Due to North Side’s Independent MLA, Ezzard Miller’s “on going allegations of corruption and his repeated calls for an invoice”, Dart Realty sent us an email I have just quoted from and a copy of a letter from The Ant-Corruption Commission.

The letter was sent via email on April 30^th, 2012, addressed to Mark VanDevelde, Chief Executive officer and Jackie Doak, Chief Operating Officer, c/o Dart Reality, Grand Cayman KY1-9006, Cayman Islands.

The letter concerns a “Complaint to the Anti-Corruption Commission Reference 004/12” and is signed by David Baines, Commissioner of Police and Chairperson Anti-Corruption Commission. The letter reads:

“With reference to the above quoted complaint.

“This matter has been fully investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

“There is no evidence to substantiate that you have committed any offence in contravention of the Anti-Corruption Law 2008 or any other criminal legislation.  Therefore, there is no justification for undertaking any further investigation into this complaint, and this matter is now concluded.

“I thank you for your assistance in ensuring the necessary information and documents were provided in order to expedite this matter.”

The accompanying email said:

“Given the open and transparent process that this contract with Government underwent, the findings do not surprise Dart Realty’s Executive Team. However, given MLA Ezzard Miller’s on going allegations of corruption and his repeated calls for “an invoice” we felt that you as the media would appreciate having a copy of the letter in hand, which provides you with the facts and hopefully, puts an end to the often irresponsible speculation about the validity of the process and legitimacy of this contribution to the community.”

The reason for Mr. Miller’s allegations and requesting a copy of an invoice was over an early $5 million cash payment that, according to Dart (and the government), was an advance on a $20 million donation promised to government (by Dart) for community projects. This was all part of a land swap and investment deal for Dart Realty’s land they owned around the West Bay Road and the refurbishing of the former Marriott Courtyard hotel into a 5 Star resort, and the subject of much protest from the public as it involved the closure of 4,000 feet of the West Bay Road.

Because the money was handed over before Dart and government signed any contract, Mr. Miller was suspicious and this was aggravated when our premier, McKeeva Bush, astonishingly announced he was giving a quarter of a million dollars of this money to a UDP East End candidate, John McLean Jr., in the next general election instead of the standing elected PPM member, Arden McLean. None of the community projects Arden McLean had asked for was listed to be used for this money and only the ones on John McLean’s list. Mr. Bush had said Arden McLean had never asked for any money from government and that was the reason John Mclean was to be given ‘the cheque’. This was despite a written letter by Arden Mclean only a year before sent to the premier ‘begging’ for money urgently for a number of projects for East End.

Although Dart has already commenced work on the start of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway extension, the independent review to show value for money for the land swap deal has not been completed.

One wonders now what Mr. Miller is going to say, but up to the time of publishing this article, there has been no word from him

Even though there has been no statement given to us by Mr. Miller the premier, Mr. Bush has been forthcoming from the Office of his Press Secretary, Charles Glidden, as follows:

Statement by Premier McKeeva Bush on the findings of the ACC regarding Dart community funding:

“As  a  Government, we  are  pleased  to  see  the  Anti-Corruption  Commission (ACC) affirm the legitimacy of the Dart contribution to community investments as part of the NRA Agreement signed in December 2011. This letter from the ACC proves that the funding of community investments through the NRA Agreement has been done in full compliance of the laws and regulations, and that the political mischief making is an unfortunate waste of time and resources that could be better used addressing real problems and real needs in our community.

In these challenging economic times, the UDP Government stands by the NRA Agreement and the ForCayman Investment Alliance as an innovative, win-win partnership for the good of the Cayman Islands”