Former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Minister Darrell Rolle acknowledged over the weekend that a company that was awarded a contract for the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) was formed by his law office and he does have an interest in it, but he strongly rejected a claim by Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins that cronyism was involved in the award of the contract.
"I've never been involved in cronyism," Rolle told National Review. "There is nobody who can tell you that even while minister of works I was involved in cronyism."
Rolle said the contract is for the construction of the female dormitory at BAMSI. He said to his recollection it is valued at around $2.6 million and he does not know whether the contract went to bid.
He said, "No political influence or intervention was brought to bear with anybody involved in the government. I had no input whatsoever in it (the award of the contract). Not one minister, not one civil servant can tell you that Darrell called them during the negotiating phase of BAMSI. Now it is true that once BAMSI was conceptualized I wanted Androsians to get the maximum benefits."
Rolle said he does not get involved in the day-to-day running of the company, which he said has competent technical professionals. Rolle spoke of his disappointment that the cronyism claim was made in Parliament, as he as a private citizen is unable to defend himself in that forum. Interestingly, no government minister spoke to the award of the contract when Rollins raised it on Wednesday.
After challenging much of what the Fort Charlotte MP had to say in the House of Assembly during debate on several agriculture bills, government officials sat silently in the face of Rollins' claim that the government had engaged in cronyism in the award of BAMSI contracts, and his suggestion that the contract in question had been padded for unqualified PLP cronies to benefit. Specifically, Rollins claimed that a former Cabinet minister who previously represented Andros received one of the BAMSI contracts. It was a direct reference to Rolle, who represented North Andros.
In addressing the issue, Rollins pointed to a press release issued by FNM Chairman Michael Pintard on January 31, which alleged that a construction company, owned by the former Cabinet minister and a "prominent PLP linked minister of the gospel" received a "large government contract" for the construction of one of the BAMSI dorms.
"That in and of itself is an example of how public funds are being wasted because the contracts then have to be padded in order to ensure that these individuals who cannot do the work can take something out of the contract to give it to someone who could complete the scope of the work for the amount of money required to complete the job," Rollins said.
"And yet many of these buildings have yet to be completed. And as I said throughout my contribution, they are still unoccupied."
Rolle said he is "shocked" that Rollins was able to make such claims, which he (Rolle) indicated are unfounded. He stressed, "I was not involved in the solicitation of the contract. The government did not consult me at all, nor did they consult the other person he (Rollins) was referring to.
"The people who dealt with the contract are persons who are competent and technically qualified. I haven't seen it because I have not been involved in the company. They have pretty qualified quantity surveyors. I'm shocked that you can go and say these things in Parliament without going and checking the record."
Rolle also said it is unfortunate that the reputation of private citizens could be sullied in Parliament without anyone saying a word.
"In a similar situation in Australia," he said, "the person accused can write to the speaker, not only refuting what has been said, but asking the speaker for a right to refute it as the House so determines. In all my years in Parliament, being leader of the House for many years, I never uttered a word about somebody that I couldn't utter outside. It is wrong in a responsible parliamentary democracy for you to clothe yourself in the rules of parliamentary privilege and violate the constitutional rights of citizens, the right not to be maligned, maliciously attacked, libeled or anything."
While discussing the issue of the BAMSI contract, Rollins did not call Rolle's name directly, but the reference was clear. In addition to the cronyism claim, Rolle took strong exception to the suggestion that the contract was padded so he could benefit.
Accountability
Rollins also urged the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by St. Anne's MP Hubert Chipman, to "do their job and make sure that the government of the day is held accountable". Chipman indicated on the weekend that the committee's investigation into BAMSI is stalled because the government has not been forthcoming with information requested, including the number of contracts awarded and the identifies of the contractors.
The PAC wrote Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works Philip Brave Davis and Agriculture Minister V. Alfred Gray last April requesting information on 13 items relating to BAMSI. Chipman previously told us that Davis acknowledged the letter and in his written response undertook to provide the PAC with the necessary information for nine items, and said that Gray would provide the committee with the remaining information. Ten months later, no information has been provided.
While government officials would prefer what they have termed BAMSI success stories to get more attention, the issue of accountability for public funds cannot be overstated.
Rollins' contention is that the PLP is using public funds for political reasons, seeking to lock down the North Andros seat, currently held by Dr. Perry Gomez, the minister of health. No government minister stood to challenge Rollins' assertions, and they remain on the record of the House. Rollins' claims came about a year after Davis landed in a prickly situation after it was determined that he misled Parliament in relation to a contract held by PLP stalwart councilor Audley Hanna, of Paradigm Construction.
Millions of dollars in public money has gone down the drain because of a screw-up in the Ministry of Works, for which no one has been held accountable, as far as we are aware. We all know the story well.
Davis initially told Parliament that Hanna had the necessary all-risk insurance for the male dorm at BAMSI when he was awarded the contract. He later said he had been mistaken and a read of the file showed that while Hanna had secured a quote, he did not have the necessary all-risk insurance. The dorm was destroyed by fire just over a year ago. It still has not been rebuilt.
In the House of Assembly last month, Davis said he has provided an accounting of the BAMSI matter. But Rollins' recent claims about BAMSI are a reminder that the deputy prime minister has yet to provide a full accounting. Davis ought not use the word "accounting" when he discusses BAMSI. He informed last March, nearly a year ago, that the contractor for the male dorm stands fully liable for the construction outlay, which totaled $2.5 million.
He said, "My ministry is now making a determination as to how we will recover the loss from the contractor."
Davis has yet to report back to Parliament on any decisions in this regard. He also reported last year that reconstruction costs would be around $5.5 million and the net cost to the government will be the cost of reconstruction, less the expenditure for the structure destroyed by fire.
While Davis tabled the contract awarded to Audley Hanna -- "for the sake of transparency" -- nearly a year later, he has not made public the remaining BAMSI contracts. That information is apparently not the public's business.
With the government determined to take a secret approach to how it handles public money, there is no wonder why so many Bahamians continue to believe the narrative that the Christie administration is more concerned with fixing up friends, families and lovers.
The age of secret government should be long behind us. But sadly, it is not.
Members of our government continue to act as if they are handling their personal money when they dip into the public purse. They continue to scoff at demands that they be more accountable. It is a deep-rooted culture of a government that behaves as if it is not answerable to anyone. They resist at every turn opportunities to show a greater degree of respect for members of the electorate, who are called upon more and more to dip deeper into their pockets to pay more taxes.
We should not have to find out from the FNM who the parties are who have been awarded government contracts. Darrell Rolle should not be forced to defend himself after strong suggestions made on the floor of the House that he has benefited from a "padded" contract because he is a prominent PLP.
The public deserves assurances that contract awards are being done fairly. But the BAMSI contracts were awarded under a cloud of secrecy. Even in the face of revelations regarding the contract for the dorm that was destroyed by fire, the government has decided it is best that the public not have access to the remaining contracts. This continues to foster a great deal of suspicion. The latest revelations and allegations connected to the award of BAMSI contracts underscore the need for a more transparent approach in these matters.
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