‘We will see what happens’

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest yesterday responded to calls for his resignation, dubbing the situation unfortunate and said “we will see what happens”.

Turnquest was not interested in speaking to the allegations of fraud made against him as he walked up the stairs of the Churchill Building for Cabinet meeting yesterday, holding his cup of coffee and waving at reporters saying, “It’s good to see so many of you all. God bless you.”

But he eventually stopped after repeated questions from reporters over calls for him to step down as a Cabinet minister until the matter is resolved.

“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “But as far as I’m concerned, I’m focused on the work of the Bahamian people.”

In a statement of claim, the two companies – Alpha Aviation Limited and Advanced Aviation Limited – allege that Randy Butler, Sky Bahamas Airlines Limited and Aviation Oversight Group Ltd., together with Turnquest, “conspired wrongfully and with intent to injure” those companies and/or “to cause loss to them by unlawful means and/or to enrich themselves…”

According to the court document, the alleged fraudulent acts occurred between 2008 and 2017.

Turnquest last week denied the allegations, adding that he has not been named as a defendant in the legal action.

Since then, there have been growing calls for his resignation from members of the opposition, as well as former State Minister for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez.

Outside Cabinet yesterday, Turnquest explained that he will allow the matter to play out in court, while he focuses on his work as minister of finance.

“I think you guys have known me for at least eight years now, most of you, and I think that you know that I am focused on what I do and I’m very disciplined about what I do,” Turnquest said to reporters.

“The matters that are circulating out there are unfortunate. They will be dealt with in due course of time. But again, I’m focused on working for the Bahamian people while I have the opportunity to do so. And I’ll do my best to ensure that we get through this crisis.”

Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis on Monday said Cabinet is deliberating on the issue and the public will be updated once it is done.

On Thursday, Turnquest stated that he was appalled that his standing as a public servant made calling his name in this dispute between his former business partners worthwhile, and added that his focus remains on his work to improve and modernize the management of the country’s economy and public finances.

That response was criticized the following day by Opposition Leader Philip Davis as “arrogantly dismissive” as he said Turnquest missed the point of good governance entirely.

In addition, Davis said the prime minister has a duty to act when a minister does not do the “honorable thing”.

St. Anne’s Member of Parliament Brent Symonette, who resigned from Cabinet last year, said he feels the prime minister deserves more time to deliberate on the issue.

The post ‘We will see what happens’ appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/we-will-see-what-happens/