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OBA silent on $300k inquiry

Chairman of the OBA Thad Hollis

The findings of an inquiry into the disappearance of $300,000 in campaign donations to the One Bermuda Alliance are still being kept under wraps — more than two months after the investigation was launched.

In May, Thad Hollis, the party chairman, announced that a “full-fledged” internal investigation was underway after it was revealed US developer Nathan Landow and a number of other American businessmen had made the donation in the run-up to the December 2012 general election following a meeting with then-party leader Craig Cannonier.

Party chiefs said the funds were never received. It later emerged that the monies had been deposited into the bank account of the Bermuda Political Action Club — a campaign group with links to the OBA.

Confirming on May 14 that the inquiry was underway, Mr Hollis said: “We are now conducting an internal investigation into these allegations to get the facts, look at the evidence we can gather, and once we know that, we will be making a full disclosure on what we’ve been able to uncover.”

Five days later, on May 19, the party’s then-deputy leader Michael Dunkley said he expected the inquiry to last a week — and reiterated that its findings would be made public soon after. That evening Mr Cannonier resigned amid controversy over a later meeting he had with Mr Landow in Washington DC, and Mr Dunkley was appointed his successor.

The ruling party then remained tight-lipped about the investigation for more than a month, with MPs claiming that any public comment could only come from Mr Hollis.

Then, on June 30, almost seven weeks after the inquiry had begun, Mr Hollis said it was almost complete and that its release was imminent.

“I’m trying to pull it together — I’m getting things finalised and making sure the facts are correct. I want to share it with the party executive, so it should be released within a week,” Mr Hollis told The Royal Gazette.”

But there has been no update on the inquiry since that statement 17 days ago, and party sources have hinted that silence on the issue will be maintained at least until the House of Assembly adjourns on Friday.

The Royal Gazette has been unable to contact Mr Hollis this week.