The letter, dated January 10, 2004, states, “Early in July 2002, just two short months after winning the elections, I came in possession of a ‘confidential’ document which, according to its contents, indicated that a major contract of some $38 million annually or $190 million over a five-year period was about to be awarded by one of the key government ministries.”
It adds that, “There was a proposed scheme in place in the contract to defraud the Bahamian tax payers by way of the Public Treasury of millions of dollars, obviously with the cooperation of one of your ministers and his cronies.
“Upon receiving this information, and as I felt duty bound to appraise you of what was about to transpire, I travelled to Nassau and placed the document in your hand, feeling confident that I was doing the right thing and believing that with your code of ethics policy, you would institute the necessary action to prevent this and future infractions.
“I know I did the right thing and I have no regrets. But what I did not expect, Prime Minister, was that I would be ostracized, black-listed if you prefer, by this new PLP Government, from the day I placed that document in your hands.”
Mr. Key said in his letter that he has been made to feel like an outsider and a traitor and has been subjected to more indignity and affront than “I have had to endure in my entire lifetime, while the real culprits, who should have been relieved of their duties and banished from public service, have instead been promoted as board members in various ministries and given approvals and licenses for a myriad of projects.
“And they say crime doesn’t pay?”
He also reminded the prime minister that he was “very reluctant” to accept the offer to serve as a Senator in the new PLP Government.
“From the day I delivered that revealing document to you, Edison Key, has been aborted – across the board,” wrote Mr. Key, who later resigned as a stalwart councillor of the PLP.
His resignation, which was revealed in the Bahama Journal five weeks after the date of his letter, created a stir among politicos and other Bahamians as Mr. Key accused the party of lacking direction and performing poorly since it came to power in May, 2002.
But the Prime Minister told the Journal at the time that he never received Mr. Key’s letter, a copy of which has since been delivered to him by the former Senator. Mr. Christie also expressed regret that Mr. Key has seen fit to resign from the upper chamber.
There has not yet been any announcement regarding someone to replace Mr. Key in the Senate.
The former Abaco Senator also stated in his letter that there have been scores of applications and requests by party supporters in Abaco to various ministries that have never been acknowledged.
“I have, on my own, brought at least four potential investors to your office, Prime Minister, and their only reason for coming initially, was to request permission to do a feasibility study for possible future investment.
“These four viable investment projects, totalling approximately $105 million in new capital, were presented to you personally and or your various Cabinet Ministers. Had they even been considered, there would have been created an additional 600 jobs for Bahamians, covering Nassau, Grand Bahama and Abaco.”
Mr. Key said he is “totally embarrassed by the fact that not one single one of these well-meaning investors even received an acknowledgement from your government.”
The former Senator wrote that he knows nothing of the government’s plans for Abaco, or even if there are any plans for Abaco.
“As far as the much-publicized Winding Bay project goes, all I say is ‘What Winding Bay project?'”
The government has touted this particular project as a major source of economic growth for Abaco. Just last week, government officials visited the site for a progress report with the developer, Peter de Savary, informing them that the project is well on its way.
Mr. Key also wrote in his letter to the Prime Minister that, “I also supported you as the successor and leader of our party, because, like those thousands at Clifford Park, pre-election rallies, I too believed if anyone could make a difference and restore this country to some semblance of normalcy, and stability, it would be you.”
But he added, “I believed sincerely then that you had the makings of a great leader and like so many thousands, I too allowed myself to get caught up in the excitement.”
Mr. Key stated, “For at least the past 12 months, I have felt increasingly uneasy and certainly concerned about the direction in which the new PLP is headed and after much agonizing I have finally come to the irrevocable conclusion that now is the time [to tender my resignation].”
He stated that, “Prior to the 2002 General Election, I had applied for and was receiving a paltry $900 per month parliamentary pension. I would appreciate if same could be calculated to reflect my recent status and same be re-instated at the earliest opportunity.”
Editors Note: The entire Edison Key resignation letter will be published in Saturdayﾴs edition of The Bahama Journal)
The Bahama Journal
