The Christie administration continues to disappoint, even as they are about to be forced to demit office.  Yesterday an email was revealed of the ‘Hon’ Jerome Fitzgerald, member of parliament for Marathon openly soliciting ‘very generous’ contracts from the original developer of the Baha Mar resort, Sarkis Izmirlian, today he explains.

“Minister admits soliciting Sarkis – PM silent on explosive revelations” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald admitted to contacting then Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian to ‘seek assistance’ in advancing ‘some work’ with the resort on behalf of his father, the founder of Bahamas cargo & Logistics.

In a series of emails between Fitzgerald and Izmirlian dating back to 2013, which was leaked by The Tribune yesterday, Fitzgerald lobbied for brokerage, trucking and limousine contracts, telling Izmirlian the matter required his ‘personal intervention’.

Fitzgerald wrote that his father’s medical bills were $20,000 per month, and expressed concern that ‘we have not heard anything yet’.

He also requested Izmirlian provide a recommendation to approach other hotel brands.

In a statement yesterday, Fitzgerald maintained that he has no contracts with Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), or any of Baha Mar’s affiliates, and said he does not own shares in Bahamas Cargo & Logistics.”

I am confused because I think this is the very same man that the Christie administration sought to demonize at one point, accusing him of working along with others in an attempt to destabilize the government, so my question is was this before or after Fitzgerald made his plea for these ‘generous’ considerations and then there is the ethics of it all.

The tale of how they attempted to brand Mr. Izmirlian as an ‘enemy of the country’/government is actually quite amusing and interesting indeed.  Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, yes the same one, read some of the private emails of others, obtained by questionable means, in The House of Assembly, citing parliamentary privilege, in a desperate to prove that Mr. Izmirlian was working along with others in an attempt to destabilize an already shaky government.  All I can say is that karma is a…I mean oh, the irony of it all.

Now, Mr. Fitzgerald has been exposed by the means of ‘leaked emails’, it appears, to be in ethical violation of his Parliamentary and Cabinet positions.  “Fitzgerald’s actions appear to be a breach of Manual of Cabinet and Ministry Procedure.

Article 40(b) of the procedural code states that a minister must not ‘solicit or accept any benefit advantage whether for himself, his immediate family or any business concern or interest or trust which he is associated from persons who are in, or seek to be in, any contractual or special relationship with government.”

Now here things can get a little ‘sticky’, as Minister Fitzgerald seeks to maintain ‘that he has no contracts with Baha Mar, now owned by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), or any of Baha Mar affiliates, and said he does not own shares in Bahamas Cargo & Logistics.’, I will acknowledge the fact that he [Minister Fitzgerald] may not have contracts with the new owners of the resort and there are ways of actually finding out but I will ask on whose behalf did he lobby for these ‘lucrative contracts’ when Izmirlian was still the owner if his father, the owner of Cargo & Logistics is incapable of running the business?

Even if his father became gravely ill after he himself made the initial arrangements, there is still the question on whose behalf was the Minister making his plea?  While I am very sympatric to Minister Fitzgerald, as it pertains to the well being of his father; I did it shameless that he sought to use his father condition to secure these contracts, which would have benefitted the minister in the long term.

Will the Attorney General investigate?

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END