christmascarnival

An exuberant Press Secretary Clint Watson was at it again on Friday, allegedly releasing, “jaw-dropping” details on reported irregularities that took place in the Public Parks and Beaches Authority.

In his teaser, Watson said, the audit report was “so jaw-dropping, that we decided to immediately release the full report so that the Bahamian people can see for themselves how their money has been spent,” under the former administration.

This is one day after the government again denied the application for the operation of the Christmas Carnival on Fort Charlotte. It denied having anything to do with allowing the rides in the country at a time when the country is fighting the pandemic, and permitting it to set up on the public park. Until Senator Maxine Seymour tabled a letter showing the granting of permission from the  Ministry of Finance to the PLP, to allow the carnival company to import equipment into the country.

Questions still remain as to the transactions. Details are still missing. The government has not yet admitted that its party gave the permission. We still don’t know what protocols the Carnival company did not meet, yet they were approved to enter the country.

Where is the transparency on the carnival issue which later became a debacle because the public was not given a direct answer on its dealings?

Instead of releasing the “jaw-dropping” details on that, the government decides to release “jaw-dropping” reports of “problems and irregularities” under the former administration.

It is a clear attempt to conceal their dealings, not address the pertinent issue at hand and change the conversation, hoping the public forgets.

The government has prohibited the operation of Christmas Carnival citing the great health risk it poses on the country amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a late-afternoon press conference, Press Secretary Clint Watson read a statement from Prime Minister Philip Davis who said McCafferty’s Enterprises Bahamas Limited will not be permitted to operate.

“The Carnival organizers submitted a fresh application supported by additional 35 pages of information which sought to address the concerns raised by the experts. The panel considered their submission closely but decided that the transmission risk associated with the Carnival remained too high and the protocols presented would not sufficiently mitigate against the spread of COVID,” Davis said in a statement.

Davis said he gave his final word on the advice of the Ministry of Health, adding that the opening of the rides will pose a great health risk to the public as the more transmissible Omicron variant continue to cause alarm in countries around the world.

Davis also said the opening will hamper the opening of schools in January.

The big story

The operation of the Christmas Carnival has become controversial in recent days as some argue it can become a super spreader event. Minister of Health Michael Darville denied the company was allowed to open even though the rides were permitted to set up on Clifford Park.

However, Senator Maxine Seymour tabled a letter in the Senate showing the Ministry of Finance had given the Progressive Liberal Party permission to import “equipment, apparatus, trailers and supplies” for the event.

This is the first time, Davis is lending his voice to the matter as many awaited his response to the debacle.

What’s next?

Lawyers for the company said yesterday it would still operate whether or not health officials approved their application.

Now that the approval application has again been denied by the government, reports are the company will leave the country.

It remains to be seen if the company will file a lawsuit against the government. When asked by a reporter if the government expects a lawsuit, Watson who did not take any questions from reporters only said he will address the matter on Friday.