Minister of Finance Michael Halkitis yesterday dismissed calls for his resignation, as he responded to reporters’ questions on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Development Bank’s annual meeting, held at Baha Mar.
Halkitis came under fire after the Free National Movement (FNM) claimed that he was affiliated with the construction firm that is associated with Eric Gardiner, a convicted drug trafficker who was taken into US custody last month and subsequently charged with cocaine importation conspiracy.
Halkitis, however, said he remains focused on the work he was elected for.
“I’m focused on what I have to do, very busy” he said.
Halkitis added, “We’re very busy hosting this meeting. We’re very happy to have the Caribbean Development Bank here.
“We’re very happy to have the Caribbean Development Bank here.
So I really didn’t see any report.
“… We have hundreds of delegates here. I’m just looking forward to continuing this work and the work that the people elected me for. We’re going to finish conducting this meeting, and then next week, we begin the budget debate. Then, we can expand on what we’re proposing over the next five years.”
Gardiner was a passenger on a plane that crashed on May 12, the day of the general election, while en route from Abaco to Grand Bahama.
He and the other passengers, some of whom were Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporters, were rescued by the US Coast Guard.
Gardiner, who had previously served time in the US following his conviction for drug smuggling and money laundering offenses, was taken into custody. He had $30,000 in cash that was, according to evidence photos, contained in a bag with a politician’s name on it. The name was redacted and labeled as “Politician-1”.
The ordeal prompted widespread controversy, as questions continue to arise over the connection between Gardiner’s alleged drug smuggling enterprise and the Bahamian government.
US investigators allege that Gardiner has been moving tons of cocaine through The Bahamas under the protection of Bahamian government officials.
They also allege that Gardiner was laundering his funds through a construction company that bids on government projects.
Documents leaked last week show that under the Christie administration and the Davis administration, Top Notch Builders, Gardiner’s company, was awarded millions of dollars in government contracts, and that Halkitis, who served under both administrations, was listed as president and director of the company in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Last week Thursday, during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Halkitis explained his involvement with Top Notch Builders, claiming that he was approached to provide “consulting and directorship services” to the company in 2019.
Halkitis said that he was not approached by Gardiner, but was instead approached by an attorney.
Under the Christie Administration, Halkitis served as minister of state for finance when the government signed a contract with Top Notch Builders for the Eight Mile Rock Administrative Complex just before the 2017 general election.
When the PLP won the September 2021 general election, Prime Minister Davis appointed Halkitis as senator and minister of state for economic affairs.
Following his comments, FNM Leader Michael Pintard called for the resignation of Halkitis, as he said Halkitis’ previous post as president of Top Notch creates a direct conflict of interest.
