Derrick Green Responds To OBA JetGate Inquiry

July 21, 2014

Political consultant Derrick Green has responded to the OBA inquiry into “JetGate”, saying that he was never interviewed in relation to it, and also asserted that some aspects of the report were incorrect.

On Thursday, OBA Chairman Thad Hollis released a full statement on the “JetGate” investigation, which said that the money was sent to an account which was opened with two signatories; Steven DeCosta and Derrick Green.

Steven DeCosta is a private business associate of former Premier Craig Cannonier who was on the private jet flight in March 2013, while Derrick Green is an American political consultant.

In May 2014, an OBA spokesperson stated that Mr DeCosta “did work for the OBA during the election period in 2012, heading crews that were handing out brochures and putting up posters.”

Mr. Green resides in the USA, however is sometimes seen on the island, and on 17th May 2014 he attended the first emergency meeting at OBA HQ along with the OBA MPs, Senators and the Party Executive.  A second OBA  meeting was held the following day, and a few days after that Craig Cannonier resigned as Premier.

Mr. Green walking into the OBA emergency meeting held in May of this year:

Derrick Green Bermuda, May 17 2014-5

In his statement on Thursday, Mr. Hollis said the account — which received seven deposits of $50,000 from Nathan Landow and his associates — was not “authorised by the established protocols of the OBA,” and the Party Executive did not know about it until 18 months later.

The OBA Chairman added that, according to documents shown to him,  the $350,000 was used for a “grassroots campaign” including things such as “constituency drops, signage and the team on the ground. ”

Mr. Green said that while he and Green Consultants appreciate the attempt to ensure openness and support the inquiry, he wanted to clear up some aspects of the statement.

Mr. Green said it is of “deep concern” that Mr. Hollis never interviewed himself or anyone from Green Consultants, and also said he understands that Mr. Hollis never interviewed Minister Michael Fahy or Maryland lobbyist Gerald Evans, who he said was the person who actually introduced Craig Cannonier and himself to Mr Landow.

The statement from Mr. Hollis said the reason given by Mr. Green for establishing a separate account was “because of US tax law and rules governing campaign contributions, the account to receive the funds had to be a PAC account.”

However according to Mr. Green, that statement is “simply not true”, with Mr. Green explaining that he would have never given such a reason as he is not a US tax expert, and doesn’t advise on tax issues in general.

Mr. Green said, “As the Chairman knows, the vast majority of the funds went to D&B Consultants — a firm associated with Mr. DeCosta — which was the main vendor used.”

“Mr DeCosta did an outstanding job with the campaign work. His team worked tirelessly 7 days per week to help the OBA win. It is my hope that the money spent was used to pay for campaign activity and these workers… they were one of the best teams I have ever worked with,” added Mr. Green.

Mr. Green also said that at no time did Green Consultants have conflicts of interest with either private and commercial interests, adding that he intends to provide a more comprehensive statement on the entire matter in the coming days.

We have asked the OBA for comment, and will update if able.

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  1. Dodwell, Minister Respond On Derrick Green | Bernews.com | July 23, 2014
    • LMAO fi reel says:

      leave it to the OBA to try to make the black males take the fall whilst the white males are left unharmed and untouchable.

      What I’m bout?

      Craig was forced to resign so Dunkley could take over his expected throne.

      Green is now being thrown under the bus by Thad, whilst on the home front Fahy is untouchable.

      SMDH – when are you people going to wake the hell up?

      Dunkley secret plan is presently in working order.

      • Bermy says:

        Green still hasn’t revealed why he jointly opened a separate bank account for party donations. All he’s said is that US tax law wasn’t the reason!

        So what’s the reason Green?

  1. Chris Famous says:

    Shake a tree and the leaves must fall

    There is one central figure in this entire sordid caper and he still retains a government Ministry. Why is that?

    “We would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for these meddling kids”

    • Um Um Like says:

      This too shall pass. We had to deceive you.

      • Hoping For More Transparency !! says:

        I was hoping that the OBA would come clean and stand on Honesty and Transparency. It is evidence that this is not the case. We must hold our government to a high level of Accountability. OBA promised us they would do Politics in an honest and transparent fashion. This recent report suggest this is not the case. I am most disappointed.

        We must not excuse our government, and justified their behaviour by excusing it because of the PLP. This is not good enough. The OBA must stand up on their own record, which is not looking good during their short time in government.

        I am hoping that Premier Dunkley would come clean and deal with this matter effectively.

    • serengeti says:

      Gotten away with what? Spending private money that was given privately on a campaign? Oh my goodness. The humanity.
      Chris, what did the PLP do with the campaign funds it received from private individuals over the years? Spend it on campaigns? Oh my goodness. What a horror.

      • Hoping For More Transparency !! says:

        The OBA promised us Transparency and Honesty. I was hoping that this would be revealed in this report, and so far it has not been demonstrated.

        I am losing faith in the OBA. The attempt to cover-up the actions of the government and excuse it by suggesting the PLP did it, is not good enough. It a poor excuse, as the OBA promised us better.

        This is sad really, as I had high hopes. I am asking that Premier Dunkley step forward and address the lies within the report and the failure to interview key folks involvement. This makes the OBA look bad at present. Folks are losing faith in the party.

        While all political parties do receive funding from others, this stands out as a favour to the OBA due to how it is closely linked to JETGATE.

    • Justin says:

      Gotten away with what?! If there was a crime committed then someone would be in jail right now. The fact is that non of the money in question was actually public money. This was an internal party matter and it has been dealt with. Case closed. Now, any word about where the $800m of PUBLIC money went missing to during the PLP’s reign? Cricket…. Cricket….

      • Impressive says:

        so you go on to say that if there was a crime committed than someone would be in jail, then turn around and ask about 800m from years ago.. Why doesn’t your same view apply to the 800m or is that your biased view. As you elegantly stated, “case closed”. If you can’t see the double standards in your post, you never will.

    • Joonya says:

      There was a lot “gotten away with” post 1998, but I guess the “meddling kids” at the time didnt have a labour support or union as rent-a-protest to march. Funny how the “meddling kids” of today kept quiet all that time…

    • Unbelievable says:

      “We would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for these meddling kids”

      You know he never said that so stop insinuating it.

    • Joonya says:

      I wonder.. when shaken would John Deuss come out of that tree..?

  2. Ironic says:

    Mr Green does’t actually dispute any of the findings, so I’m not sure what this article is about.

  3. Rhonda Neil says:

    Who is Gerald (Jerry) Evans, is he the MD based gaming lobbyists.

    • Rhonda Neil says:

      Just asking did the former Premier and cohort, get on a private jet, to sell Bermuda, by any means necessary.

  4. Rhonda Neil says:

    Gerard E. Evans has regained the top spot among Maryland lobbyists a decade after serving a prison term for fraudulent practices.

    Evans reported receiving more than $1.2 million in compensation for the year ending Oct. 31. That was enough to nudge out Timothy A. Perry, a former chief of staff to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), for No. 1 on the new rankings by the State Ethics Commission.

    Evans, who worked as a legislative aide to Miller in the early 1980s and remains close to his old boss, has in recent years rebuilt a healthy stable of clients in Annapolis. Last year, those included the Baltimore Orioles, several health-care-related companies and a number of horse-racing and gambling interests, including Penn National

  5. This thing stinks! says:

    SO this report didn’t interview the main players?

    So this report paid all its money to another company?

    So The OBA Executive (Dunkley is on the executive) limited the “scope” of the investigation.

    This whole thing sounds like a BIG Coverup.

    OBA Add some credibility and follow the money – or disassociate yourselves with those who won’t be transparent! If the money was given to you, you should know how it was spent! If anyone won’t share the bank statements – expel them from the Party. We need confidence that you are NOT a corrupt party.

    • Evie says:

      1+1=5 in this equation I agree something stinks just like Craig wouldn’t talk even the people who are taking are not taking SMDH It’s a new day UBP the people are awake we want the truth hahahahaha unbelievable you give us a BS story that no one is buying hahahahaha

      • Hoping For More Transparency !! says:

        Thanks @This thing stinks! I am most disappointed in this report.

  6. Truth is killin' me... says:

    This makes me laugh. This money wasn’t even public money and you all want a witch hunt. It was a private donation to a political party (like that’s never happened before). We should be going after the millions of taxpayers’ funds that WAS OUR MONEY which you’ll never see again. You’re cherry picking you lot for political gain and it’s gonna bite you all in the ass when it all comes out!!

    • flikel says:

      This debacle resulted in the resignation of the premier. Thus, the public has a right to know details, regardless of whether it was ‘our money’ or not.

      The premier’s inner circle within the OBA were the drivers behind his resignation, thus the public has every right to know what happened.

      If this matter was not a big deal, the former premier’s own party would not have asked/requested/demanded that he step down.

      Furthermore, if this is not a ‘big deal’, then why just not tell the truth? This report is full of contradictions and untruths, as evidenced by Green contradicting Hollis. Again, if this was a small matter, then the premier would not have been asked to resign, and a full open report would have been issued.

      • Truth is killin' me... says:

        Something the PLP would have never had done or did in their term. Take fault for their actions…HELL NO…deflect, deflect, deflect!!

        • LOLOLOLOLOL says:

          So by your count this is all ok?

          • LOL (Original TM*) says:

            Well it’s like the blind trust for the Court Building. It’s all OK ………………

            LOL except that involved public money and we to this day still do not know who was behind the trust do we.

        • Sickofantz says:

          Is this really how you would like a mature political party to behave? Honestly do you think this is all fab????

  7. GOD1ST says:

    ‘The statement from Mr. Hollis said the reason given by Mr. Green for establishing a separate account was “because of US tax law and rules governing campaign contributions, the account to receive the funds had to be a PAC account.”

    “However according to Mr. Green, that statement is “simply not true”, with Mr. Green explaining that he would have never given such a reason as he is not a US tax expert, and doesn’t advise on tax issues in general.’

    The OBA/UBP Are a confused bunch.The investigation is a cover up and on top of that Green just threw Thad Hollis under the bus.Inner ramblings with in the party ranks is causing members of that Caucas to dissipate.

  8. Raymond Ray says:

    Please Premier Michael Dunkley and O.B.A. Chairman Mr. Thad Hollis reveal to the General Public the truth about this $350:000 e.g. what was it used on / for and who, (if anyone) profited from it…
    “A free society is a place where it’s safe to be unpopular” -Adlai Stevenson, governor, ambassador (1900-1965)

    • Ironic says:

      Raymond- would you similarly condone full disclosure of all political donations to the PLP? Or are there different rules for different players?

      • Raymond Ray says:

        According to the original article the monies was not donated to the O.B.A. and that’s the point I personally want made clear…And if not, then revealed to the General Public what went down to shut those blabber mouths up!

  9. Unbelievable says:

    This is private campaign money. It’s not public money that came from or went to Govt coffers.

    The PLP receives private campaign money to this day too. How do you think they are able to pay for their election commercials and other things that happen during an election?

    Jetgate was a stupid and unnecessary distraction. There was on need for it to happen. Govt technical officers should have been on that plane. But unless this issue can be connected to any serious wrong doing within the OBA as GOVERNMENT, then I’m over it. So far it doesn’t look like it is connected to any such thing.

    • Robert says:

      If it is revealed that this private campaign money went to buy votes, as it has been alleged, then this is indeed a public matter !!

      • JD says:

        Alleged by whom? Can you supply a link? Thanks

      • Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

        you mean like obama did wen he gave all the poor people phones ..??

      • Bermyluv says:

        isn’t that exactly what all political campaign contributions are???? what makes this one different?

      • Bermyluv says:

        isn’t that what all campaign contributions are???? what makes this one any different?

  10. Yawn says:

    Fix the problems of the country please?

    Our debt burden hasn’t gone away why the Opposition spins and attention is diverted.

    Would HM Honourable Opposition please use its energy to help fix the serious problems that confront this country and help set the stage for our children to take the helm of an economic and political situation which is more in line with the 21st century.

    These diversions really do appear desparate!

    • Concerned Citizen says:

      FYI, this has NOTHING to do with the PLP. The division is within the OBA, maybe that’s why the country is not moving forward? Dishonesty must be ingrained within the OBA. Where does it come from?

      • LOL (Original TM*) says:

        You sound like your reaching………. but i’m sure to you it’s completly justified the only detail that matters to you lot is which party is doing whatever.

        LOL

  11. cromwell says:

    Now if Green is telling the truth Hollis has a leadership problem because Green “saying that he was never interviewed in relation to it, and also asserted that some aspects of the report were incorrect.” implies that Hollis has issued an incomplete and shoddy report without proper investigation to his own party!

    If the donation did not go to the OBA then they have no way or right to investigate a non contribution to their party.

    They should of stated they did not get any money (if the party did not get any money) and left it at that.

    It was Hollis that first publicly called for an internal investigation and Hollis who must take responsibility for that outcome.

    The only good thing about all this there may be some sort of call for both parties to publicly amend their constitutions stating they will not take contributions from foreigners either individuals or governments.

    • Sideliner says:

      Talk about throwing Hollis under the bus! Is he the new scapegoat for the govt?

      Meanwhile the Premier Dunkley and Sen Fahy remains above the fray?

      Amazing justifications

  12. Navin Johnson says:

    Why would this have taken so long to be revealed and why is there no statement from Fahy? Disturbing

  13. Anon says:

    Based on what I’ve heard, I wouldn’t believe a word Mr. Green says. He’s a paid mercenary at best and right now someone else could be paying him higher. Guaranteed it won’t be long before he appears as a “consultant” for the PLP camp.

  14. clearasmud says:

    Many people here are arguing that this whole affair was a private matter and it was but these people are chosing to ignore certain things. It was the party that promised to report to the public! How could a proper report be done without interviewing all the players? How come Mr.Dacosta is only now being acknowledged as an OBA paid consultant? How come Mr. Fahy has not had to answer for his role since the report states that he was fully aware of the donation. If the account was not set up as per official party guidelines why was Mr Fahy not questioned about his failure to advise the executive of its existence? Ministerial conduct has nothing to do with the operations within a party structure so this report seems like some and mirrors!

  15. Relieved says:

    Green,Decosta and Cannonier go away!

  16. Sick n Tired says:

    It’s amazing how I keep reading comments that say “it was private money” and “why is it a big deal”. . .well let me help you with why it’s important:

    1. The OBA ran on a platform of honesty and transparency (which you all
    constantly refer to as a fault of the PLP.

    2. If there was some sort of deal made in order for $350,000 to be donated
    to an election campaign. Neither Landow, nor his counterparts, sat
    down at a table and said “hey you know the island Bermuda, let’s
    send them $350,000 so they can get a different government in power!

    So the question is “what was the money in trade for??????? What was promised??????

    That’s the issue right there point blank!!!

    Now carry on!!! Oh by the way the next thing that needs to come out is the strategic plan of how the OBA got in power. I have a copy . . .unbelievable!!!!!!

    • BlueFamiliar says:

      A campaign contribution, even if it went directly to a party isn’t necessarily for anything in particular, why it will always be considered a nod towards consideration in the future if something comes up.

      Now, this doesn’t mean anything was specifically said, and because nothing was received in return for the funding that has surfaced, it really comes down to a non-issue, regardless that it smells to high heaven.

      At this point, there are still things that don’t smell right, but are they criminal, or just unethical. Politicians often walk a fine line, and as wrong as it might be, there is little that can be done about it.

      I think there are more questions to be asked and answers to be had, but whether this will happen, I don’t know.

      I do know that this all means that the OBA will be under far more scrutiny than they already were. And this might be good for us all.

    • Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

      Would it have benefited us all or not is my question…i dont give a ratsazz who promised who what IF I WAS TO BENEFIT FROM IT!

  17. ole Onion says:

    Bye I tell u , n u vont believe me !! Do politricktions use dictionaries ?

  18. OnionSeed says:

    This is ONE BIG CHESS GAME.

    At STAKE – The Bermudian People, JOBS, MONEY and a SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

    JETGATE was a strategy to jumpstart the OBA mechanics. The investment was made to get a controlling interest on the board (BERMUDA). And the investment paid off. The OBA is the GOVERNMENT. Once the strategy was discovered then came the COVERUP plan. Nothing was as it appeared and personal/private gains appear to have been mustered into the plan. Was this all a SCAM to coerce the people to vote one way ? Yes. And it worked. Everyday something is revealed that shreds concern to the BOARD (People of BERMUDA)that this game lacks honesty, fairness and openness. The media puts its spin on it and hopes the public digests it. This is the JETGATE SAGA and MORESO this is the BERMUDA POLITICAL SAGA.

    With the JetGate Inquiry, it is not that it was private funding that was used. Signs of deception, corruption, collusion, personal financial gain, paybacks and back door business deals appear to also be in the game. All at the future expense of managing the interest of BERMUDA and its people. BERMUDA needs honest brokers to attend to her affairs and not two bit hustlers.

    GAMING, IMMIGRATION, TOURISM and BUSINESS is the END GAME. So if our elected officials can’t be trusted on the items that have been revealed. Could you honestly trust a management team that creates objectives but can not deliver them. Especially when the new objectives appear to be in the interest of the players not the BOARD (BERMUDA) and promised objectives constantly change.

    You can follow the players on both sides and see a pattern. The kings are the whole political PARTY and the Queens are their Leaders.

    WE have seen some pieces swapped out and others used as sacrificial lambs and so the game plays on … hold up … come back in November.

    The story keeps CHANGING as you flip through the pages. Clear up the mess and let the people see the transparency. Sen. Michael Fahy .. where are you ? You seem to be smack dead in the middle with the money. But we have former Premier Cannonier being the lamb. Why are you not on the grill as well ?

    I AM SURE THAT THIS IS NOT THE CHANGE A LOT OF SUPPORTERS SIGNED ON FOR.

    • Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

      go out and find a govt anywhere on this planet that is running a SUCCESSFUL country…then tell me they did it by the bureaucratic textbook writings that you all so proudly wanna live by…hence your quality of living. Judging by some comments here leads me to believe that some people don’t know whats about to denigrate them even more. Distractions are a b!t@#…

      • LOLOLOLOLOL says:

        By that comment of yours, you should have no problem with the PLP running the country.

        • Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

          “SUCCESSFUL” was the key word…i guess you are too busy laughing out loud as usual.

        • LOL (Original TM*) says:

          Does he get to take into account the PLP’s term in Governement…………………….

          LOL

  19. Alvin Williams says:

    Well it seems to me that the OBA chairman is saying that the over all result of his report on jet gate is that there is no case to answer; since he has stated that he was restricted in how far he could go in the investigation?
    If that was so than one could conclude since the former premier as he made his resignation speech; stated that he did nothing wrong? than he has every right to ask for his job back? And if that is the case than in the up coming OBA leadership conference we should expect a leadership challenge? At this point it looks like rather than being the leader in waiting; Mr.Dunkley is looking more and more like a usurper

  20. Chris Famous says:

    Follow the bread crumbs

    • LOL (Original TM*) says:

      What do you know about blind trusts Mr. Famous………….

      LOL

  21. Relieved says:

    Onion seed,Wait till the 14 yr reign of terror is exposed.Make this look like peanuts.

  22. Mark says:

    How come nobody asked Mr. Green where the money went?

  23. Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

    my question is who is the person in the oba camp that ran a covert op. for the plp….how in the world did the plp get this info. in the first place..? we dont know but whatever deal was struck im quite sure it was for you and i to profit in the long run…it wasnt your money an it wasnt my money therefore it wasnt any of our business unlike the $800,000,000 which was our money that they so dubiously skirt around that question…well y’all keep following tha pied piper of hamilton…we all know how that story ends.

  24. Coffee says:

    Jetgate has expired. It is for all intents and purpose as Dunkeley said “Deadgate .”
    Derrick Greens response to Thad Hollis fictitious findings has now created in its place BACKGATE . That’s right folks. A BACKGATE is a gate where gas in the form of a fart and solid waste are expelled from the body .
    So now the OBA wants the Bermudian people to accept fart talk from them . They have lost their collective minds as they attempt to shove excrement down our throat and tell us it’s chocolate ice cream courtesy of the milk and ice cream vendors.

    • LOL (Original TM*) says:

      So this is an exceptible way to reference political people and parties then?

      LOL

  25. darren booth says:

    does mr.green hold a work permit.if not will the party be paying a fine?

  26. Dread says:

    The PLP put us in debt,and now we all suffer!

  27. MAKE MY DAY says:

    Never interviewed….How convenient!!! I’m sure he knows ALL about that $350K FIASCO!!!

    We are NOT fools Thad Hollis and this may come back to bite you in the A$$ – further down the road!!!

  28. Encyclopedia says:

    Time for new elections !!!!
    A few OBA MPs can cross the floor to facilitate new elections !!

    • LOL (Original TM*) says:

      That what this is all about an attempt by the PLP to steal thats right steal the government before a successfull term of the OBA is over because if the OBA succseed the PLP will have alot of work ahead of them and they are desprit not to have lost another 30 years in opposition.

      LOL

  29. Rockfish#1 says:

    It has been reported that Crockwell attended university with Green and bought him to Bermuda. This opens up another can of worms. Was he responsible for Green indirectly being employed by the Bermuda Tourism Authority? The same organization that Crockwell protects from taxpayer scrutiny! Who recommended him for the consultant’s job.Was it advertised?

    It is one thing to mishandle private funds, but now we discover he collected pay from the public purse, courtesy of Crockwell.
    The plot thickens!

  30. This guy Green is a money man for the OBA, pure and simple. He is not making a difference with the Tourism autority either (where is the master plan for tourism?) so kick him out of Bermuda!