Showing posts with label Derek Ryan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Derek Ryan. Show all posts

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) seeks to resolve candidates dispute in the Kennedy and South Beach constituencies

PLP seeks to resolve candidates dispute
By BRENT DEAN
thenassauguardian
Deputy News Editor
brentldean@nasguard.com




The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has decided to appoint two 10-member committees to assist in bringing resolution to candidate disputes in the Kennedy and South Beach constituencies, The Nassau Guardian has learned.

The party made the move at its National General Council (NGC) meeting Thursday night at PLP headquarters, party sources said. Upset PLPs raised the issue that the proper process had not been followed, the sources said, leading to the ratification of candidates for those constituencies.

In December, the PLP announced Bahamas Nurses Union president Cleola Hamilton as its South Beach candidate and attorney Dion Smith as its Kennedy candidate.

However, the Kennedy branch recommended attorney Derek Ryan to the party and South Beach’s branch recommended attorney Myles Laroda. The PLP’s constitution calls for the appointment of committees when there are discrepancies between who the party selects as a candidate and who the branch recommends.

The PLP’s constitution says that when there is a conflict between the recommendation of the branch and the decision of the party’s candidates committee, a joint meeting should be held including the branch and 10 members of the NGC appointed by the party chairman in consultation with the leader.

That meeting would be charged with “amicably” resolving the matter and reporting to the PLP leader.

This had not been done when Hamilton and Smith were announced as candidates.

1/22/2011

thenassauguardian

Sunday, August 15, 2010

PLP Kennedy showdown: Derek Ryan, Dion Smith or Keith Bell?

PLP set for Kennedy 'showdown'
tribune242:




THE PLP is reportedly set to have a "showdown" in the Kennedy constituency with three candidates said to be seeking the nomination to run under the party's banner.

Attorney Derek Ryan, Dion Smith, and former police superintendent Keith Bell are all reported to be working in the area after the PLP's former candidate Kenyatta Gibson crossed the floor to become an FNM Member of Parliament.

Of the three candidates, it is said Mr Ryan and Mr Smith are the two front-runners - with Mr Smith getting the majority of the party's inner circle support, while Mr Ryan has secured the support on the constituency level.

With reports reaching The Tribune that the third probable contender, Mr Bell, is also being considered to run for the party in St Cecilia or the Sea Breeze constituency - party sources have suggested he will, in all eventuality, be considered for one of the latter seats to help defuse this growing problem.

Initially it was also reported that PLP treasurer Craig Butler had displayed an interest in the seat but was overlooked when Mr Smith emerged as a possible contender.

Mr Smith's probable nomination has come under fire in recent days as political pundits speculate that his emergence on the political scene could have more to do with cementing the position of other "would-be leaders" within the party than his own actual nomination. This has raised fears in some quarters among the party that there could be a challenge to the leadership of the party's leader Perry Christie prior to the 2012 general election.

Having emerged victorious from a challenge to his leadership at the party's last national convention, senior PLPs have stressed that the PLP cannot afford to revert to a repeat performance of that time - as Mr Christie's focus should now be placed firmly on defeating the FNM in 2012.

August 14, 2010

tribune242

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Mohammed Harajchi Attorney Intends to Set The Record Straight and Prove The Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister, Cynthia Pratt Wrong

Harajchi Associates To Slam DPM



24/08/2004




Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt today faces an onslaught from the Mohammed Harajchi camp, as the controversy involving donations made to the Progressive Liberal Party’s 2002 election campaign by the Iranian businessman continues.


Derek Ryan, Mr. Harajchi’s attorney, has called a press conference for today to specifically address the response made by the deputy prime minister to Mr. Harajchi’s claims that he gave her money to put burglar bars on her constituency office windows.


Minister Pratt has come out strongly, denying the accusations, accusing Mr. Harajchi of telling an untruth.


She has admitted that he made contributions to some of her constituents, but said Mr. Harajchi never made any contributions to her constituency office or any personal contributions to her.


But Mr. Ryan has said he intends to set the record straight in this regard and prove Minister Pratt wrong.


The deputy prime minister has also gone on record saying that she would support any effort to revoke the permanent residency of Mr. Harajchi and she has said she hopes this would be something the government will address.


“Anytime you are going to get to the place where you’re going to go out there and try to discredit the government of the day, you don’t deserve to have permanent residence,” she told the Journal last week. 


During a press conference nearly two weeks ago, Mr. Harajchi attacked members of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Perry Christie, pointing specifically to alleged donations to the deputy prime minister.


He also said that Minister of Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts asked a personal favour from him, a claim Minister Roberts has also vehemently blasted.


The latest move planned by associates of Mr. Harajchi has many people wondering when the saga is going to end.


Prime Minister Perry Christie, who returns to the capital today after a state visit to China, is sure to face questions on the growing controversy.


Before leaving, he responded to Mr. Harajchi’s claims and defended the integrity of members of his Cabinet.


“I have complete confidence in the integrity of all my ministers,” Mr. Christie said in his statement.  “I am satisfied that no minister of my Government has sought or received any illegal or improper financial assistance from Mr. Harajchi either before or after the 2002 General Election.” 

Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Suisse Security Bank and Trust Limited Appeal The Revocation of Their License by The Central Bank of The Bahamas

Bank Causes Distress


20/01/2004


...one of the failings of The Bahamas, as a premier financial services jurisdiction is that parties usually are unable to have their cases heard "in a timely fashion."


The country's financial services sector is receiving a black eye in the international arena with scores of depositors and creditors of Suisse Security Bank and Trust Limited demanding that they receive the millions of dollars they had in the institution.


Their money is being held up as a court matter drags on nearly three years after Central Bank Governor Julian Francis revoked the bank's license on the ground that Suisse Security was carrying on its business in a manner detrimental to the public's interest and the interests of its depositors and other creditors.


The Journal has now learnt that parties involved in the matter are becoming increasingly frustrated over what they perceive to be "the lackadaisical attitude of the court" and a significant backlog of cases in the system that is "slowing down the process of justice."


Meanwhile, Raymond Winder, provisional liquidator in the matter, continues to be inundated by requests from angry clients who are unable to receive any money because the legal matter is still ongoing.


For more than two years, he has faced the task of informing the creditors and depositors that their funds remain frozen.


In one of his reports to the Supreme Court, this one dated August 2002, Mr. Winder said that, "As provisional liquidator I continue to receive an abundance of telephone calls from depositors and creditors of the Bank."


Following the governor's action on April 2, 2001 to revoke the bank's license, Suisse Security filed a notice in the Supreme Court challenging the revocation order.


Last April, Justice Austin Davis dismissed the bank's case, but the bank appealed the decision.


Suisse Security officials responded to last April's ruling saying that it was "most disappointing and an outrage."


The Central Bank, meanwhile, in its response, said it was "pleased that the statutory appeal brought against its decision to revoke the bank and trust license of Suisse Security Bank and Trust Limited (SSBT) has now been decided.  The Bank is satisfied with the decision relating to the appeal."


But no date has been set yet for the appeal.


"We are awaiting a date from the court," said Mr. Winder, a Certified Public Accountant and partner in Deloitte & Touche.  He added Monday that his powers as a liquidator were limited given that the matter has not yet been resolved.


But Mr. Winder pointed out that he could not make any further comments given that the case is before the courts.


As provisional liquidator, he has the power to take possession of, collect, and protect the assets of the bank, but not to distribute those funds until further order.


His task has clearly not been an easy one.


In the report mentioned earlier, Mr. Winder said that, "On the morning of April 9, 2001, prior to receiving the Order of my appointment of Provisional Liquidator, I learned that Messrs. Michel Harajchi, Derek Ryan, Christopher Lunn and Wendell Ferguson had broken into and gained access to the Bank's premises."


He also said at the time that former officials of the bank had reactivated their web page, informing that they could be contacted for updates on what was happening at the bank.

 A source close to the case expressed frustration Monday that the matter has not yet been heard on appeal.  But he spoke anonymously because of the status of the case.


"This sheds a terrible light on [the jurisdiction]," he said.  "The matter is just sitting there."


The source also noted that one of the failings of The Bahamas, as a premier financial services jurisdiction is that parties usually are unable to have their cases heard "in a timely fashion."


Throughout the proceedings, the bank's chairman, Mohammed Harajchi, has said that he plans to reopen his institution, insisting that Governor Francis erred in his decision to shut the bank down.