The Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) on Wednesday slammed the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the Free National Movement (FNM) for calling on parties in the Mohammed Harajchi-PLP dispute to make public their bank accounts when parliamentarians from both administrations failed to make annual public disclosures of their assets while in office.
In a press conference held in Parliament Square, BDM leader Cassius Stuart said recent demands by the FNM are a slap in the face to the laws of The Bahamas and the Bahamian people.
The FNM in a party statement released Tuesday called for Prime Minister Perry Christie, Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt, other Cabinet Ministers and PLP Senator Philip Galanis to make public information on their bank accounts.
ﾓWe have called, from this very same place, for all government Ministers to disclose their assets, income and liabilities, but to date none of them has done so, therefore we are calling for a commission of inquiry to investigate the bank accounts of all Members of Parliament and Senators,ﾒ Mr. Stuart said.
He continued, ﾓThe law requires them to do so. If you want to be a Member of Parliament then you must disclose. If you fail to obey the law then you should not sit in the honourable House of Assembly.ﾒ
Taking the FNM to task for statements made in its release, the BDM leader said the PLP and the FNM ﾓare in the same boat.ﾒ
The Free National Movement on Tuesday said Mr. Christie – who was the official leader of the opposition during the time Mr. Harajchi donated money to the PLPﾴs 2002 election campaign – used poor judgment in accepting those funds.
ﾓNot only should the PLP Cabinet Ministers, MPﾴs and Senators make their accounts public, the FNM former Cabinet Ministers and MPﾴs should do the same,ﾒ Mr. Stuart said.
ﾓAs a matter of fact, the law demands that they do so. Both the FNM and PLP have been ducking the issue of public disclosure and are in direct violation of our law. Is it because they both have something to hide?ﾒ he questioned.
Responding to statements attributed to FNM leader Tommy Turnquest that the ﾓPLP has a problem with integrity ﾖ beginning with Mr. Christie,ﾒ Mr. Stuart questioned the integrity of FNM officials.
ﾓThe truth of the matter is that neither the PLP nor the FNM has any integrity,ﾒ he said.
ﾓThe FNM still have some questions to answer to the Bahamian people regarding contracts given out before the last elections and all the allegations that surfaced regarding corruption in their government,ﾒ he added.
The controversy between Mr. Harajchi and the PLP flared last week when the Iranian-born owner of Suisse Security Bank and Trust (SSBT) presented to the media documents, which he said supported his claims that he had donated huge sums of money to the Progressive Liberal Party to help fund its 2002 election campaign.
SSBT had its doors closed in March 2001 when Central Bank Governor Julian Francis revoked the bankﾴs licence.
Fielding questions from host, Jeff Lloyd, while appearing as a guest on the radio Love 97 programme ﾓIssues of the Dayﾒ Wednesday, SSBT former CEO Christopher Lunn, who is a close associate of Mr. Harajchi, said Prime Minister Christie and Mr. Harajchi were introduced to each other in 2002 by a mutual acquaintance shortly before the general election.
ﾓThe relationship between Mr. Harajchi and the PLP was initiated by the PLP,ﾒ Mr. Lunn said.
ﾓThere was an introduction made, Mr. Harajchi and Mr. Christie spoke and following that Mr. Harajchi became involved in terms of providing financial assistance to the PLP election campaign,ﾒ he added. ﾠ
The former bank executive also used the opportunity to re-launch attempts to have SSBTﾴs licence reinstated. ﾠ
ﾓMr. Harajchi, (his attorney Derek) Ryan and I are of the view that the bankﾴs licence was wrongly taken and that is why we have taken the matter through the courts and right now I think the public should be aware that we are in the process of going to the Privy Council,ﾒ Mr. Lunn said.
Recounting the events that led up to the revocation of SSBTﾴs licence, Mr. Ryan ﾖ who was also a guest on ﾓIssues of the Dayﾒ ﾖ said prior to the bankﾴs closure, Mr. Harajchi was successful in obtaining an injunction, which specified that the Central Bank was not to suspend or revoke the bankﾴs licence.
ﾓAny lawyer would say to you that even if an injunction or court order were obtained wrongly what should have happened is that an application should have been made to the courts to have that injunction set aside before any action was proceeded upon Mr. Harajchiﾴs bank licence,ﾒ Mr. Ryan said.
He added, ﾓThat did not happen. Now you know as well as I do that if you violate or break any court order they would hold you for contempt and you would be also subject to criminal penalties. That did not happen in this case so Mr. Harajchi is continuing on with his fight because he felt that injustice was bestowed upon him.ﾒ
Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
