Former Minister Testifies in MP’s Fraud and Bribery Trial

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Former Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister gave insight in the award of contracts by the Water and Sewerage Corporation during his testimony in  the bribery, fraud and money laundering trial of Free National Movement Member of Parliament Adrian Gibson and five others.

The trial concerns the awarding of contracts by the corporation during Gibson’s tenure as its executive chairman.

According to Bannister, as far as he was concerned, the corporation’s board didn’t have a cap on the award of contracts.

Bannister testified that he was aware of instances where boards had approved contracts worth millions of dollars.

However, previous witnesses have testified that the board required ministerial approval for contracts exceeding $250,000.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier asked Bannister, who said he’s known Gibson since 2000,if he knew him to a “man of means.”

Bannister said that he was aware that Gibson owned a rental company before he entered frontline politics in 2016.

Gibson is on trial along with Elwood Donaldson Jr, the corporation’s former general manager, his cousin Rashae   Gibson, Joan Knowles, Jerome Missick and Peaches Farquharson.