Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Neville Wisdom indicated that while the contract with the C3 Seating Company for the provision of ticketing, seating and associated services for the parades was ready after certain amendments, the company’s lawyer, a night magistrate, was not available for the signing.
He promised, that the contract will be signed today.
After several false starts, he indicated that the agreement will probably be signed in the absence of reporters who have become increasingly annoyed by the turnaround.
Last night’s postponement came hours after Free National Movement Leader Tommy Turnquest called on the prime minister to fire Minister Wisdom for his “mismanagement” of the Junkanoo parades.
Minister Wisdom told the Bahama Journal that he was in a “controversial” ministry and that the delays were necessary to “get it right.”
“Junkanoo is always a challenging event because it is always competitive,” The minister said.
Minister Wisdom pointed out that, “This whole plan isn’t about Neville Wisdom; this is a thing that hundreds of people are involved in and I guess people want to single out a politician to beat up on. There are so many partners who are involved in Junkanoo.”
The decision to change the five year contract with the company for bleacher seating and ticketing came in part because of the objections that Junkanoo leaders had raised.
Minister Wisdom told the Journal that there had been a change regarding the life of the contract, but he declined to go into specifics.
He also challenged the FNM to prove that he was involved in any impropriety as it relates to his handling of Junkanoo.
“I challenge the FNM and anyone to show one act of impropriety or one act of violation of the code of ethics established by the Government of The Bahamas and the prime minister himself,” Minister Wisdom said. “I guard very zealously my personal integrity and I always ask those persons who are working with me to make sure that their personal integrity is intact and that they do nothing wrong to bring dishonour to the work that we do here in Junkanoo.”
But Mr. Turnquest suggested that the prime minister move Minister Wisdom to a portfolio where he would not continue to have an opportunity to “mess” up Junkanoo.
“It is clear that all is not well with Junkanoo on the watch of Neville Wisdom,” Mr. Turnquest said. “The fact that the Junkanoo leaders had to negotiate directly with the prime minister demonstrates the people’s lack of confidence in the minister who appears free to do as he likes and act as he pleases with the people’s business, just because, as Neville Wisdom proclaims, that he and the Prime minister are like brothers and speak to each other every day.”
Mr. Turnquest called on Minister Wisdom to answer, whether or not there are allegations that a proposal was made to the government for the purchase of bleachers seating 10,000 spectators at a total cost of $485,000, and whether or not the Tenders Board approved the proposal but the decision was made not to accept it but to enter into what appeared to be a very curious contract with C3.
He also called on Minister Wisdom to produce a copy of the signed contract for pubic scrutiny.
“Something unusual, something fishy, something rotten seems to be going on with all of these postponements,” Mr. Turnquest said. “We in the FNM smell a rat somewhere and it is our firm intention to smell him out and to expose him to the Bahamian people.”
The FNM leader has called for the sacking of quite a few government Ministers recently alleged to be involved in public scandals.
At a press conference last night, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Harrison Thompson said that the Government of The Bahamas has engaged C3 Seating Company to provide bleacher seating, marshalling, marketing and ticket distribution services for the Junior Junkanoo Parade, the 2003 Boxing Day Parade and the 2004 New Years Day Parade.
“These bleachers will be supplied at no cost to the government,” Mr. Thompson said. “By the end of 31 March 2005, this agreement will be reviewed and the terms and conditions be mutually agreed with regards to the parades from December 2005 to January 2008.”
He said that C 3 will supply, market and sell the tickets for the 2003/2004 parades at varying costs at various locations, including the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, hotels on Cable Beach and Paradise Island, over the Internet at Junkanoo.com, as well as at the parades.
The prices for Junkanoo tickets will range from $5 to $75, Mr. Thompson said.
“The government will also appoint staff members to monitor the sale of tickets,” he added. “C3 accounts, with respect to ticketing, will be audited by a public accounting firm approved by the government so that all sales are verified and accounted for.”
Mr. Thompson went on to say that provisions are made in the agreement for adequate liability insurance in the minimum sum of $5 million and a performance bond in the sum of $2.1 million to secure the performance of C3’s obligation under the agreement.
“Arrangements are being made with C3 to ensure that the assembling and disassembling of bleachers is carried out with as little inconvenience possible to the shop owners on Bay Street and their patrons, taxi cab drivers and other vehicular traffic that require access to Bay Street during the month of December and during the busy Christmas season.” Mr. Thomson said.
Mr. Thompson added that it is the intention of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the National Junkanoo Committee to work closely with C3 to ensure that adequate seating is provided to the public and that ticket holders will have easy access to their seats at the parades.
Vice President of C3 Seating Company Edmond Cleare said his company has been in the seating business for six years.
“We’re just glad to know that there is a lot of talent, a lot of young untapped talent on the island and just once given the chance, we will show what we can do,” Mr. Cleare said. “You don’t have to always go to foreigners to get things done, we can do it right at home.”
Last year, Minister Wisdom faced a firestorm after the government rented bleachers from Canada for $1 million. In the end, the govenrment lost $1.2 million on the parades.
By Yvette Rolle -Major, The Bahama Journal
