And because of what was called an error in judgement by Agriculture Minister V. Alfred Gray, the 15 foreign boats have been ordered out of the country “forthwith”.
As of yesterday Prime Minister Christie has taken ministerial responsibility for the corporation.
South Andros MP Whitney Bastian, one of the first public officials to speak out against the matter, said that others who were involved in the Korean boat scandal should follow Mr. Stubbs’ example and resign from their public offices.
Over the past few weeks residents, fishermen, environmentalists and politicians across the political divide weighed in on an issue that was said to have grown beyond the appearance of the South Korean boats in Andros three weeks ago to a national concern.
Durinmg his speech, still defiant, Mr. Stubbs blamed the media and The Tribune in particular for his predicament and denied virtually every allegation levied against him.
“The Tribune has gone into high gear, once again churning out mischief, half truth, lies, and other irresponsible comments and innuendo, what has emerged over the last several weeks is a full frontal attack on a group of innocent foreign investors whose only crime is that they want to invest $20 million in the economy of North Andros.
However, suring his contribution to the deabate Mr. Bastian read a sworn affidavit from Sidney Stubbs’ brother Mark Stubbs, which outlined the invlovement of Mr. Stubbs with the Korean investors, along with a detailed account of how Mr. Stubbs “muscled him out” of the deal in favour of BAIC consultant Earlin Williams, who is also CEO and principal owner of Netsiwell, the company that is embroiled in the controversy.
A question was also reaised about the status of Earlin Williams at the corporation as some parliamentarians felt he had no business being there.
Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller, under whose portfolio BAIC falls, did not know why Mr. Williams was still at the corporation since at least eight months ago he was fired from his consultancy. However, he confirmed that as of two weeks ago Mr. Williams was still being paid by the corporation.
Source: Rupert Missick, The Tribune
