Iranian tycoon, Mohamed Harajchi, on Wednesday produced a package of documents that he claimed proves that he was a major financial contributor to the Progressive Liberal Partyﾴs last general election campaign.
But no document produced to reporters supported his claim that he gave $10 million to the PLP. That claim was immediately shot down by PLP National Chairman Raynard Rigby, who issued a press statement shortly after Mr. Harajchiﾴs press conference at his Paradise Island home.
Mr. Harajchi produced a cheque dated January 3, 2002 which he made out to the ﾓPLP Leadership Accountﾒ valued at $100,000.
In addition, he gave reporters copies of two invoices from Fireworks Unlimited, one totaling $35,000 for a fireworks display at Clifford Park on May 1, 2002, during the PLPﾴs last big rally before the May 2 election. The display lasted for 20 minutes.
The other bill was for $40,000 for a fireworks display on April 29, 2002 in Freeport, Grand Bahama. That also lasted for 20 minutes.
Although he told reporters that he was a multimillion-dollar election financier, he said Prime Minister Perry Christie, then the leader of the Opposition Progressive Liberal Party, never promised him any favours.
While he called Mr. Christie an honourable man, he was not so kind to some of the members of his cabinet.
Using derogatory language to refer to Ministers, he asked the Prime Minister to get rid of some of them to ﾓbring help and a good future for Bahamian women, and children and people.ﾒ
ﾓI beg you,ﾒ he said. ﾓDonﾴt sit and donﾴt sleep, wake-up.ﾒ
Mr. Harajchi also alleged that he financed the restoration of the PLPﾴs headquarters on Farrington Road.
In his statement, Mr. Rigby pointed out that it is not illegal nor improper for political parties in the Bahamas to accept donations from individuals. He said the practice has been a staple of the Bahamas system for many years.
ﾓWe are grateful that Mr. Harajchi has cleared the air and has publicly indicated and has confirmed that the PLP did not extend to him any favour, contract or promise in exchange for his financial donation to the PLPﾴs electoral campaign,ﾒ the release said.
ﾓWe acknowledge that Mr. Harajchi was a donor to the partyﾴs electoral campaign. However, our records reflect that the amount of the donation was much less than he is alleging, and is a small fraction of the alleged $10 million.ﾒ
Mr. Harajchi, who also owns the Confidential Source newspaper, has become an increasingly controversial figure over the last few years, as he has been fighting allegations that his bank, Suisse Security Bank & Trust, was not fulfilling certain essential requirements, leading to the Central Bank revoking his bankﾴs license.
The Paradise Island resident also renewed certain claims he had made about Central Bank Governor Julian Francis shortly after the revocation, producing a report about a lie detector test that he allegedly took to prove that his accusations were true.
The ﾓPolygraph of Mohamen Harajchiﾒ was taken by Harper & Associates, based in Miami, Florida, on October 20, 2001.
Mr. Harajchi said prior to Mr. Christie becoming Prime Minister of the Bahamas, he warned him to be careful about the people he is around and to always have the countryﾴs best interest at heart.
ﾓI also told him, I said, ﾑPrime Minister, I swear by God, if you are going to go against what we agreed to ﾠ- to serve the Bahamian people and to bring justice to this country – I am going to fight with you and with your people,ﾒ he said.
Mr. Harajchi said the Prime Minister, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe and PLP Senator Philip Galanis have had breakfast at his estate.
Jumping to other matters, Mr. Harajchi said he has made numerous attempts to bring assistance to Bahamians.
He said following the famous Straw Market fire on Bay Street, he offered to restore the building which houses hundreds of vendors. But former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham rejected his proposal.
Mr. Harajchi also alleged that a number of present senior government members have asked him for personal favours.
Rogan M. Smith, The Bahama Journal
