A lawsuit from Opposition Leader Perry Christie over an oil drilling ad created by the Free National Movement (FNM) could provide insight into his dealings with the Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC), the governing party said in a statement yesterday.
The statement, released by FNM spokesman Tommy Turnquest, said if Christie follows through with his threat to sue the FNM, the public may get to see the money trail and other details regarding a consultancy arrangement with BPC.
Christie had said BPC was benefiting from legal advice he provided through Davis & Co., the firm of his party's deputy leader, Philip Brave Davis.
"The [lawsuit's] discovery process could require them to, under oath, turn over all communications with BPC, the specific arrangements, the amounts of money paid -- including fees paid for future services, the actual dates and specifics on contracts and communications between the oil company, Davis and Christie," said Turnquest, the minister of national security.
"It should also shed some light on precisely what kind of services Christie provided the company during his time as a seated member of Parliament in the opposition."
On Sunday, Christie said he told his attorneys to sue the FNM over a new television ad which he said defames him. Christie said the ad is filled with "last-minute lies about oil drilling and about me".
"In all my years in public life, my integrity has never been questioned. Bahamians know that I work for them," he added.
Christie said previously that his working relationship with Davis & Co. began after his party lost the 2007 election. The question was put to Christie a day after Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham told The Nassau Guardian the PLP leader was a consultant for the firm that wants to drill for oil in Bahamian waters.
A week later, Christie backtracked from the revelation and claimed that he no longer works as a consultant for the firm. He said his ties to Davis & Co. and BPC were severed long before the issue became a controversy.
Yesterday, Turnquest hit out at Christie for trying to distance himself from the uproar over his admission.
"Christie is now trying to take back what he said, using semantics and technicalities," Turnquest said.
"He now claims that the relationship was severed before 'the controversy' surrounding it came to light. Notice what he does not say: he does not say it was before he ran for office, not before he expressed ambition and started the campaign to return to power."
Turnquest said, "The bottom line here is that Christie cannot be trusted to keep his promises or stay true to his words. Last week, he told the media what services he provided to BPC through Davis' law firm.
"This week he is trying to intimidate people who are repeating his own words with threats of legal action. But he can't hide from his own words."
Christie said the issue does not create a conflict of interest for him or Davis as long as they disclose their connection to BPC if the PLP wins the next election.

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