RBPF Commissioner confirms NSA investigation launched

RBPF Commissioner confirms NSA investigation launched
Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson addresses media.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson confirmed that a full investigation has been launched by the RBPF’s Anti-Corruptions Unit, into allegations of corruption at the National Sports Authority (NSA).

Ferguson told media on Friday that he recently received the documents from prime minister Dr. Hubert Minnis and subsequently handed them to a special team within the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) to investigate.

“It’s in the possession of the RBPF. I have received it,” Ferguson said. “I have passed it on to the Anti-Corruption Unit for investigation.”

Government alleges that the NSA allegedly paid enormous amounts of money for jobs that were never completed at the national stadium.

A recent audit report tabled in the House of Assembly last week revealed that a consultancy firm was paid $1.19 million for work that was reportedly never done.

The work was to have been carried out under the former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Christie led administration.

Last week Monday, Dr. Minnis informed media that he had communicated with Ferguson, the attorney general and the auditor general about the potentially damning audit report.

The commissioner said he received the information early last week and urged Bahamians to have patience with the RBPF, and allow it adequate time to roll out a thorough investigation.

“We have to have patience,” he urged. “Thoroughness is very important to the RBPF and we don’t jump to conclusions.

“We want to have a proper investigation done.”

A six-year audit of the NSA was completed by Auditor General Terrance Bastian.

The report covered the period July 19, 2011 to December 31, 2017.

The report revealed that expenditures to support stadium readiness upgrades lacked transparency, the government may not have gotten value for money from special funding.

The PLP has denied government’s allegations of corruption and has expressed its distrust in the RBPF to conduct an impartial investigation into the claims.

 

 

About Theo Sealy

Theo Sealy is an award-winning journalist who serves as senior broadcast reporter and weekend TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. He has achieved several career milestones, including his work as a field contributor with CNN, his coverage of four consecutive general elections, his production of several docuseries and his Bahamas Press Club Awards win for “Best Television News Story” in 2018.