PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis M.P.
23rd March, 2011
Re: BTC DEBATE AND COMMENTS BY CHARLES MAYNARD
STATEMENT: We are more than half way through the debate on the sale of 51% of BTC to Cable and Wireless and so far the Government’s response has been scandalous and shameful. Charles Maynard and others have engaged in outright lying, defamation and propaganda of the highest order. Mr. Maynard’s comments were bold-faced lies. To-date they have engaged in guerrilla warfare and smokes and mirrors in their efforts to muddy the waters and detract from the real issues at hand.
As many Bahamians are aware privilege in the House of Assembly and Senate allows parliamentarians to make statements, no matter how bogus and outrageous, with immunity from arrest or civil liability arising from those statements. Charles Maynard abused that privilege. He continues to make a mockery of the Parliament of The Bahamas and quite frankly himself. I dare him to repeat such untruths outside of the cover of Parliament. If he is foolish enough to do so, I can assure him that I will pursue all possible legal avenues to recover for damages to my reputation.
My privilege was breached. I have asked the Speaker of The House of Assembly to refer the matter to the Committee on Privilege for sanction and further action, which he has agreed. I trust that the Committee will move expeditiously to resolve my complaint.
The Government has attempted to make the debate one of false personal attacks and insults towards the many independent minded Bahamians who exercised their right to protest on Monday past. Do Maynard and the FNM believe that Bahamians are not smart enough and independent enough to protest against an obviously bad deal without inducement? What hogwash! They have again insulted the intelligence of Bahamians.
They have also attempted to portray that the PLP is opposed to the privatization of BTC. We support the privatization of BTC however we are opposed to the present deal with a company with such a poor record as Cable and Wireless. The deal stinks.
So far not a single Government Member of Parliament has spoken to the merits of the deal presently before us. They have danced and spinned but ignored the matter before us. They have ALL failed to address:
1. The obvious conflicts of interest;
2. Why sell 51% instead of 49%;
3. The flawed process that parachuted Cable and Wireless through the backdoor after the bidding had closed;
4. The URCA scandal;
5. The potential insider dealing;
6. The poor human resources and service quality record of Cable and Wireless throughout the region;
7. The commercial merits or demerits of the deal; and
8. Why does the Government so desperately “Need the money” as stated by the Prime Minster Saturday night?
It is so unfortunate that Charles Maynard and the FNM would use the opportunity of such an important debate to engage in gutter politics and false propaganda. Instead of addressing the real questions of the day it is clear that the FNM has chosen to exploit one of its own, who less than five years ago was begging for a PLP nomination, to defame the PLP and its members in their attempts to manipulate public opinion. They will obviously stoop to any low in the name of gaining political mileage. How sad!
I cry shame on them. The Bahamian people deserve better from them.
@ stranded family islander
DO YOU HAVE DIRT ON ME TOO?
YOU CLOWNS CAN’T OVERCOME LADY RUSSELL’S SALIENT POINTS, INTELLECT AND SUPERIOR COMMUNICATING SKILLS, SO LIKE THE TYPICAL NIGGA’ YOU RESORT TO CHARACTER ATTACKS.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH LADY RUSSELL THAT CHARLES MAYNARD IS NOT WORTHY OF PUBLIC ATTENTION DURING DEBATES BECAUSE HIS CONTRIBUTIONS (LET’S CALL IT THAT FOR NOW) LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT I CAN GET ANY DRUNKEN PATRON FROM THE BAR AROUND THE CORNER TO PRESENT, GIVING THEM 2 MINUTES NOTICE (JUST ENOUGH TIME TO PUT THEIR SHIRT IN THEIR PANTS) AND THEY WOULD MAKE MORE “SENSE” THAN MAYNARD IF THEY JUST SPEAK “WHATEVER” COMES TO THEIR LIQUOR INDUCED MINDS.
@go to work
WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING BOUT..SEEMS LIKE YOU NEED HEAD DOCTORS.. ARE YOU REALLY WITH THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL THIS GOVERNMENT HAS OUR COUNTRY HEADED..I MEAN YOU JUST STRAIGHT UP INSULT THIS BAHAMIAN FOR TALKING NOW YOUR READY TO EXPOSE MISTAKES THAT SHE MADE..I CRY SHAME ON YOU..YOUR READY TO VICTIMIZE JUST LIKE THIS PRESENT ADMINISTRATION..
@ GO TO WORK AN TAKES CARE OF YOUR FAMILY: do you think you can do this soon, someone reaaly need to silence Ms Russell………..PLEASE DO IT SOON, AND IF YOU NEED HELP, I GOT SOME DIRT ON HER AS WELL…uuummmm anyone interested in knowing?
Hi there Peter pretending to be “stranded”!
Have you yet forgiven the priest who sexually molested you and turned you into a begging supplicant? Or is it a dysfunctional mendicant? Your choice!
Ms Russell
why dont you stick to your so called CHRISTIAN show and stay out of politics? dont you have enough confusion going on with that show? how many things do you want to be involved with? do you work for BP, you are on this site more than than them. come on, give someone else a chance and try read your bible more….
What is so disheartening is the fact the how so many of our law makers are making a mockery of this BTC deal. Three hundred and sixty Bahamians will go home because some of our services will go overseas while C&W will hire one hundred and fifty people in another jurastiction. Four top positions will be reserved for C&W so our children will never be CEO/CFO/HR manager/ etc/. We will be second fiddle.
To all those muppets who can think on their own all I can say is time is longer than rope and these same people you speak so little of you will face them again.
I hope that Mr. Brave Davis will continue to STAND, while ignoring this most recent distracting growl from the pit of hell!
I am greatly annoyed to see the level of debauchery Charles Maynard is willing to embrace in an attempt to disparage the good name and character of Mr.Philip “Brave” Davis. Doctored emails having failed on Monday, has Maynard and posse now descended to wiretapps and altered tape-recordings? Charles Maynard has brought our Parliament to SHAME!
LR***
Last week Maynard’s vicious attack was directed at Mr. Shane Gibson, who said that Charles Maynard’s father, former Senator Andrew “Dud” Maynard was a crook! I failed to see why Charles Maynard would be so upset at Gibson’s commentary, since the entire Bahamas knows the whole sordid story of his family.
What we have learned most from the continued disgraceful public conduct of Charles Maynard in his lame portrayal as a Member of Parliament,is the truth contained in that old Bahamian proverb which states:
“Chip don’ fall far from the block!” AMEN!
I support this statement, you have now issued the challenge for them or Mr. Maynard to speak up or SHUT UP.
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