The company’s statement followed remarks by Opposition Free National Movement Leader, Senator Tommy Turnquest, that the business deal represents a conflict of interest.
BaTelCo says the company is leasing three units for its directory publications department in the Summer Winds Plaza, a shopping centre off Harrold Road.
At a weekend press conference at the plaza, Senator Turnquest said it was clear from press reports that Mr. Miller did not appreciate the full import of the matter, and he called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to act in accordance with the Code of Ethics presented by the Progressive Liberal Party Government to Parliament on June 25, 2002.
“We are very concerned and disappointed that we have to bring this matter to the attention of the Prime Minister in a forceful and public way, when this is a clear case of interest and a blatant abuse of power,” Mr. Turnquest said.
“The FNM also demands from the minister responsible for BaTelCo, full public disclosure of the terms of the lease, including the rental and maintenance payments, the length of the lease and the amount of money spent to refurbish and outfit the rental spaces,” he said.
The public should also be told whether BTC advertised for rental space, or utilised the services of established rental agencies to assist in its search, Mr. Turnquest said.
He questioned whether any alternative rental options were considered, claiming that the Teachers Credit Union building, immediately to the west of Summer Winds Plaza was also available for rent.
“If nothing is done in this instance, the Prime Minister and his Code of Ethics will be viewed as one big farce and the Bahamian people will realize that the PLP government is far from what it is purported to be οΎ– a new PLP.
“They are deceptive, dishonest, greedy, selfish and utterly lacking in ethics and integrity,” he said.
“The Bahamas is waiting to see if this government will do what is proper and right.
The Bahamian people are tired of their talk and they now want action.
This is yet again, only one of the continuing breaches of public confidences by the PLP government.”
However, according to the acting president and CEO of BTC, Leon Williams, the company engaged the services of two real estate agencies, after deciding to relocate the department from its Camperdown technical centre on Prince Charles Drive to make room for the new GSM cellular network.
Mr. Williams said a number of possible locations were evaluated, but only one was considered adequate in terms of parking space and convenience of access.
As a quick decision was mandated due to the imminent launch of GSM and a December deadline for The Bahamas, Grand Bahama and Abaco directories, BTC’s management agreed to a one-year lease of three units of the Summer Winds Plaza from Summer Winds 2000 Investment Co. Ltd, at a monthly cost of $6,500, he said.
BTC was satisfied that procedures followed regarding the lease agreement were totally transparent and no impropriety was involved, he said, noting that, “BTC has in the past and continues to lease commercial facilities in New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands in order to facilitate ease of services to its valued customers.”
On Sunday, Mr. Turnquest claimed that Prime Minister Christie, instead of dealing with a charge of “conflict of interest” against a government minister, instead attacked the source of the criticism.
He said that during a Saturday evening news broadcast, instead of dealing “with the real issue at hand,” Mr. Christie sought to “tell a lie” on him, after he made earlier claims about the lease of space by BaTelCo.
Mr. Christie’s reaction to his claims, Mr. Turnquest said Sunday, came in an address to a PLP Young Liberals conclave over the weekend, reported in a Saturday TV broadcast, when he said Mr. Turnquest should be the last person to talk about impropriety, because he, while an FNM minister, had rented his house to the government.
Calling the PM’s assertion a “blatant lie,” Mr. Turnquest, in a statement hand-delivered to The Guardian, including a copy of a letter written to Mr. Christie, said:
“It was shocking and unbecoming of you as Prime Minister, to attempt to malign and impugn my character over something that you know to be utterly false.
“As Prime Minister, you ought to know better than to maliciously attack someone when the facts indicate otherwise, and I demand a public apology from you.
“In any event, the case is not about me, but Leslie Miller and I invite you to act in accordance with the Code of Ethics established by your government and presented to Parliament on June 25, 2002.”
Mr. Turnquest said he never rented his house to the government, nor received payment from any government agency.
Attempts to reach Prime Minister Christie and Mr. Miller for comment Sunday were unsuccessful.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
