Earl Deveaux - Environment Minister - Guilty of Self-incrimination!

By Dennis Dames:


Did the Environment Minister actually resigned, or did he offered his resignation to the prime minister – in light of revelations that he had accepted a free ride in the Aga Khan's helicopter while he had an application before his Ministry?

There is a distinct difference between a resignation, and offering to do the same; so what exactly did the minister do? If the minister was genuine about quitting over the much talked about and legitimate issue – then he would have done the honorable thing; and no one could have changed his mind - in my opinion.

The story got even more embarrassing: Dr Deveaux admitted he accepted a free ride in the Aga Khan's 12-seater luxury helicopter to attend a film screening in Abaco with his wife and two friends before going on to the Aga Khan's private island in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park with Bahamas National Trust (BNT) executives to do a land assessment.

How foolish could a government minister be? This is a clear case of conflict of interest that deserves a complete public explanation without further insult on the minister’s behalf.

According to newspaper reports: When Ms Roker's co-host interjected: "So you tendered your resignation?"

"Absolutely," Dr Deveaux said.

How dishonest could Dr. Earl Deveaux be?

Well, if the answer is “absolutely” – then how is it that the environment minister Deveaux is still the environment minister Deveaux?

The answer is clear for all to see; there was NO RESIGNATION!

To add insult to injury, the minister stated further in the press - the following: Dr Deveaux said: "This is not a matter where a minister was compromised in any decision he was making, or in any action he did, and if it is, then every government elected by the Bahamian people should summarily resign, because you find me one that did not use the boat, the plane, the golf cart, or the means to do their job."

Minister Deveaux incriminated himself by the following in my view: Recalling the meals he has shared with investors, and a boat trip when his offer to pay for gas was turned down, Dr Deveaux said the notion these actions compromise his ability to function objectively as Minister of the Environment is "ridiculous".

He maintains he frequently travels in planes and boats belonging to developers, including a plane to see the Ginn project in West End, Grand Bahama, and a boat belonging to the developers of Baker's Bay in Abaco, as he said such means are often necessary for viewing development sites.

To put the icing on the minister’s cake of insult, the following was attributed to him: And Dr Deveaux said the actions he takes are transparent and acceptable by reasonable people.

I imagined that reasonable people are all of us who accept the old saying: The more things change, the more they remain the same.

God help us all.

Bahamas Blog International