Long Island MP: The last election campaign was the “most vicious” I’ve ever witnessed or been part of
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson yesterday sought to clear his name and reputation in the aftermath of swirling allegations over his involvement in the issuance of WSC contract awards.
During a contribution in Parliament, Gibson insisted that he has “absolutely no benefit or any other interests” in Elite Maintenance.
Just days before the September 16 General Election polls, documents were leaked suggesting that Elite Maintenance Incorporated Ltd — a company purportedly co-owned by his former fiancée — received a series of payments from WSC totaling over $500,000 between November 2018 and January 2021.
On August 29, Gibson fired back against what he called “false allegations”, asserting that he has “no beneficial interest” in the company at the center of the controversy and declaring the accusations against him to be false and politically motivated.
Gibson said the attorney at the center of the allegations, whom he was connected to personally, acted in a private capacity in her dealings with the company.
He explained that in 2018, WSC issued several cleaning memorandums for yard cleaning and ground maintenance services to more than a dozen vendors.
Among those corporations to receive such contracts was Elite Maintenance, whose principal engaged his former fiancée to provide corporate services.
“She was engaged by private individuals and it was upon that basis that the corporation interacted with her,” he said.
“She was legally authorized to act on their behalf. She signed a memo on their behalf.”
Gibson noted that after some time, the company sent two correspondences to the corporation advising that she was not authorized to act on behalf of the company as an agent and requested amendment of records to reflect the change.
He said the matter was nothing but a “political conch salad thrown into the public domain”, with different documents from different matters being leaked notwithstanding that the documents concerned different things.
He described the last election campaign as the “most vicious” campaign he’s ever witnessed and been a part of.
“It’s unfortunate that as we move on from that election cycle, that our politics have defended to this point,” Gibson said, adding that spouses, significant others, parents and children should be “off limits completely”.
“We must be careful not to set a dangerous precedent or take politics to the water’s edge,” he added.
The former WSC executive chairman also defended reports that he had given out several contracts to his supporters and constituents.
Gibson said this is not unusual in politics, adding that upon coming to office, he found many contracts had been issued to the previous Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration’s supporters.
“I don’t know any elected politician who has not ensured his constituents had an opportunity to bid on contracts,” he added.
He further listed several names of private citizens who had been awarded contracts by the government but was challenged by government members who urged him to strike the names from the record.
