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Questions that remain

“Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look,

He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.”

Julius Caesar Act 1, scene 2

On Wednesday July 23, 2014, Senator Michael Fahy gave a personal explanation to the Senate to offer “plausible deniability” regarding his role in the ‘JetGate’ scandal. In explaining his alleged role in assisting to open a bank account to facilitate $350,000 to be transferred from individuals connected to Nathan Landow, he stated: “I was therefore phoned, as an OBA official, in my capacity as OBA campaign director, by a senior official at the bank.

“I was asked two questions. 1. Does Mr Derrick Green work for the OBA? My reply was ‘yes’; 2. Does Mr Derrick Green hold a valid work permit? My reply was ‘yes’.

“I was not advised by the bank as to why I was being asked those questions and the conversation ended.”

According to Senator Fahy, he never asked the bank for further details, despite his being a lawyer and the OBA campaign chairman.

Act 1 scene 2

Question 1: Senator Fahy’s assertion contradicts Steven DeCosta who has publicly stated that: “…she (the bank representative) said you can’t open an account without the authorisation from the party, so we told the bank to call the campaign chairman.” Bermuda Sun, July 23, 2014.

“On 12th July 2014, I orally advised the former chairman by telephone of the fact of the call by the bank and clarified with him the circumstances of the call.” (Mr Fahy)

Is this a case of ensuring plausible deniability?

Question 2: If the bank spoke to Senator Fahy in August 2012, why did he wait nearly two years to reveal this fact to the OBA, contrary to the OBA constitution?

Question 3: “There was no secret and no attempt to keep the account secret.” (Mr Fahy)

Did Senator Fahy inform the rest of the campaign committee?

Question 4: If this is true, why did Senator Fahy opt not to tell chairman [Thad] Hollis for nearly two years?

Question 5: “To this day I have no knowledge of all the individual donors’ names.” (Mr Fahy)

While Senator Fahy might not know ALL the donors’ names, he has admitted to knowing some. So which names did he know?

Question 6: If Senator Fahy did know of Landow’s donation, did he know prior to the election?

Question 7: Did he share this information with the executive committee and the then deputy leader [Michael] Dunkley? If not, why not?

“It is not in breach [of]…, in my view, any OBA campaign protocols.” (Mr Fahy)

“Who controls those monies and how they are spent is a matter, first, for the donors and, then, for the account signatories.” (Mr Fahy)

This directly contradicts former OBA chairman Mr Hollis’s report, which stated: “This account was not authorised by the established protocols of the OBA.”

Act 1 scene 3

On Friday July 25, 2014, Mr Steven DeCosta revealed via radio that, once presented with receipts, Senator Fahy covered the $78,000 shortfall between the $350,000 donated by Landow and friends and the $428,000 spent by Mr DeCosta on the underground campaign.

It is therefore reasonable to conclude that, since Senator Fahy authorised the payment of these invoices using OBA’s monies, he could very well be held to account for the following:

1. Authorising payment for “six people blogging 24 hours a day.” Persons using fake names flooded Facebook, Bernews, the RG and radio talk shows with anti-PLP and pro-OBA propaganda.

2. Giving “win bonuses paid to practically everyone in the whole team.” These bonuses were paid after the OBA won the election.

Act 1 scene 4

‘Fahy denies DeCosta’s campaign finance invoices claim’ Royal Gazette July 26, 2014.

“For things that were going to be billed to the party, if it was billed to the party, they would presumably present me with invoices and presumably ask me if this work was done. Then it would be paid by the executive,” Sen Fahy.

Ironically, Senator Fahy never actually denies anything Mr DeCosta stated.

There is deafening silence coming from Premier Mr Dunkley regarding

• The OBA report on the $350,000;

• Mr DeCosta’s revelations

• Senator Fahy’s Senate statement

“Danger knows full well

That Caesar is more dangerous than he:

We are two lions littered in one day,

And I the elder and more terrible.”

Julius Caesar

Shakespeare