MP Famous: Release The Report Into JetGate

October 1, 2018

[Updated] Saying that Craig Cannonier previously “resigned in disgrace” and ”questions still remain unanswered,” MP Chris Famous called on Mr Cannonier to release the report into ‘JetGate’, while Mr Cannonier said that “attacking” him “serves only to try and divert people’s attention from what is really happening to this country.”

This follows after Mr Cannonier formally became the new OBA Leader today, after having been sworn in as Opposition Leader last week. He replaces Jeanne Atherden, who was “invited” to resign last month, after eight MPs threw their support behind Mr Cannonier.

It marks a return to leadership for Mr Cannonier, who previously served as the Opposition Leader, and then the Premier, stepping down amidst the ‘JetGate’ matter in 2014.

MP Christopher Famous said, “The Progressive Labour Party supports redemption, and we support second chances.

“But there is difficulty in accepting the return to leadership of one who resigned in disgrace,” Mr Famous added, noting that there is still a “police investigation for that same scandal.”

“Simply put, Bermudians deserve better,” he said. “Bermuda has had only one Premier in its history driven from office in disgrace – Craig Cannonier.

“Bermudians need to see for themselves and judge for themselves the original, unaltered report produced on the JetGate scandal that Michael Dunkley and Craig Cannonier never allowed them to see.

Mr Famous said that as the “police continue to investigate allegations” surrounding the matter and payment of $300,000, “questions still remain unanswered.”

“We call on Craig Cannonier to answer these questions by releasing the report concealed by his successor Michael Dunkley into the JetGate affair,” Mr Famous said.

Back in 2014. the police confirmed they “commenced enquiries to determine if any criminal offences have been committed in relation to the financial transactions associated with the Bermuda Political Action Club account.”

BPAC is the bank account correlated with the ‘JetGate’ affair, and when asked about the BPAC investigation last week, the police confirmed that “the enquiry continues.”

In response to the ‘Jetgate’ comments, Michael Dunkley said, “Nice stretch to try and draw me in. I was not involved in it and have been fully open and accountable. Any comment regarding the matter should come from those involved.”

Mr Cannonier also responded, saying, “I am so excited that Mr Famous can take time out from his extraordinarily busy schedule to talk about me. But attacking me serves only to try and divert people’s attention from what is really happening to this country.

“It is interesting that while Mr Famous’ Government is prepared to hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars to a former PLP Premier, he does not question why that person pleaded privilege when asked to come before the Commission of Inquiry, yet he calls on me to release a report. That is the sort of obvious politricking that a child could see through.

“I am sure that the personal attacks will continue but I will carry on doing what needs to be done and I suggest Mr Famous follows my example because attacking me has nothing to do with what is happening to Mr and Mrs Bermuda who are going to the grocery store wondering if they have enough money.

“The real business at hand is to ensure this Government does not bring economic disaster to this country once again. With so many economic indicators showing a downturn in the economy Mr Famous should not be wasting time on me but questioning his own Premier about how he plans to help Mr and Mrs Bermuda.”

Update Oct 2, 9.09am: Mr Famous said, “The cover-up of the OBA’s report into former Premier Cannonier’s JetGate scandal continues and that is unfortunate.

“Bermudians want to know why former Premier Dunkley and now OBA Leader Craig Cannonier have refused to come clean and have continued a cover-up that has lasted almost 4 years.”

Mr Famous said the police investigation “is not a PLP plot or dirty politics. It is a result of actions that saw the first Premier in Bermuda’s history driven from office in disgrace,” adding that by failing to release their report on JetGate, the OBA is “complicit in a cover-up of an incident that is still under police investigation.

“That’s not leadership and that’s not good for Bermuda,” he said. “Mr. & Mrs. Bermuda want leaders they can trust, not leaders who admit that they failed to be “completely transparent” with the people of this country and have yet to do so.”

Read More About

Category: All, News, Politics

Comments (78)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Stevie says:

    Hello. Release the Browne scandal first.

    • Haha says:

      Rise of the Surrogates the oba/UBP has a new plan. LMFAO

      • What says:

        But the PLP actually has more UBP members than OBA now.

        • Hello OBAubpers says:

          Untrue….those members merely woke up and returned home

          OBAubp is in turmoil….lost and poor leadership

          • Ringmaster says:

            So you are saying the UBP members who moved to the PLP were asleep. Sums them up pretty well, and they’re still asleep looking at the zero contribution they make to the betterment of Bermuda.

            • Keep it real says:

              No they returned home because the oba UBP would use a certain segment of voters to win votes. Now it’s all backfired and will continue to backfire every election thus the reason you tried to change the name. Thus the same reason your own members are trying to kick the UBP out.

              • Jus' Wonderin' says:

                they truthfully jus want a paycheck…be real lmfao! What they contribute?

          • Toodle-oo says:

            More like political poached eggs looking for a piece of toast to land on .

          • Jt says:

            Bermuda is in turmoil….lost and poor leadership.

        • Sad says:

          If I was you I would be more concerned why so many black Bermudian voters have departed from the UBPoba over the years. It’s very sad when you see a 26 to 11 seat landslide victory. You at some point need to take responsibility for your actions and stop worrying about the PLP.. The oba or UBP is in bad shape right now. So bad that you had to bring back a disgraced x leader Craig. Is the party so desperate now you have only him to represent you. WOW

    • Keep it real says:

      CV Jim Woolridge stated in his book some famous words. “Those little white boys don’t mind you being in charge as long as they can tell you what to do!

      • Rockfish# 2 says:

        So now we have a Black man doing the same thing to Black people with far worse consequences.
        Now what?

        • James says:

          Last I check your ObaUbp was in chaos. Something’s can’t be fake news. Next election Craig Trump will be X again.

        • Get out says:

          Yes Craig is doing that to the guys in the UBP. Kemp wants you all out. Trevor Moniz must be twisting in his seat wondering when he gets his pink slip saying get out.

    • Hello OBAubpers says:

      Sadly, OBAubp spent the 4 years in government “ATTACKING BLACK LEADERSHIP” instead of governing for the people tbus 25 to 11….

      THE OBAubp also set out with a personal mission to attack and seek revenge on Dr.Brown, which now cost us dollars and still despite such a huge loss the hate continues on…..

      The OBAubp did nothing but lawsuits to #blackleadership, yet overlook the injustices by their own members in #Jetgate # roundaboutgate etc…., gates

      The OBAubp now put as their leader someone who the public has no trust in,….thus will not be taken lightly by the public who are Woke.,,..

      OBAubp….your falling again…..

      Stop hating…..this approach will see you standing still…..

      • Double S says:

        You know things are heating up when Betty Chump makes an entrance.

        Hey Betty, let’s discuss business confidence, retails sales and GDP?

        Are all those poor results recently also an an ‘attack on black leadership?’

        • Hello OBAubpers says:

          Yes, as the negative messages from OBAubpers set the wrong tone

          That report is only one survey, business trends go up and down over time….it happen during OBAubo short sprint as govt….so stop your poor attempt

          Alsio one must carefully examine the methods used to conduct the survey….

          Continue to remain focus PLP…..the #Jetgates are falling again

          • Toodle-oo says:

            You’re a fine one to talk about negative (propaganda) messages.
            Now , how about your take on your party’s own REAL jetgate?
            We’re all patiently waiting .

            • Rockfish# 2 says:

              Perhaps Cannonier and Brown will agree to holding a joint no holes barred press conference and discuss their jet rides, with emphasis on what THEY, and BERMUDA, gain from them.

          • Question says:

            When are the old guard UBP going to be dumped? Furbert, Swan and Simmons? The two ex-UBP leaders and the other?

      • Mark says:

        You mean thw plp/ubp right? Pretty soon the plp will have more ubp members than the oba. What will you have to say then? The plp are the new ubp! Say it with me now…plpubp plpubp…go betty. You are now a ubp member! Congrats!

  2. Truthhertz says:

    Does Famous actually contribute anything other than badly written articles and boogeyman politics?

    Either way, going off his ‘logic’ Desilva and burgess should resign due to police investigations. And let’s not forget the $1.2mn that him and his crew just gave to their ex leader who did more damage to Bermuda than any other person in the history of this island and has no ore than one police investigation against him as of now.

    Bermuda voted out Bob Richards for this nonsense? That saying about democracy being a flawed system has been proven right by that one election result. Go back to sleep Famously,at least you do that well.

    • Anbu says:

      Nope he has no other credentials other than to tell stories. Berkely education cert. thats it. No surprise his editorial pieces are 9/10 rubbish.

      • Sad says:

        Do you realize how many black men and women graduated from this high school. You do the oba no favors darling.

    • paul says:

      Premier Burt, you need to have a serious talk with Famous,he is making the PLP look like fools.his childish comments are harming the PLP and also the business prospects to the Island
      Come on stop going over what the OBA did and the PLP did ,can we please just grow up and be adults.

  3. Jt says:

    How about your thoughts on all of the recently released economic indicators? You know…something that matters…instead of your tried and true distraction techniques. You guys failed Bermuda once and you’re doing it again. Get to work. You in particular have done NOTHING!

    • Redman says:

      @ Jt

      “You guys failed Bermuda once and you’re doing it again. Get to work. You in particular have done NOTHING!”

      This ^^^^^^^^^^^

      • The election is over get to work ffs.where are the jobs where is all the money that needs to come in for our economy to work.plp good at protesting governing not so much.

        • Jt says:

          This guy for Richards. What a loss of talent and brains. He hasn’t done anything but write opens since being elected. Absolutely zero.

  4. leftfooted says:

    Famous already running scared. His are politics of the gutter – colour over country. God will judge him, and not in a good way.

  5. Justin says:

    Famous is another one who is drinking de titty milk!! Ha ha ha!!!

    • Hello OBAubpers says:

      More healthy than Dunkley milk……you seem to be lacking some by your comment,…..

      • Justin says:

        Det titty milk has gone to your heads. Tell Famous go clear some trees around his constituency, he’s the kind of guy that gets paid from the shoulders down! Ha ha ha!!

      • Toodle-oo says:

        Hey Betty , hows about you discuss the PLP’s own and original jetgate ? Huh ? I dare you .. c’mon , we’ll wait for it .
        I know it’ll be good because you’re so unencumbered by party loyalty .

    • Paul says:

      He must be drinking some of Burts swizzle.

  6. C12 former OBA supporter says:

    There is a shallow pool on both sides and we are all doomed while they live lavishly.

  7. cpm says:

    Let’s start with the quighars -Famous-we had to deceive you

  8. Hmmm says:

    Craig Trump for Premier. He said he was sorry but they never released the report. I thought the milkman control the milk farm not the Rats.

  9. Swingvoter says:

    One must ask themselves if the 300k went missing in HSBC would they hire the same person back. You never fire and rehire unless it’s pure desperation.

  10. Mark says:

    I agree that this report should be released. I also think this government should tell us what theyre doing about the commission of inquiry report and the crimes detailed in it. Also, investigate the $3.6 million in subsidies to doctors.
    Somehow i dont think the last two will happen bc they are disgraceful.

  11. Picked Tink says:

    Mr. Famous,

    Why is it that the PLP continue to ignore the fact that Dr,. B did the same thing. He too flew on a private jet belonging to someone that he was going to do business with.

    There was one huge difference. Dr. B. DID award the tourism contract to the owner of the jet. A contract worth millions. Then that contract we awarded a second time , this time without going out to tender.

    • Toodle-oo says:

      The original , real Jetgate .
      Just never discussed .

      • sandgrownan says:

        GlobalHue, the dude he went to University with…and with whom, they collectively dropped Bermuda tourism down the toilet.

        Remember how he used the tourism/transport budgets. Happy days!

        • Toodle-oo says:

          Oh the stars I get in my eyes every time I think back to the platinum period .

          I wonder why OJ never mentions his crew’s own and original jetgate though ? ?

          As he likes to say .. LMAO

    • Rockfish# 2 says:

      Famous is not interested in pesky things like facts.

  12. Wahoo says:

    Release the Port Royal gate info and de Berkley gate thing also you have a jetgate thing too.

  13. Justin says:

    Famous, you were serving the community better when you were clearing trees from the road. I still see plenty of overgrown trees on our road and our trash is only getting picked up once a week. What are you doing writing these useless opinion pieces?! Ha ha ha!! De titty milk must be gettin to ya head!!

  14. Really says:

    Famousgive it up people are tied of your nastiness. Let’s talk about your precious EB and his cronies. Nothing in the past that the OBA or the UBP have done or been involved in will ever amount to the damage your people did and are still doing to this island. We can talk for hours about them non stop. You are worried about Jetgate give us a break. You are so boring get a life.

  15. Redrose says:

    Can we have the full lahey gate report? Ask for that famous or are you so blinkered you cannot see?

  16. cpm says:

    Ewart and others flew on a private jet to bring in illegal immigrants in a clandestine operation
    Where was the peoples campaign protest led by foreigner Tweed then?
    Has he got status yet? other foreigners would have been marched off our island for creating mayhem and dissent

  17. eyes wide open says:

    Mr.Famous,you talk about resigning in disgrace,yet your own party still employs Wayne Caines as Minister for National Security despite the disgraced himself,the plp party he represents and the people of Bermuda by asking 2 young girls if they had any titty milk in a small store in London while he was on the people’s dollar.

    as for yourself,you a disgrace and a poor liar,you recently tried to distort History.

    and then there are others in the plp that are a disgrace,but we all know who they are.

  18. Coffee says:

    Why is Craig Cannonier playing the victim card ?

    How is asking for a report “attacking ” someone?

    Who elects a politically tainted Leader ?

    When will those involved in covering Craig’s “mistakes ” put Bermudas reputation first ? Or is staying silent the best way to protect us ?

    • Wrong says:

      Who elects a potentially tainted leader? That would be all if the stupid PLP voters! Next question please.

    • What says:

      Yall elected a literal blogger over someone with a financial background.

  19. Meredith Stapff says:

    Wouldn’t this country be better with Independant politicians = no team line to stay in so we get truth. No corruption as no ones got your back. If you do the job correctly no one will need to get on your back. There is a best solution for everything.
    No more politicians staying quite or kept quite when the people need them to speak.
    We are loosening and suffering because of party politics
    Just thought I’d put that out there

    • Justin says:

      Oh wow, what a brain busting idea that no one has ever thought of!! If there are 36 MPs then how are you as 1 MP going to get your bill passed? Well, you have to make friends. And that is the genesis of party politics all over again!! Ding dong!!

  20. Ringmaster says:

    How about the PLP releasing the Peppergate report? This act was against their own supporters so where is the report? Clearly the evidence against the OBA is not there or the report would have been issued.

  21. Sandgrownan says:

    Ah, Chris Famous, a man unencumbered by intelligence or success

  22. Redrose says:

    Lahey gate?

  23. Comfortably numb says:

    OK Famous, but how about Faith Based Tourismgate, Black Mayors Conferencegate, TCDgate, Berkeleygate, Port Royalgate, MRIgate, Laheygate, Swizzlegate and on and on and on. Pretty selective in your quest for clarity aren’t you, Famous?

  24. WSP says:

    Famous you were elected to help tbe people of Bermuda,not to be the propaganda minister.Now get on with your job.

  25. redrum says:

    All the PLP are good at is talking bad about the OBA. How about you show us some real efforts to make Bermuda better. PLP is all talk.

    • sandgrownan says:

      Funny isn’t it, the Opposition Leader questions the PLP and out they send their their little attack person. It’s pathetic.

  26. question says:

    I want to hear all about FourSeasonsgate. WTF was going on there?

    • wahoo says:

      Yeah me too but I guess since somebody is no longer with us we cannot talk about it.

  27. LaV says:

    “Ah, Chris Famous, a man unencumbered by intelligence or success”

    TRUTH!

  28. Politricks says:

    I hope that Mr. Famous’ demand for transparency also extends to Dr. Brown’s Global Hue jet ride, Zane Desilva’s Port Royal contract and Derrick Burgess’ contracts.

    But for some reason I thins Mr. Famous’ demands for transparency is a one way street.

  29. Stevie says:

    Chris Infamous. Total idiot.

  30. Stevie says:

    Not a comment from Onion Juice. Guess the truth hurts him & PLP voters Real quiet aren’t you. You voted them in. Doing the nonsence 1998-2012. Think about how Bermuda almost went bankrupt. Snap election time.

  31. Stevie says:

    As usual Burt gone silent. Furbert from BIU gone silent Tweed where you?

    • sandgrownan says:

      Without a bogeyman, they are nothing. This is why they jumped on Cannonier via their attack blogger at the first opportunity. It actually helps their narrative to have a target.

      However, if they are challenged on their record, the PLP are nothing. As before, incompetent, inept, lacking in vision and ideas. A failure in waiting if you will, and history, sadly is repeating itself.

  32. stormy daniels says:

    Famous, open mouth insert foot::)))

  33. craig says:

    is he the one to talk ?all Bermuda know the past smmh

  34. sandgrownan says:

    Hey Famous you Muppet, how about mailingabullettoyourselfgate?

    Bunch of incompetent clowns.

  35. Plp is scared of Cannonier with his loud booming voice when he starts to ask a lot of pointed questions they are just going to talk about race.

  36. Steady says:

    Go back to sleep in the HOA MP Famous. Sing us a good night song