Andre Curtis Cleared Of All Charges
[Updated] A Supreme Court jury today [Oct.12] returned a not guilty verdict against Andre Curtis for theft of more than $130,000 in Government funds earmarked for the ill-fated Faith Based Tourism [FBT] initiative.
Mr Curtis – who was visibly happy after the verdict – was hired in April 2007 to launch an initiative designed to bring tourists to Bermuda for religious events, with the contract worth $400,000.
The six-man, six-woman jury deliberated this afternoon after hearing closing arguments from the Crown and defense counsel Mark Pettingill.
Mr. Pettingill had argued his client’s contract with Government was so vague it didn’t actually spell out the funds must be spent on the Tourism Ministry venture to draw religious holidaymakers to the island.
Consequently, argued the lawyer, Mr. Curtis did not break any laws when he spent some of the funds on matters unrelated to the tourism initiative.
He suggested Government had only decided to prosecute Mr. Curtis after the FBT issue became a political embarrassment.
The prosecutor had alleged Mr. Curtis was supposed to spend half of his $400,000 contract on running FBT and the other half on organising related events, and he was guilty of theft.
Mr. Curtis did not speak in his own defence but Mr. Pettingill concluded his final argument by saying his client’s contract with Government was so badly drafted it did not address how the public fund’s should be spent — except for one reference to his office rent.
The jury had previously been instructed by Chief Justice Richard Ground to clear Mr Curtis of a third charge of stealing over $100,000 from Andrew Smith.
In December of last year Mr Curtis was sentenced to a 15 month jail term after admitting to operating Harvest Investment Holdings Ltd. without a licence in 2007/2008.
Update: Mr Curtis’ defense lawyer Mark Pettingill said, “The justice system worked as it should today. Observers watching from the outside with a jaded view may not appreciate what was involved in the evidence as it applied to the law, but their peers, the jury, who followed the case very carefully, did obviously appreciate what was right, not guilty.”
Read More About
Category: All, Court Reports, Crime, News
Comments (184)
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed
Articles that link to this one:
- OBA: “Curtis Affair Was Not An Accident” | Bernews.com | October 13, 2011
- Andre Curtis: Politics, Uighurs, Faith Based Tourism | Bernews.com | August 29, 2012
I can already hear Mark on tonight’s news saying how it just shows that the system ‘works’.
It worked for him and Andre. Terrible example we are setting to our youth.
Brown please come back, I’m sorry for what I said. I need one of them contracts and I’ll give you 10% of the profits. Don’t listen to these fools + Paula is no where to be seen.
I’m beyond ‘clogged’…….I now have chronic constipation ;-(
let me sign one of them contracts please!
Bernews could you check your headline please – surely you have typed ‘NOT’ in error!
Joking aside, the burden of proof in a criminal trial is on the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty as charged. If they have not done that then the jury must return a not guilty verdict. However – government can bring a civil action for recovery of the funds they obviously feel have been misappropriated, and this only has to proven on the balance of probabilities, so perhaps we have not heard the last of this!
Maybe he should be sued for total lack of performance on what the original intent of the $400,000 was for .
No way they could loose that one !
*grabs popcorn and case of corona*
This should be interesting.
…..and case Heineken… this juicy stuff!
that too lol
Sam adams for me please!!
Alcopop for me! WKDs
Ya, where can I pick up one of those contracts. Oh, I have to join the PLP, well OK, never mind then.
…And you have to be related to Dr. Brown. Holy crap I can’t believe this one.
Maybe the doctor himself drew up the contract.
Probably SS! And Andre I hope you know if ya caught up ya dumber than dumb after this, you cant serve two masters
I HAVE NO WORDS!!!!! JAW DROPPED TO FLOOR.
“Mr. Pettingill concluded his final argument by saying his client’s contract with Government was so badly drafted it did not address how the public fund’s should be spent — except for one reference to his office rent.”
PLP: spending more of your money with less accountability since 1998
i don’t know…so i am asking….who was responsible for drafting the contract, have they been reprimanded… does the minister write contracts or do they direct someone in the civil servant to do it.
We want accoutability from the govt as promised by Cox. If noone if put out, then we don’t have accountability.
@What! I agree, but to play Devils Advocate for a moment – although this is news now, this actually happened a while back and steps have been taken to firm things up since then – but yes, at the very least the PS should be fired.
Ministers actually have NO budget and NO authority to sign contracts! The Permanent Secretary has those powers, but they say Ministers pressure them.
Two words – NO MINISTER!
No, but they do have the authority to override a decision or review the terms of a contract.
Sorry FYI – but they don’t unless a PS caves in to them. Decisions can be overturned on who a contract is awarded to – but only if a tender is done, and in this case it wasn’t. All the PS had to do was say NO – it hasn’t been put to competition and the Minister could not have done it.
Many thank Jazzy… But just as a further FYI— the PS was doing as she was told.
That wasn’t exactly the hardest case to lose. I suppose an acquittal is no big thing in exchange for keeping secrets…secret.
Wow. I saw this coming, but it’s still surprising. “Unethical but not illegal” sounds familiar. Yes, folks, “we had to deceive you!”
Sounds like the T street home scandal to me.
Well, well well, unbelievable! SMH
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME THAT THIS MAN GOT OFF…….. OMG IM AT A LOST FOR WORD!
SMH. The motto of the PLP should be “unethical but not illegal”.
He might as well had taken the entire $400k and not even bothered to put on the events.
WHAT TYPE OF CHRISTIAN WAS THIS MAN THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO KNOW… SMH CHURCH PEOPLE!!!!!
GOD DONT LIKE UGLY
…….sounds pretty much like most of the “Christians” I know!
perhaps Christians should carry around cards like Mr. Burch wanted the expats to do…. still doesn’t prove they are christians does it…
By their fruits ye shall know them.
Those who turn the air blue in profanity, condemn others, commit adultery, abuse those around them, hate others, put greed and envy above the Savior and indulge in pleasures of the flesh are not christians. They may have professed Jesus christ, but their actions tell everyone around them they follow satan.
WHAT???? You have got to be joking! Someone dropped the ball again…… GOVERNMENT DPP, BPS. More tax payers money wasted not only on FBT but a trial that went no where.
Wasn’t wasted at all!!
A good, honest christian pastor and former PLP branch manager was able to add-on/renovate his property while also paying down his debts. Whoever dares to question whether or not the PLP are for the little man is nothing but haters.
Remember this is Govts money and not the tax payers.
So your saying what he done was ok? He is a HONEST christian??? your not serious about life right now are you?
Of course not.
I don’t believe for one minute that he, or his former boss and Premier for whom he managed his 2007 campaign branch and from whom he procured the FBT contract, would ever do anything untowards fellow Bermudians.
This taxpayer is quite happy to pay for his removations, credit card bills and now legal bills.
He is a man of god and thus he wouldn’t lie.
Amen to that, Tired of nonsense… it pays to be a shyster in bda ….and know Curtis will probably run for a position in the P.L.P. only in bda !!!!!!!!
@WTH I think Tired of nonsense is being facetious or I hope they are!
hahah his phrase is very vaguely worded, so we cant really accuse him of being facetious…
.. or serious…
eh Tired can go free!!!
Who was the Pastor that got his house renovated or debts paid?
Proves that religion is full of hypocrite and teef!!
We need to change FBT to HBT (Heathen Based Tourism).
Remember? EB said he was sure he would be exonerated!
He has previous for running illegal investment schemes in Bermuda and the US
He is currently jailed for 15 months for operating an unlicensed investment business, Harvest Investment Holdings.
His background was not revealed to the jury for this case.
However you shake it this guy is a crook. Shame on you jurors for letting him get away with our money.
Not the jurors fault, if this information was kept from them. Blame our (very flawed) legal system for allowing it to happen.
Thats why our country is in the mess its in financially..the govt gave huge funds for nothing! What a waste!
While I am offended by this outrage none of this is new in this country or worldwide.
How does Pettingill sleep at night?…
On a bed made of money…
For sure.
touchee jonas, touchee
Yeah, OUR money!! We taxpayers will be funding Curtis’ legal expenses because he won the case. Sad, init?
with all due respect, thats his job.
Another reason to change your govermant.
The man was bought and sold.
What was the jury makeup.
% Female
%Black…
Oh my my my???? Are we using the race and gender card here!!!
Mark, is a lawyer, his job is not to get people off, it is to represent his client using the legal system (the law) as his main tool. Dumb comments about how can Mark sleep at night only proves that too many of you all think justice happens like on law and order.
Mark did his job, and his client walked free. The problem is with the system, poorly written contracts, dishonest people, and processes that do not work. But to blame a lawyer, is like getting mad because the mailman gave you a bill.
Mark did his job.
Indeed. Unfortunately the taxpayer is the loser here, but what else is new. Pettingil did what a good lawyer does, use the law to the advantage of his client.
I agree with you there. We all have things we HAVE to do in our day to day jobs. While Mark did his job well, I’m pretty sure he derived no pleasure from it.
Now where the fingers should be pointing is that the legal system needs work and Government policies need work. We have a poor example of a human being who got off scott free, learn from the mistake here and fix the system so it doesn’t happen again. I sincerely hope that Mark, while wearing his political hat, assists to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
Oh and regards to all the comments about “unethical but not illegal”, if you have a bitter taste in your mouth after reading this (You bet I did), then remember that when you cast your next vote. I’m sure I will.
I disagree.
With the cash that Mr. Pettengill made off of this, I would be smiling like he is probably right now as well.
I hope he charged Andre $400,000 personally…..there will be some amount of justice in that…..
Im sure he was very pleased he won the case, because as said, thats his job.
i doubt seriously though that he’s going out for beers with mr curtis and laughing about how they cheated the system.
At the end of the day the contract was written badly (apparently). Blame the person that wrote it, not the person that brought it to peoples attention.
Not disagreeing with that fact.
Just don’t think he will be moping around the island because of this verdict.
He won and was (knowing his rates) definitely handsomely rewarded for doing so.
Mr.Soares,
In your opinion, Pettingill did his job.Who picks up his tab for defending Curtis? Lawyers do not do anything for free,or does it just go on the bill of outstanding monies owed?
I imagine it will be the taxpayers that will have to pay it.If this is in fact the case,then isn’t your Mark Pettingill on the same level as Andre Curtis?
I am not a lawyer……just askin’
I honestly have no idea…..just saying that if it’s Andre’s dime that he has to pink up for lawyer fees, I hope Mark stings him good. I hope it’s not the taxpayers, again…..
simple question that requires a simple answer………where did the money go if Curtis didn’t do it? I don’t need a law degree to figure it out. the other guy who stole the BHC money got his house confiscated.
Get rid of the useless DPP, BPS, Supreme Court or WHOMEVER is responsible for this travesty.
Curtis *did* do it. It’s not a question of whether he actually ‘misused’ the money. It’s about the contract not specifying that he ‘couldn’t’ use it in the manner he did. That opens the door for a good lawyer to use the law to his advantage. But make no mistake, the taxpayer just got fleeced.
like Death said. its not about where the money went… its about the definition of “misused”, and supposedly according to the contract, whatever he spent it on was not “misused”..
from what i would imagine/hope, this was not just some faulty oversite. Someone deliberately (cough Brown cough) had it written ambiguously as some sort of payment.
@Wondering…. Death to party polictics is correct. But here is a bit of useful information in Contract Law:
A contract “maybe” described as a promise or a set of promises which the law will enforce. There are 5 major elements of a valid contract and (1)of them being that there must be certainty as to the terms of the contract. If the terms of an agreement are so vague or indefinite than it is not possible to discover the intention of the parties with reasonable certainty, therefore there is no valid contract.
More importantly, what should be considered is that within governement there is no set legal entity that drafts contracts. It essentially boils down to an administrator. Furthermore, what I can’t seem to understand is that some provision or clause in the contract should have stipulated how payments were distributed (i.e, paper trail to the FBT entertainers direct especially when they FBT entertainers too, have to sign contracts and terms of agreements must be met in order to procure there services).
You people want to blame the DPP, BPS and PLP. You dont realize this has nothing to do with any of them departments. This lies with our judicial system that is OUTDATED. As long as we are an Overseas territory we will have prehistoric laws. The Enlish rulers are probably sitting at Buckingham Palace laughing at us because they believe we cant think for ourselves and need them for all important decisions.
It was the contract. Not the laws that got him off…..in fact he never denied using the funds for those things. He denied “misappropriation” of funds. Because who ever drafted the contract did not state that e could not use the funds for his personal use he was able to get off
Street talk, it has nothing to do with the fact that we are an overseas territory. Bermuda has its own constitution, we write our own laws, and have been doing so for a long time – not Buckingham Palace. So if our laws or our judicial system is outdated or prehistoric, it’s because we put them there and have not had the sense to invest in our judicial system and create just laws, to prevent this type of thing from happening.
And just to add to those wonderful comments @Portia – I think you’ll find StreetTalk, that the law of the UK is decided in the Houses of Parliament, not Buckingham Palace. The Queen has little say in the law of the land – that’s why she has a Government.
Andre,
you got a way with this, but there is a higher judge. PS he gave 25k to a church, will they give that money back as they now know it was stolen?
Anyone that does business with Andre Curtis from now on deserves what they get.
he also, should be taken to civil court and the money should be squeezed out of him.
he is going to hell with gasoline drawns on.
may God have mercy on his soul
Just watched the video…if Mr Curtis was acquitted, why was he still wearing handcuffs and being escorted by law enforcement officials when he left the courthouse? Is he remanded on other charges, or serving another sentence?
In December 2010, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison on another matter…
OK…thanks, Bernews. I remember, now!
Did he serve the 15 months and wasn’t he allowed to go on vacation before he was sentenced????
Wondering he started his 15 month sentence in December 2010. It is now October 2011.
Oh my. All the haters confused. Whatever will you do…..
1. hate on Curtis because he’s not guilty?
2. hate on the judge who didn’t get the memo about what verdict you wanted?
3. Hate on Pettingill who’s supposed to be “yah boy” in the OBA/Lone Ranger Party?
4. Hate on Ewart for managing to mystically a)control the jury b) control the judge c) control the DPP for the poor case d) control the Police for the poor evidence
5. Hate generally because hating is better than presenting an alternative?
As Bishop Jakes would say “lemmee give ya’ll some Bible” : “For I come not save the righteous but to call sinners to repentance”. Go ye therefore and hate no more.
So Hmmmm,
You have absoultely no problem that Mr. Curtis used taxpayer monies, provided to him by the Govt in order to fund a tourism initiative, to fund his own lifestyle?
Nothing wrong with that huh?
What does every single contractor of whatever variety do with the money the receive under their contract but fund their own personal lifestyle?! If he didn’t do the work under the contract then that’s a breach of contract for which he should sued in the civil court. Look at the charges that were thrown out. The guy paid him up front to build him a house. He used the money to all sorts of things except build the house. That wasn’t theft it was abreach of contract and the guy can still sue him for that as can the Government. Curb your lust for blood for anyone who called Ewart friend and see that you cannot make something quack if it isn’t a friggin duck.
He didn’t do the work and that was even confirmed by his own attorney.
I apologize but it blows my mind that people will defend a person who has fleeced the taxpayer so blatantly.
But hey when you got it, you got it I guess.
I re-read your post and I see where you are coming from.
But eventually once you put together all the shady contracts, non-tendering of contracts and the massive overruns along with issues such as FBT that “coincidentally” occurred within Dr. Brown’s Ministry then I and others can easily hear and see the quacking.
I find it also interesting that under normal Govt procedures such capital projects were normally managed by Works and Engineering. But for some reason they were all transferred under Dr. Brown’s remit and well, we all know the results. Where there is smoke there is fire.
But as I mentioned I do understand your civil court argument. However, the man promised to provide services to both the Govt and the individual with the monies for these initiatives/projects being provided by the two parties. Instead Mr. Curtis used these funds for his own pleasure and private needs.
So the man is a liar and a shyster as well as being blasphemous fraud of a pastor. Last time I checked the actions he never denied committing are normally punished by criminal litigation proceedings. Bermuda is another world I guess.
If Mr. Curtis is not at fault then someone in the Govt needs to be held accountable for their blatant incompetence of writing up contracts which involve tax monies.
But as is becoming the norm in this island personal responsibility is not expected and thus never enforced.
Thanks for trying to understand but you’re unfortunately still not correct. Even in Bermuda what Andre Curtis did is not a crime. At no stage was there any evidence of intent, a key element of theft. They would’ve had to prove that he never intended to do anything for the money he received. In fact, the evidence was that he tried valiantly but was a total failure. Failing in business is not a crime. If it were the Triminghams, the Davidsons (HA&E Smiths), Alan Thompson and Robert Mulderig of Butterfield Bank and so many others would also be facing charges. I bet their shareholders thought they were doing something else with the money also. Just because of the Curtis/Dr. Brown/ Government connection THIS instance got a criminal trial. Suppose he had done what he was supposed to do under the contract…would there be any less hate for him because of what he did with the money? Of course not…..
But the difference is that Mr. Curtis admitted, and so did his lawyer, that he spent the monies on his personal expenses.
So it is not as if the money was wasted on poor business decisions. It was actually utilized for a entirely different purpose other than what the money was suuposed to fund.
The Bank made terrible investment decisions and that cost them in the end. In other words the bank didn’t ened up in financial trouble because the directors were siphoning funds from the institution for their own expenses. So that comparison is a non-comparison and I know that you realize that.
But as with everyone, you have an agenda and I admire that you stick so stringently to it. But it doesn’t make Mr. Curtis’ actions any less unethical or immoral.
You are right, Tired of Nonsense. Someone in Government should be held
accountable for that contract. Suggest start looking at the Director of Tourism during that period.
Evidently the PLP government gave him $400,000 for absolutely nothing. Nothing.
That’s what they’ve been doing with our money. Giving it away to cronies and suckups.
$400,000 given to this jerk for absolutely nothing. That’s Ewart and Cox for you.
And on here we get “Hmmm” making what he thinks are smartass comments. They should all be ashamed of themselves.
Taking hundreds of thousands of dollars for doing nothing while they pretend to be for the ‘working guy’. What rubbish. They’re all in it for themselves.
Actually, not smartass comments, just smart. If you want the money back then sue him for it. Its what people do every day when contracts are breached. Could you all find a little outrage for poor Mr. Smith who has second-hand doors and unfinished work at his house? Oh wait, I forgot, its all Ewart…… justice not required for a fellow citizen just vengeance. So transparent.
Hmmm, “if you want your money back sue him”. Typical. You conventiantly ignore what happened here. Ewart gave this money to Curtis for absolutely nothing. There was nothing useful in the contract. No wonder some people are drawing the conclusion — rightly or wrongly — that it was a kickback to his friend and one-time campaign mamnager. That is what the plp are doing with our money. Giving it away.
He spent the taxpayers money , OUR money. He is doing time right now because he is a crook.
Whats so shocking about this verdict? The man was paid and did a poor job, so what? That’s the chance you take when paying up front. At least Mr Curtis spent some of the money on the island. (I assume)
The man didn’t just do a poor job. He spent the money on his personal dealings and transactions rather than all on the tourism initative as was supposed to be the case.
What’s shocking is your nonchalance towards such theft of taxpayers monies. That is what is shocking and pretty scary that you see nothing wrong with blatant theft. Bet you would be a different story if one the so called “40 Thieves” got off for such nonense.
They did.
Proof? And being white doesn’t equate to proof by the way
Sorry I phrased that wrong.
You always hear that those byes back then fleeced the island and what not. But no proof has ever been put forward.
I don’t disbelieve that it occurred but just stating that it happened, because it has been said over and over enough times that it has eventually become folk lore in Bermuda.
Guess it is how Hmmmm gets all hot and bothered when people bring up Dr. Brown’s supposed antics without definitive proof.
In the end we all have been and all will be continued to be fleeced by all politicians.
The funny thing in this case we have been fleeced by both the ruling party and the Opposition.
And who said they couldn’t work together.
“hot and bothered” ? not me. I just happen to believe that even Andre Curtis is entitled to a fair trial and a fair verdict on the evidence presented. It must’ve been a fair trial and a fair verdict because if you think for one minute that Richard Ground is interested in doing the Doc and this Government any favours then I have a little bridge in Somerset you’d be interested in buying.
The decision was reached by a jury of his peers and not the Chief Justice.
Richard Ground doesn’t make the decision of guilty or not guilty, that’s the job of the jury. Again all this does is highlight the fact that the system is broken, people are taking advantage of it and we (Hmmmmmmm included) pay the price. While the trial may be fair, I seriously doubt the verdict is.
From “Bermuda’s most trusted news source”: “Mr Justice Ground will retire, after eight years’ service, on March 31, Sir Richard said. “Since his arrival in 2004 he has worked tirelessly on the standing of Bermuda’s Supreme Court, and therefore the Island’s standing, as a legal jurisdiction, which is a central component to Bermuda’s success in reinsurance and other businesses.
“He and his staff have worked hard to clear a backlog of cases which he inherited on his arrival. When he leaves next year the Supreme Court will be stronger, I believe, thanks to all the steps taken under his leadership.”
Anyone with an inkling of sense knows that the judge directs the jury during his summation. Even you should know that Mr. Soares.
Sen. Furbert,
Are you saying that Justice Ground instructed the jury to reach a not guilty verdict?
And as a Senator, commissioned with protecting the people’s interests, shouldn’t you be actually appalled at the findings of this case? Shouldn’t you be out there campaigning for these misappropriated tax payers monies to be recouped from Mr. Curtis?
Why are you copying and pasting nonsense rather than telling the people that you will campaign tirelessly until the funds stolen from the hard working Bermudian tax payer are refunded whilst also ensuring better checks and balances are formulated and implemented to ensure that something of this nature never occurs again?
Are you saying that the Governor’s statement is nonsense? I suggest you take it up with him. His phone number is in the book.
It used to be that people were innoncent until found guilty, but I guess under the PLP this fact of life has changed.
It’s obvious to me that few of you have really followed the case. You all want your pound of flesh.
@ Senator Furbert – So exactly who in Government has ‘collective responsibility’ for ensuring that Bermudians’ hard earned tax dollars are spent wisely with full transparency and accountability as well as guaranteeing decent value for money?
What happens when the system doesn’t work (as is clearly the case here and confirmed by both the prosecution & defence lawyers)? Who is accountable to the Bermudian people?
LaVerne, this guy got $400,000 for doing absolutely nothing. You lot were giving away our taxpayer money to your cronies. All while pretending you are for the ‘working man’. You, the PLP, Ewart, Cox, you’re all in it for the money. You don’t give a rat’s ass about the rest of us. Ewart gave this guy, his close friend, $400,000 of taxpayer funds for doing nothing at all. Nothing. It’s ridiculous. You and your cronies should be ashamed of yourselves.
Paula promised us accountability. So who is going to take the fall for this? Come on we want accountability for government spending.
‘Anyone with an inkling of sense knows that the judge directs the jury during his summation.’
Anyone with an inkling of sense knows that if you only get 8 votes in your constituency, then politics probably isnt for you. Even you should know that Sen. Furbert…….
For a change Lets have that full transparency and accountability on how our hard earned tax dollars was spent, that the PLP govt keep talking about. There going to give to the hard working Bermudian. REMEMBER
Show us who drew up the contract and who reviewed and signed it. Please, Please show us the ACCOUNTABILITY the PLP way.
Honestly this whole thing is a BIG JOKE. The PLP is a joke. BUT I”m not laughing and neither is alot of other people.
Glad you clarified yourself “Tierd of nonsense.” Too bad you couldn’t go back and delete your post. You taught yourself a lesson
I felt the same way about your post when you claimed that you can look around Bermuda and automatically tell that 70% of white Bermudians were not born here.
Too bad you haven’t clarified your post as of yet. One can only hope.
Another example of gov’t (EB) paying their own and then kicking up dust when they find they have been found out….. so the question is “WHO IS NEXT?”… we have had Bda Housing, Dept of Planning, Mr. Curtis… and the gambling boat is up for sale – another something allowed to go wrong…..
Nonchalance is right. He got found not guilty. Like I said, so what? Unless the government appeals, case closed. What the 40 thieves got to do with this case anyway? Who are these 40 thieves, heard about them all my life, never met any of them.. Get over it folks, or sign your own government contract.
So you have no problem with Mr. Curtis using tax payers funds, the ones I assume you are also paying to the Govt, for his own personal needs?
Make an A$$ out of U and ME…….. assume!
jus mock up a con -tract like it was yessaday
Surely no one is surprised after yesterday’s verdict??? It’s a damn shame!! and anyone who agrees with what he did is just as bad!!!! You can sugarcoat it anyway you like, with whatever BS legal terminology that you want to use, but it is what it is !!! Just look at his conviction last year … and the nerve to come out of court grinning like the cat who swallowed the canary…..This is the exact reason why “street justice” exists!!!! WARNING!!! if you see this man in the photographs above RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN in the opposite direction!! SMDH!!!….and tonight he’ll probably go and have wine, lobster and cavier out of the change……
Well maybe not tonight. He is locked up. BTW… who wrote the contract… AG Chambers. Who signed the contract with Curtis….. Bda Departmentb of Tourism……. Who approved the contract? CABINET….thats right… CABINET
That would be a presumption. But I can guarantee you that with Kim Wilson as the AG there is no way that contract would have been as vague as that. As stated in a previous post, the drafting was a formality after Mr. Curtis already reaceived the funding.
Secondly, CABINET is not interested in any contract more than 2 pages. There are far too many topics to debate and discuss.
I should further clarify the details of the contract would not be disclosed in a Cabinet Agenda.
So at the end of the day why did AC get off if it was not the contract that allowed said expenditure as you allude to and what happened to collective responsibility?
LOL either way you slice it the contract seem like it was not vetted correctly and someone approved it. So are you saying it was and unethical but not illegal pay off.
Contracts are drafted everyday in government. Unfortunately, there is no standard pro-forma that is followed.
No different than signing an employment contract but your job description and duties may differ than those outlined in your original contract.
What I am saying is this, that the Cabinet does not sit and debate ALL of the intricacies drafted in a contract. You are right though the contract should have been drafted and reviewed by a legal entity especially when the amount of $ distributed was in excess. And I as mentioned in a preceding message, the PS was instructed to pay the funds to him directly. Whatever the TERMS of the contract stipulated was a defining factor in why AC was found not guilty.
While this may have been the correct verdict, given the charges laid (would be interested to see what alternative charges could have been laid, though), Andre Curtis’s conduct went way beyond merely doing a bad job. This had all the hallmarks of a systematic rape of the taxpayer purse and, what’s more, the guy has a long track record of shady conduct and failed promises. In short, and make no mistake, the guy is a complete shyster and has been for a very long time.
…Even if he get up out of prison dawg he still ain’t free,
So remember without HIM we’re a heartbeat from hell,
Confess the name and rep HIM well before your heartbeat fails…
be it known that if EVER I am charged with a crime, I will plead NOT GUILTY irrespective of whether I am guilty or not.
He should be arrested for wearing that shirt
nice
That is a really ugly shirt for real…
For Real that thing was UGLY. Not only did he skin all Bermudian, but also our cows.
Bernews….I understand how he got off the govt charges, but did they say how he was cleared of the charges against him by Andrew Smith?
The Judge foudnthat there was no case for him to answer. i.e the prosecution hadn’t produced sufficient evidence to even require Curtis to deal with them, and so he directed the jury to find him not guilty of those charges.
Time to take out a civil action then !
I Just do not understand the argument that “it was not spelled out what the funds were for”?? Wnen has government just given away money for whatever?……hmmm I think I will retract that statement.
So in that case they were just given to AC. In which case the whole FBTourism was a made up lie as he did’n't have to spend the money on that. So it was a payoff, who instructed for the funds to be issued. Come on, we want that person and the person who signed off on the legal agreement TO PAY for this.
Will the last one out, please turn out the lights!
Defense lawyers can be like the scum they defend. Mr. Sticky Fingers got off. Well I’m not surprised. He is a student of a former Premier. And he did have sticky fingers in school. SMH
Hey Mr Jury:- when I do wrong I hope you clear me of all charges too! Gosh it pays to be bodd boy these days!
God don’t wear Pajamas
When I grow up, I want to be a thief just like my Uncle Andre
Black people on this Island are fooooooooooooooc%ed
The person who signed off on his contract should be held accountable for entering into an agreement with no denifitive performance objectives. Sounds to me like he was promised something and that was the only way he could get the money without stealing it. I wonder what the person on the other end got out of the deal…hmm that would take it back to the PS of that ministry and not the Minister – even though the PS acts on behalf of the Minister…
AGREED…. Who was in charge of the public purse……MRS PAULA COX
No – Every Ministry has a Budget – Every Contract made with a Ministry has to be signed off by the PS but I belive Cabinet has to approve the ‘idea/offer’ – but ultimately – even if it was from Dr. Brown, the PS would ultimately take the hit as he/she is the person who would sign the contract – not the Minister.. Didn’t something happen the PS of Tourism before???
He should go to jail for that shirt alone
^ best comment ever! lol
LMAO! Definitely the best comment ever! hahaha
Ye without sin cast the first stone
To sin is a human business, to justify sins is a devilish business: Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy
Some of these bloggers are just plain pathetic, on the one hand you have applauded Mark Pettingale for being apart of the OBA, and now you demonize him because he sucessfully defended Mr, curtis,and you blame the PLP for the whole thing. Pathetic,
Some of you people must be really un-happy, miserable,and angry. In fact there is a condition that can be associated with this thought pattern. It’s a mental state of mind, called (SCHIZOPHRENIA) A SEVERE MENTAL DISEASE MARKED BY DELUSIONS, SPLIT PERSONALITY, AND A LACK OF CONTACT WITH RALITY.It takes so much of ones energy to hate, People get some help.
Shirley, you just Insulted whole set of people positng in one post, saying that we all need to get help for a mental disorder. There you have it folks.Shirley The PLP mouthpiece has spoken.
Annn sheee kan ewan spal………
Curtis knew how to handle incompetent senior civil servants,having been taught by the grand master.
Those persons who approved and signed this “contract”on behalf of Government, should be identified and fired!
But in keeping with Government policy, they were probably transferred to another Ministry.
My point exactly. OH and BY The Way!!!!! Cabinet approved the contract. Oh Yeah!!!!!
Is there any way to stop paying taxes? my pocket is almost empty and the GOVERNMENT uses my money to spend on sh*t like this man…..mannnn this is getting out of control!!!!!
Who is this guy does even he know?
I have just been told that contracts of this size must be approved by Cabinet!
TRUE…… Complain to your MP>>>
Define size??? Because if it were as poorly drafted as stated in the news, I am certain that the CABINET MEMO for approval was LESS THAN TWO PAGES…. A brief discussion on what Tourism proposes, a vote and that it!!!!
And which MP are you referring to? They “MP’s” collectively voted for it to be approved… So, what good will that do?
I think that Cabinet approves the AWARD of a contract based on what the Minister tells them, they don’t see the ACTUAL contract
This has been going on since the house on T-Street scandal! Many people got off because of a loop hole in the law. Not because they were innocent.
Next time dun buy an ogly ass shirt from de money ya stole from me ya a$$!!!!
I wonder where the civil servant who drew up this useless contract is these days? Sweeping the streets? Not likely. That sort of performance earns a promotion to department head under this Government.
Like him or hate him Mark Pettingill did his job. The DPP did not. Lets hope that Pettingill will make it his mission to craft laws, once he & the OBA are in, to prevent criminals getting off for the lack of a ‘t’ crossed or an ‘i’ dotted.
If you had Faith the size of a mustard seed ,you too could move mountains .
Some of these comments are priceless. Crime does indeed pay. SMH.
If you could just tell me how to ‘git me one of dem thar’ contracts, I would gladly wear that shirt.
Whoever signed the contract and ALLOWED this to happen are just as GUILTY…birds of a feather flock together……but the the same God that he pretends to serve and worship doesn’t sleep….and whether he pays today, tomorrow, next week or 10 years from now he will suffer in one form or another..I hope Mr. Smith files a civil claim so that ALL that are for him and feel he was right can rally behind him and help him pay Mr. Smith back the money…..because at the end of the day no matter how the contract was worded Mr. Curtis knew what that money was suppose to be used for and it was not for his back child support, Belco, Telco, Cable or to cover his rubber checks that were bouncing around the island…
We want answers PLP who is responsible and when will they be held accountable?
come on!!, eveyone know the answer, Dr. Brown Friends!!!!……
OK, so he’s not guilty of theft of taxpayers money because he was given it legitimately based on a poorly worded document/contract?
Can we now get a statement from Cog and Ewart Brown why they simply authorised tax payers money to be given, with no control, to a political favourite? The spotlight should now fall on the former Premier and his incompetent finance minister.
I mean, it was always said the bogus FBT contract was allegedly a payment, a golden thank you for running EB’s campaign. That’s what we said at the time. So, now it appears this was correct, since there was no FBT product, no formal contract and we are out of pocket.
More PLP incompetence.
The OBA should be chucking Mark Pettingill out. You can have a Party standing for ethics with a leading member willing to protect such blatent actions. I sure won’t vote for him.
When we think about governments current cash strapped situation, this highlights one of the reasons why they have gotten into this situation. Noone can believe this is the first time “unethical, but not illegal” behaviour has occurred, will be millions lost in such practices.
The government are now desparately trying to tax us anyway they can to make up for it.
Correction:
The OBA should be chucking Mark Pettingill out. You can’t have a Party standing for ethics with a leading member willing to protect such blatent actions. I sure won’t vote for him.
At least we know that mr. Pettingill as a layer, does his job well!!!!!….total profesional!.
You mean he provides the service he said he would for the fee he charges?????? That sounds like WORK…….
LOL
Wow! I can’t wait to see what he is going to do next, give him some more work to do at peoples houses or better yet let him fix the old police station in Hamilton for 500.000 and that way we can hold faith base concerts there he is like a oil slick. Well, what more can we say or do two wrongs i guess makes it right. I was hoping to see sit in jail a long time.
Mark I need your help,got caught drunk on #9 bus on Tues…if you gOt that fool off you can do me??
Can someone remind me why we even bother to pay taxes in Bermuda. IS it so Andre Curtis can spend my money? Are their others like Andre out there that got a chunk of our hard earned money to blow? Is it time to STAND UP to our politicians in regard to how they spend our money? Why don’t we have a say in how our government spends our money? Another 70 million project coming around the bend?
not to worry, you used your portion of taxes already,
No I haven’t thank you.
Has anyone seen my Dalmation puppy dog? It has been missing for a while now. Oh there it is – on the back of Andre Curtis.
As concerned tax payers could force the Government to carry out an investigation on the former Premier Dr. Brown & Co on all of the deals that he was involved in that were funded by the tax payers money – including the Hotel I heard he allegedly may have bought in Turks & Caicos? I’m sorry – but he needs to be brought before a court..
It should have read As concerned tax payers could WE force…