Christie says he assisted bank

The Nassau Guardian

Christie says he assisted bank

Prime Minister Perry Christie indicated yesterday his move to prevent the home of his tax consultant Ishmael Lightbourne from being repossessed was an effort to help the bank recoup its losses and not to help Lightbourne.

Christie said he has helped three or four families since he intervened in Lightbourne’s case.

The prime minister has faced a firestorm ever since he said on the floor of the House of Assembly that he called Lightbourne’s bank (CIBC FirstCaribbean International

Bank) in his capacity as prime minister and asked what he could do to save Lightbourne’s Cable Beach home.

“It is trite to believe that a prime minister separates himself and helps one person,” Christie said yesterday. “I have [helped] hundreds.

“And please, tell them if they have them lined up, people who need advice, send them all to me. Send them all.

“Let them see that I govern myself with both head and heart, but also that I have a day-to-day relationship with the financial community where there is mutual respect and understanding and any involvement on my part or my government’s part is to help the bank, that is the point, not to help the individual. The bank has it.”

However, the prime minister did not explain specifically what help he offered those other families nor did he identify those whom he assisted.

Christie was speaking during the Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation National Conclave at Breezes Resort.

He raised the issue while giving an address on the need for more Bahamians to become involved in public/private partnerships.

This is the second time that Christie addressed the issue in the weeks since The Nassau Guardian revealed that Lightbourne had not paid real property taxes in more than 20 years.

The bank had secured a court order to repossess the home.

Activities outside the home yesterday suggest that the repossession was in progress.

Christie’s intervention with the bank raised questions in some circles about whether he interfered with a judicial officer in the execution of his duties

Christie said yesterday the matter has been “misunderstood” and acknowledged that people are concerned about his intervention.

While members of the opposition accused Christie of abusing his power, members of the government have defended the prime minister’s actions.

Most recently, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said Christie was simply “seeking an understanding between the borrower and the lender”.

“I don’t know how it could be an abuse of power,” Davis told reporters last week.

“How is power abused? The fact is that we all who are in a position, we are often called upon as representatives of the people to intervene and to lend assistance when assistance is required.”

MICAL MP V. Alfred Gray recently said Christie should be praised for his intervention.

Gray said Christie was a “good Samaritan” for taking action when the bailiff showed up with the court order to repossess Lightbourne’s house.

Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said Christie’s intervention was inappropriate.

“I was ashamed, and all [of] The Bahamas should have been ashamed at the prime minister’s response,” Minnis said recently.

“That was totally inappropriate. When the prime minister said he called the bank, the bank manager to see what can be done, that can be interpreted, that’s abuse of power.”

 

 

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