OPM: Shaback Performed for Free in Dubai

The Davis administration did not pay a choir led by Office of the Prime Minister Press Secretary Clint Watson to participate in Bahamas National Day at Expo 2020 in Dubai, according to OPM Director of Communications Latrae Rahming, who once again addressed criticisms over the trip.

The Office of the Prime Minister communications director sought to give more insight into that controversial Dubai trip as he was asked to explain the selection process behind who did and didn’t make the cut to perform.

Rahming says cost was a major factor.

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, $1 million was budgeted for the trip, down from the $1.7 million it said was budgeted by the Minnis administration.

Rahming says due to the cut in the budget, there had to be a cut of paid performers.

He also said Shaback, a choir led by OPM Press Secretary Clint Watson, was one of the acts that went free of charge.

Controversy has continued to swirl around the Dubai trip.

News that a delegation of more than 100 traveled to Dubai for the event, while The Bahamas continues to suffer from an economic crisis brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic provoked the ire of many over the weekend.

And while the amount of money spent was one concern, the primary concern of many was the quality of Bahamian offerings at the expo and how performers were chosen.

In addition to addressing those criticisms, Rahming also shut down social media reports that part of the delegation was stuck in Dubai due to canceled flights.