ALFRED GRAY RESPONDS TO LIES IN THE MEDIA

PRESS STATEMENT

By 

THE HONOURABLE V. ALFRED GRAY, M. P., MINISTER

OF AGRICULTURE AND MARINE RESOURCES 

WEDNESDAY, 09TH NOVEMBER 2016

CONFERENCE ROOM 

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MARINE RESOURCES 

I have called this Press Conference today to deal with three matters:_

1.    The Headline of the Nassau Guardian of the November 1st which states "China in $2B deal Proposal" which the Government was  considering for a 2.1Billion dollar deal for Agricultural & Fisheries Development by Chinese in the Bahamas.

2.    The Guardian Headline  of 2nd November, GRAY LIED.

            And

3.    The Leader of Opposition calling for my resignation because as he said - I misled the Bahamian people when I said there was proposal or deal between the Government of the Bahamas and the People's Republic of China, regarding a 2.1 Billion dollar deal. 

Firstly

Regarding the Nassau Guardian's Headline "China in 2.1 Billion deal or proposal with the Government of the Bahamas, I said then and I repeat now that Headline was misleading and was in fact a lie.

To support this  position I can tell you that up to this moment, the Initiatives which our Ambassador presented to me seeking approval to discuss them with possible investors have not yet been discussed with any Chinese or other investors - so to suggest by its headline - "China $2B Dollar Deal or Proposal" was misleading and is indeed a lie.

China is in No Deal or Proposal with the Bahamas Government.  How can you have a deal - with not even having a discussion.

Secondly

          The Guardian Headline which said that I lied - was itself a lie.

          The Truth is, I have always said that I gave permission for our Ambassador to discuss certain initiatives which he drew up, and presented to me - and which I thought were worth discussing.

          The very letter of "Permission to discuss" clearly stated that: -

          Fishing in the Bahamas was reserved for Bahamians only, and that was not up for any discussion, the     words I used were "It is The Bahamas Government's policy that no foreigner is allowed to physically fish in Bahamian waters by himself or in partnership with others, and therefore only Bahamians are allowed on the fishing vessels".

Thirdly

          The Leader of the Opposition called for my resignation because as he said it was revealed that I gave the Ambassador permission to discuss his initiatives with the possible investors. 

          To that, I say this - "He who Lives in Glass houses should never throw stones".  Mr. Minnis should be the last person on earth to ask for anyone's resignation without himself resigning, over his blatant conflict of interest by renting a building in which he had interest to the Ministry of Health, while he was the Minister of Health.

          That is corruption of the highest order, but as you can or may already see, there is one standard for the PLP and another for the FNM.

          Let me also say that Mr. Minnis and the FNM:

1)   Gave Veto powers or Total "Port Rights" to Chinese Investors in Grand Bahama, that even the government could not overide.  He was a Minister in The Government then, but you heard nothing from him.

-          Following through on Cabinet Conclusion when Minnis was present in 2009, just  7 years ago, a Secret deal was struck between the Ministry of Agriculture and Chinese Investor for Agricultural Development of 10,000 acres of land in Abaco Free of Charge - No lease, No Rent - This contrary to Mr. Minnis, never came to Parliament.

-          That deal called for -

1)   223 workers in 2010 of which only 26 were to be Bahamians;

2)   316 - in 2011 of which 36 were to be Bahamians;

3)   355 - in 2012 of which 45 would be Bahamians;

4)   230 - in 2013 and 14 of which 30 would be      Bahamians.

In fact that secret deal called for 1354 Chinese workers, over 5 years to 167 Bahamians over that same period. 

          Minnis lied when he said - this deal came to Parliament.  It never did.

I go further that the same FNM Government, gave to Chinese Companies among other concessions.

(1)         The New Airport road construction;

(2)         The North Abaco Bridge contract; and

(3)         Agreed to almost 8000 Chinese workers to work on the Bahamar Project.

What I say is that the Leader of Opposition is a hypocrite.

In 2009, Chinese investors to him were good for the Bahamas, but in 2016 he gave notice to the same Chinese, that they will revoke any investment in Agriculture which this Government may make with Chinese.

I state for the record that -

          The policy of all Government of the Bahamas was to allow for foreign investment in Agriculture and Agro business, and for land based - Fish, Farming and or Processing Fishing Factories, etc., but the law does not allow non-Bahamians to fish in the Bahamas.

          Those policies have not changed in the last 40 years. The FNM followed those policies, but according to them, those policies should not be followed by this Government. What hypocrites -

          I also ask the question:-

(1)         Where was the Bahamas National Trust in 2009?

(2)         Where was Mrs. Sam Duncombe in 2009?

I say, he  who comes to equity must come with clean hands.