Cartwright defends pre-election contracts

Former Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority Executive Chairman Shanendon Cartwright said last night that he will not allow his integrity to be placed in the “political crosshairs” whether from “without or within”.

Cartwright has come under fire after the Davis administration revealed that the projected expenditure of the authority increased by nearly 150 percent in the months leading up to the September 16 general election, due to the award of contracts.

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis slammed the former Minnis administration over this “reckless and irresponsible” decision and vowed that “they will be held to account”.

But Cartwright said he never acted recklessly during his tenure.

“Let me state for the record, I will not be used by any intended or unintended attempt to put my integrity in the political crosshairs whether from without or within,” he said in the House of Assembly.

“Nor will I allow the efforts of hardworking public servants to be used as political fodder.

“From what we were tasked with, the Bahamian people benefited greatly.”

The issue of the award of contracts at the authority surfaced two weeks ago.

Minister of Public Works Alfred Sears said there was a “rash of contracts” issued by the authority and that some were issued without board approval.

On Monday, Davis said the Authority’s budget increased from $15.2 million to a projected $37 million.

“I want that to sink in for a moment,” Davis said.

“I also want it to sink in that a number of these contracts were awarded to clean middle and high-end subdivisions, like Blair and Westridge, just to name a few.”

Cartwright said last night that he wanted to bring clarity to the matter.

“I was never moved by the weight of my office to act recklessly,” he said.

“I used my discretion and authority discriminately. My team and I worked to improve things and processes as best as we could.

“My ego did not agitate any cause of action that did not involve seeking clarity and clearance from those in the official decision-making and approval process.”

He said that at every interval where additional funds were needed the requisite and appropriate authorities were made aware of such needs, and discussions would be had.

He said official requisitions were sent outlining functional necessities and the funding needed to address those needs.

“The funds were subsequently forwarded,” he said.

“Where there was a delay, that sometimes happens, indication was always given that the funding would be forthcoming.

“At no time did I or the authority take any unilateral or arbitrary approach in securing additional funds.

“It just doesn’t work that way. No one just picks up funds from [the Ministry of] Finance or from the treasury. We followed the process.

“At every juncture, we sought to be compliant with existing policies and made preparations to adhere to any upcoming changes, including the national procurement policy that will alter the way all government contracts are issued in the future.”

Cartwright said the authority was a creature of instructions.

“This member never operated in a silo, never was an island unto myself, never in a clandestine manner,” he said.

“While it is totally acceptable to consider the process through which additional funding was approved and acquired, there is no denying that the culmination of the approval process resulted in thousands of Bahamians, FNMs, PLPs, unaffiliated, many who have lost jobs due to this pandemic and now are able to feed their families, pay light bills and acquire their lifesaving medications.”

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