Deputy Leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) Peter Turnquest (left) and FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis speak to members of the media during a press conference at the party's headquarters on Mackey St. yesterday. (Photo: Torrell Glinton)
A day after warning that a Free National Movement (FNM) administration would cancel any aspect of the government's agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China that it deems not to be in the best interest of Bahamians, FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis yesterday challenged the government to deny that the concessions "in the secret under the table deal with the Chinese" gives the right to automatic citizenship to hundreds of Chinese nationals.
Minnis was referring to the agreement to get the troubled Baha Mar resort completed.
The government quickly responded to his statement, calling the citizenship claim false.
At a press conference at FNM headquarters on Mackey Street, Minnis also challenged the government to deny that it leased thousands of acres of Bahamian land at a fire sale price to the Chinese; that it has agreed to over 1,000 work permits to Chinese nationals to do work that Bahamian workers can do, and has provided exemption from payment of value-added tax and payment of hotel and casino taxes for a specified period of time.
"We remind the PLP government that under the most favored nation clause in the Atlantis Resort agreement the government may be made to match any additional concessions given to Baha Mar further reducing the taxes payable to government," Minnis said.
"Mr. Prime Minister, if this deal is as good for The Bahamas as you have said, then why are you hiding it from the Bahamian people?"
On Wednesday, The Nassau Guardian revealed that the Supreme Court has sealed documents in relation to the agreement between the government and the bank at the request of both parties.
Minnis asked, "Why don't you want it to see the light of day so that the Bahamian people can examine it in detail?
"Where is the accountability and transparency that you have sworn to uphold and that you constantly brag about?
"As a show of good faith, prime minister, you must immediately address the many questions surrounding your secret deal."
In its statement yesterday, the government said the claim that it has given away or sold islands as a part of the new agreement is false.
"Nothing has been given by way of concession that has not been offered before to previous investors," the government said.
But Minnis challenged the government to reveal "the nature and value of the additional tax breaks and concessions".
As he said a day earlier, Minnis told reporters that the FNM "condemns in the strongest possible terms the suspicious and undemocratic decision by the Christie led PLP government to request the Supreme Court of The Bahamas to put beyond the reach of the Bahamian people the agreement which it signed with China EXIM Bank to complete the Baha Mar project".
"The government must be aware that the agreement that they signed was executed by them on behalf of the Bahamian people and as a result, the government has a sacred duty to make the agreement public and not keep the details from the people," he said.
Minnis also questioned whether there is a potential buyer for Baha Mar and if so, who.
At a press conference on Monday night, the prime minister said that the completed project will be sold "to a qualified world-class operator".
Minnis repeated, "The Bahamian people have every right to see the agreement that you have executed in their name and on their behalf, and we will use every legal avenue available to us to expose this evil.
"Why should the Bahamian people trust you, prime minister, and the PLP when on Monday night you promised to provide the public with details of the agreement knowing full well that you had already requested the courts to seal the deal from public scrutiny?
"Was it your intent to be in contempt of the courts, or was that just another promise that you never intended to keep?"
Minnis charged, "This secret deal is positive proof that Prime Minister Christie is willing to do anything to be re-elected even if it means putting the future of our Bahamas and the Bahamian people in the hands of a country steeped in a foreign communist ideology and culture."
He added, "The Free National Movement is committed to enacting a Freedom of Information Act that would make it unlawful for the government to make secret deals with foreign entities and then run to the courts to protect its secrecy.
"We are committed to being transparent and accountable to the Bahamian people in every action we take on their behalf."
Yesterday, Christie insisted the government is not acting in a secret manner in relation to the agreement. However, he explained that for commercial reasons the agreement needs to be sealed until the government's lawyers advise otherwise.
Jayme C. Pinder, Guardian Staff Reporter
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
