critical of the document simply has not read the entire document," he said.
"The United States, through this report is actually supporting and reaffirming a positive light on the investment climate in The Bahamas."
Dinkelman admitted there was a factual error in the report, which he said is being addressed.
The report said Standard and Poor's (S&P) downgraded the country's credit rating in 2013.
S&P did not downgrade The Bahamas that year, but revised its outlook to negative in September 2012, as pointed out by Christie.
"When that was called to the embassy's attention we immediately reported that to Washington," Dinkelman said.
"I suspect that, given the long holiday weekend, that the change to the website for this report would not be affected until early next week."
He added that while the report has negative and positive aspects, the document would not dissuade American investors from doing business in The Bahamas.

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