TOPIC: RESPONSE TO TRIBUNE’S
NASTY INNUENDO
MARCH 5, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I have perused the Tribune’s newspaper article of March 1, 2003, which by deliberateness and nasty innuendo sought to imply that I as Minister with responsibility for the national flag carrier, Bahamasair, forced off 95 passengers on a Miami-bound flight, to offer charter services to Trinidad, which was inclusive of myself.

I wish to make it absolutely and abundantly clear that I was not involved in, apprised or consulted about, any decision to promote the chartering of a flight to Trinidad and certainly not to force off passengers on a Bahamasair Miami-bound flight.

Since my appointment as Minister with the responsibility for Bahamasair, management of the airline, with the Board of Directors having the duty of oversight has provided the functioning of the airline. I have made it crystal clear to all concerned, including every staff member that has approached me, that this Minister has no interest whatsoever in micro-managing Bahamasair. I further challenge any member of Bahamasair’s Management or Board of Directors to express that they were ever given any directive by me.

The Tribune and the Bahamian people should be aware that as a seasoned businessman and as Minister responsible for Bahamasair, I will never seek to impose my will, political or otherwise on the day to day functioning of Bahamasair. There are so many examples of such behavior from the previous Administration that I would have to deem myself a fool to engage in such a practice.

I remind the public that there is always two sides to a story and intelligent people will always seek to get the other side of the story of which I have just conveyed.

As a Member of Parliament and now as a Minister of the Government, The Tribune, by innuendo, has sought on more than one occasion to paint me as being irresponsible. However, if the Tribune was seeking to act in a responsible manner and desiring to get the other side of the story, they could have contacted my office and obtained the details of my whereabouts in Trinidad.

Mr. Speaker, needless to say, my commitment to being responsible will always speak for itself just as the irresponsible behavior of the Tribune will do likewise.